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Mindre svinn och bättre kvalitet i ekologisk äppelodling för att nyttiggöra tidigare resultat för en ny praktik i odling, del 1

Publication: Book/Report/ProceedingsReportResearch

Abstract

Fungal diseases often lead to significantly reduced productivity in organic apple cultivation compared to IP cultivation. This is mainly because there are no chemical agents approved for controlling storage diseases either before or after harvest. In addition, several non-chemical plant protection methods show weak effectiveness or cause unwanted effects. In previous projects, our research group at SLU, in collaboration with Äppelriket Österlen, has investigated several different methods to reduce fungal attacks in cultivation and during storage. After summarizing the results, the method that we assessed to be the most effective (thymol and eugenol; treatment during cultivation) was selected together with Äppelriket, and it was also a method that could be directly applied in commercial apple orchards under current regulations. In the part presented in this report, we investigated the possibility of performing the thymol/eugenol treatment simultaneously with the usual commercial apple orchard practice of treating the fruit with Raptol (rapeseed oil with pyrethrins) against pests. Furthermore, the extent of various fungal pathogens causing storage damage was examined. The most common fungal diseases are lenticel rot (Neofabraea sp.), bitter rot (Colletotrichum sp.), fruit mold (Monilinia fructigena), Penicillium expansum, gummy rot (Phacidiopycnis washingtonensis), and gray mold (Botrytis cinerea). Lenticel rot accounted for about 35% of the total infections and bitter rot about 43%. The results showed that treatment with only thymol/eugenol was the most effective method for reducing damage during storage. A mixture of these substances together with Raptol resulted in a smaller reduction in storage damage and also led to lower fruit weight. Treatment with only thymol/eugenol reduced natural fungal attacks during storage, without causing any negative effects on yield or fruit quality (firmness, taste, and appearance). Treatment of the trees with Raptol combined with thymol-eugenol generally had a less effective effect, or no effect, against fungal attacks on apples during storage, and some negative effects could also be noted.

Publication series

SeriesLandskapsarkitektur, trädgård, växtproduktionsvetenskap: rapportserie
Number2026:6

SLU series

  • Landscape, horticulture, crop production science: report series

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