RACER: Reduced application of chemicals in European raspberry production

• Forschungsstelle: EU FRP
• Projektnummer: 97.0163
• Projekttitel Englisch: RACER: Reduced application of chemicals in European raspberry production

Schlüsselwörter (Englisch)

Raspberry pests; Byturus tomentosus; Tetranychus urticae; Reseliella theobaldi; predatory mites; population development; monitoring; forecasting; spray threshold; Raspberry phenology

Alternative Projektnummern (Englisch)

EU project number: FA-S2 CT97-9038

Forschungsprogramme (Englisch)

EU-programme: 4. Frame Research Programme - 4.3 Biomedical/Health research

Kurzbeschreibung (Englisch)

See abstract

Weitere Hinweise und Angaben (Englisch)

Full name of research-institution/enterprise:
Eidg. Forschungsanstalt für Obst-, Wein- und Gartenbau FAW
Zoologie u. Herbologie

Partner und Internationale Organisationen (Englisch)

SCRI, ADAS, BioSS (UK), IASMA (I), MTT (FIN) and SME

Abstract (Englisch)

The main objectives of the project were: i) Monitor adult raspberry beetle flight activity with view to developing a spray threshold; ii) Develop methods to understand and manage two-spotted spider mite population development; iii) Improve forecasting of raspberry cane midge populations by transfer of existing technology; iv) Develop a monitor system to predict Otiorhynchid weevil and v) Develop a standardised procedure to identify and assess levels of post harvest rots and evaluate current low-input fungicide treatments. The five tasks were being carried out at four different RTD centres (UK, I, FI, CH) in close collaboration with the SME partners in their local areas (UK, I, FI, PT, GR, CH). Swiss contributions focus on task i) Raspberry beetle Byturus tomentosus (task leader), ii) two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae and iii) Raspberry cane midge Resseliella theobaldi.
Raspberry beetle activity and flight periods were determined in UK, FI and CH each year at various sites by means of white sticky traps (REBELL bianco) provided by the SME partner BSZ (CH). Despite a weak correlation between the number of caught beetles on traps and the number of infested fruits, an action threshold of 5 beetles per single trap could be established for chemical control measures. Different intervals for trap exchange were tested measuring the pollution (contamination with other insects and dust) with digital image analysis. About 13 % contamination can be tolerated to maintain a sufficient attractiveness, therefore the traps have to be exchanged at an interval of 2 to 4 weeks depending on local conditions.
Our investigations on the population dynamics of two-spotted spider mites showed regularly fast and strong population outbreak in intensively cultivated and covered crops during July/August. The introduction of predatory mites in such crops showed some effect but did not give sufficient control. On the other hand in untreated (organic) and uncovered plots spider mite populations remained below the threshold with the help of natural occurring predatory mites.
The predictive model for raspberry cane midge developed in Scotland was tested in the two years at various sites in Switzerland. At each site a data logger was installed to record the soil temperature in 10 cm. First eggs were observed at 360 degree days (> 4° C) which is about three days later than in Scotland (326 degree days). With some adaptations the model can be introduced in Switzerland too.
Phenological growth stages of raspberries were described in Switzerland with reference to the BBCH-scale and were tested by the partners.
The activities, methods and results were co-ordinated and discussed at four project meetings in I, CH, FI and UK each followed by a workshop for growers in the corresponding region. A www-page was created and installed (http://www.scri.sari.ac.uk/racer/default.html). Two posters (Raspberry beetle and Two-spotted spider mites) are in preparation for the BCPC-conference in Brighton UK in November 2000. A technical leaflet (English) is prepared for raspberry beetles. Swiss results on the three first tasks will be published in practical journals in Switzerland. A paper on the phenology of raspberry is finished but not yet submitted.

Datenbankreferenzen (Englisch)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 97.0163