FIRST EVALUATION OF “FIRESCREENS” FOR PREDICTING FIRE BLIGHT EPIDEMICS IN GREECE

The French computerized warning system "FIRESCREENS", for predicting fire blight epidemics, was evaluated under Greek conditions, for apples and pears in the years 1994 and 1995. The fields were located in three regions where the disease is endemic.
The plots were divided into three parts.
In one part the trees were sprayed, according to the predictions of the system.
In the second part the trees were sprayed during bloom as recommended and in the third part the trees received no sprays.
The results showed that, at least under the conditions of the experiments, the three recommended sprays during bloom were actually not necessary since no disease symptoms appeared in these plots during the experimentation period.
The sprays proposed by the system were none or one, in using the warning system "FIRESCREENS", an economy of two or three sprays was achieved reflecting a considerable economy for the grower.
The testing of the system should continue in order to check its reliability under heavy inoculum pressure.

VII International Workshop on Fire Blight

J. Tsiantos, P.G. Psallidas

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1996.411.31