TESTING OF DSS’S TO IMPROVE THE CONTROL OF BOTRYTIS CINEREA IN STRAWBERRIES

Grey mould in strawberry, caused by the fungal pathogen Botrytis cinerea, is a serious problem for strawberry growers all over the world.
Strawberries are sprayed during flowering and harvest up to every five to seven days.
The most important factors determining infection by B. cinerea are temperature and number and length of wetness periods.
It is complicated to decide whether a fungicide application is necessary.
A Decision Support System can be an aid for growers in making this decision.
The infection model of a DSS calculates the infection risk for a certain disease with the use of weather data (measured and/or forecast). When a justified threshold is exceeded an advice for a fungicide application is given.
Since the 1990’s, DSS’s for the control of B. cinerea in strawberries are (being) developed amongst others in Italy, England, Norway and the Netherlands.
Differences and resemblance between the systems are outlined.
Use of a DSS leads to a slightly lower input of fungicides and a slightly higher percentage Botrytis fruit rot in comparison with a routine spray schedule.

Euro Berry Symposium – COST-Action 836 Final Workshop

J. Wander, A. Stensvand, P. Creemers, A. Berrie, V. Rossi

BOTEM, BoWaS, Decision Support System, grey mould, IPM.

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2004.649.45