Articles
INTEGRATED PRODUCTION AND PROTECTION TODAY AND IN THE FUTURE IN GREENHOUSE CROPS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN REGION
Article number
614_112
Pages
755 – 765
Language
English
Abstract
Technological advances in greenhouse crops nowadays allow for precise environmental and nutritional control that pushes the plants to new limits of growth and productivity, generating chronic stress conditions, which are often conducive to pests and diseases problems.
Historically, not enough attention has been paid to exploiting and amending production technology for the control of pests and diseases.
This is now being implemented in greenhouse crops through Integrated Production and Protection (IPP). Yet the control of pests and diseases in protected crops is still challenging, with many important problems remaining unresolved and new ones arising as the industry undergoes more changes in production systems.
Additionally, the unprecedented international trade in plant materials facilitates the spread of pests and diseases around the world and their establishment in new areas.
The increasing complexity of pest and disease problems and the high cosmetic standards of vegetable, ornamental and flower products have led greenhouse growers to apply intensive preventive chemical programs, which result in pests and pathogens becoming resistant to the most frequently used pesticides and consequently to higher protection costs.
In the mean time consumer awareness of the risks related to pesticide residues in fresh vegetables have increased setting the stage for more applications of IPP. For this purpose, certain standards in cultural practices and environment management have to be implemented in such matters as crop spacing, pruning and training, irrigation, fertilization, and temperature and humidity regimes.
While much is known about disease insect and mite pests, very little attention, however, has been paid to the manipulation of greenhouse environment expressly to avoid disease epidemics and pest infestations.
When all such measures are harmoniously integrated, including the use of adequate greenhouse design, climate management, resistant cultivars, suitable cultural practices, modern techniques for applying pesticides and biological control of diseases and pests, IPP would have achieved its ultimate goal and a greatly reduced input of chemicals would become realistic for greenhouse crops.
Historically, not enough attention has been paid to exploiting and amending production technology for the control of pests and diseases.
This is now being implemented in greenhouse crops through Integrated Production and Protection (IPP). Yet the control of pests and diseases in protected crops is still challenging, with many important problems remaining unresolved and new ones arising as the industry undergoes more changes in production systems.
Additionally, the unprecedented international trade in plant materials facilitates the spread of pests and diseases around the world and their establishment in new areas.
The increasing complexity of pest and disease problems and the high cosmetic standards of vegetable, ornamental and flower products have led greenhouse growers to apply intensive preventive chemical programs, which result in pests and pathogens becoming resistant to the most frequently used pesticides and consequently to higher protection costs.
In the mean time consumer awareness of the risks related to pesticide residues in fresh vegetables have increased setting the stage for more applications of IPP. For this purpose, certain standards in cultural practices and environment management have to be implemented in such matters as crop spacing, pruning and training, irrigation, fertilization, and temperature and humidity regimes.
While much is known about disease insect and mite pests, very little attention, however, has been paid to the manipulation of greenhouse environment expressly to avoid disease epidemics and pest infestations.
When all such measures are harmoniously integrated, including the use of adequate greenhouse design, climate management, resistant cultivars, suitable cultural practices, modern techniques for applying pesticides and biological control of diseases and pests, IPP would have achieved its ultimate goal and a greatly reduced input of chemicals would become realistic for greenhouse crops.
Publication
Authors
A. Hanafi
Keywords
Crop management, greenhouse environment, input of chemicals, integration
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