Organic apple growing using sanitation treatments against apple scab

• Main Authors: F. Abonyi, I. J. Holb
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: University of Debrecen 2007-03-01
• Series: International Journal of Horticultural Science
• Subjects: leaf litter density; ascospore production; apple scab; Venturia inaequalis; disease incidence; environmentally- benign apple production
• Online Access: https://ojs.lib.unideb.hu/IJHS/article/view/687

Effects or sanitation practices were evaluated on primary and autumn infection by Venturia inaequalis in an organic apple orchard at Eperjeske on the moderately scab-susceptible apple cultivar Jonathan in 2005 and 2006. Evaluated sanitation practices were: i) collection of fallen leaves in autumn; ii) destroying fallen leaves by disc cultivation in autumn; iii) spraying fallen leaves with 2% lime sulphur in autumn; iv) spraying fallen leaves with 2% lime sulphur in autumn and then collection of fallen leaves in autumn; and v) untreated control. In both years, most sanitation practices reduced significantly (P< 0.05) scab incidence in the primary infection periods compared to untreated control. The highest leaf scab incidence was observed in the untreated plots (26:2 and 24.3% in 2005 and 2006, respectively), while the lowest was in the treatments of spraying fallen leaves with 2% lime sulphur combined with collection of fallen leaves (11.7 and 12.3% in 2005 and 2006, respectively).