Kaolin protects olive fruits from Bactrocera oleae (Gmelin) infestations unaffecting olive oil quality

The efficacy of the processed kaolin “Surround WP” to control olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae Gmelin, field infestations was investigated in east Calabria. The preliminary results showed that fruit infestation levels were significantly reduced on kaolin-treated trees compared with untreated trees. The promising results of these experiments points to the feasibility of using particle film technology composed of a non-toxic material, to avoid olive fly damage as an alternative to the applications of rotenone in organic orchards. Finally, kaolin treatment unaffected the nutritional and sensory quality parameters of the corresponding virgin olive oils obtained by a laboratory scale olive mill, thus satisfying the present quality requirements

Effectiveness of clays and copper products in the control of Bactrocera oleae (Gmelin)

Repellent and antiovipositional products in the control of Bactrocera oleae (Gmelin) find a great interest in organic farming, because of the lack of effective products able to kill the olive fruit fly larvae and eggs. This study is the continuation of a research on the effectiveness of kaolin and copper hydroxide carried out in 2003 and 2004 in Castelvetrano and Trapani (Sicily, Italy). In 2005 a product containing 95% of kaolin, Surround WP, was tested in two organic table olive orchards, Nocellara del Belice cv., in Trapani province; in the first one (located in Castelvetrano) this kaolin was compared to copper hydroxide (Coprantol Ultramicron) and rotenone (Bioroten), in the second one (located in Partanna) it was compared to a product containing 100% of bentonite (Biobenton), to a product containing copper oxychloride (Cuprobenton) and to Surround WP + copper hydroxide. In 2005, at Castelvetrano all plots gave no statistically significant differences, due to the low infestation level reached until harvesting on 8th October (total infestation in all plots 5-9%). On the other hand at Partanna, regarding the harmful infestation of the whole sampling period (11th August- 14th November), the two kinds of clays recorded statistically significant better results than the untreated plot, while the results of copper oxychloride plot were intermediate, with significant differences from kaolin plots, but without differences with bentonite and untreated theses. The oils extracted from olives of the four treated theses resulted of excellent quality (free acidity 0.1-0.2%, peroxide value 3-4), while untreated olives produced a still extra virgin oil with a higher free acidity (0.6%, peroxide value 4). In the different theses tested on this site the olive fruit fly infestation was limited to a good level for table olives until 18th, 28th September, 19th, 24th and 29th October in untreated, copper oxychloride, bentonite, kaolin and kaolin +copper hydroxide theses respectively. The tested products containing kaolin, bentonite, copper hydroxide and oxychloride are effectively able to limit B. oleae infestation to a good level for olive oil production, moreover, considering the earlier harvesting of table olives, these products, particularly the first three of them, give a new opportunity for controlling the olive fruit fly also in organic farms for table olive production

Tests on the effectiveness of kaolin and copper hydroxide in the control of Bactrocera oleae (Gmelin)

Repellent and antiovipositional products in the control of Bactrocera oleae (Gmelin) find a great interest in organic farming, because of the lack of effective products able to kill the olive fly preimmaginal stages. In 2003 in Castelvetrano (Trapani province, Sicily), tests on the effectiveness of Surround WP, a product containing 95% of kaolin, were carried out on three table olive cultivars, Nocellara del Belice, Moresca and Tonda Iblea. In 2004, in the same field and on the same cultivars, BPLK kaolin was tested too. In the second year the two products containing kaolin were also tested on Cerasuola cultivar in an organic olive grove located in Trapani, comparing them with copper hydroxide. At Castelvetrano both in 2003 and in 2004 B. oleae infestation levels of the plots treated with the two products containing kaolin were statistically lower than those of the control plots. In this site, in 2004 Surround WP protected olives significantly better than BPLK kaolin, limiting olive fly harmful infestation up to 17-23% vs. 68-87% of BPLK plots. At Trapani in 2004, the two products containing kaolin and copper hydroxide showed statistically significant differences from the untreated control, but not among themselves, limiting the harmful infestation up to 3-37% vs. 87% of the control. The different results of 2004 recorded by Surround WP and BPLK kaolin in the two olive groves seems linked to the different rainfall of the period after the last treatment, 64 mm in three rainy days at Castelvetrano and 41 mm in eight rainy days at Trapani; BPLK kaolin was probably washed away more than Surround WP. The tested products containing kaolin and copper hydroxide are effectively able to limit B. oleae infestation to a very good level for olive oil production, moreover, considering the earlier harvesting of table olives, these products give a new opportunity for controlling the olive fly also in the organic olive groves for table olive production

Survey on the control methods of Bactrocera oleae (Gmelin) in organic olive groves producing oil and table olives in Sicily

In Sicily there are several organic farms producing olive oil and the number of farms has grown in the last years. The control methods of Bactrocera oleae (Gmelin) used by Sicilian organic farms were surveyed in 2004 and 2005. After a bibliographic search on internet and by personal contacts, a sample of 30 organic farms in Sicily was chosen; 23 farms produce bottled extra-virgin oil and 7 produce table olives. Then farms were contacted by phone, some of them visited and olive growers were interviewed. For each farm were put together data about: interventions vs. the olive fruit fly, altitude, surface of the olive grove, olive cultivar, irrigation method, harvesting period, milling procedure, product destination and production results in 2005 and in the previous years. From collected data we can say that obtaining oils of excellent quality and table olives of good quality in organic farming is surely possible; the early harvesting and a quick milling (for the oil) let to obtain good results. The most used interventions are: mass trapping with ammonium carbonate, pheromone and pyrethroids, bottled-traps baited with sardines, yellow sticky traps, sprays with kaolin, Bordeaux mixture or pyrethrum, but there is more than one third of sampled oil producers not using any control method except early harvesting and a quick milling. Unfortunately the organic farms producing table olives in Sicily are very few, perhaps because, differently from olive oil producers, table olive plantings are almost all young and the experience of growers in such organic cultivation is not strong. Also these growers prefer to use mass trapping to control olive fruit fly, but best results were achieved by farmers spraying kaolin, rotenone or copper hydroxide

Resistance to the attack of Bactrocera oleae (Gmelin) of some Sicilian olive cultivars

Genetic resistance of olive germplasm could be an important tool in the control of Bactrocera oleae (Gmelin), the key pest in the Mediterranean olive growing. Up to now, no study was carried out on olive cultivars stressed a complete resistance to the attack of B. oleae, and few scientific data are available on susceptibility to olive fruit fly of Sicilian cultivars, although differences among susceptibility of cultivars could be usefully considered to obtain quality productions and to reduce insecticides use both in organic and conventional olive growing. The present study was carried out at Castelvetrano (Trapani province, Sicily), in the olive germplasm collection of Ente di Sviluppo Agricolo of the Sicilian Region and Dipartimento di Colture Arboree of the University of Palermo. From 2002 to 2005, infestation levels in drupes of 18 cv, representing the most widely cultivated in Sicily was recorded. Samplings were carried out every 11-20 days, starting from the second half of August to the end of October. Moreover, from 2003 to 2005 infestation levels were correlated with size and hardness of olives, while in 2004-2005 data on olive coloration were collected at different ripening stages. Among the cultivars producing larger olives, Nocellara del Belice resulted the most susceptible to the olive fruit fly attacks, while Nocellara messinese was the less infested one. Among cultivars with medium, small-sized fruits Moresca, Vaddarica, Nasitana frutto grosso, Minuta and Bottone di gallo were the less susceptible ones. Among the tested cultivars Nocellara del Belice was the most attacked one in every year of the research. A positive correlation between infestation and olive size was found, resulting in higher infestation levels on the cultivars producing larger olives. B. oleae showed a clear preference for green drupes, instead of reddish or blackish ones. In two out of three years a negative correlation between hardness and infestation was found in September

Comparación de técnicas de clasificación deductivas para estimar la distribución potencial de insectos cuarentenarios

El objetivo de este trabajo fue comparar el desempeño de los criterios de clasificación nítidos y difusos en la construcción de modelos deductivos de la distribución potencial de insectos exóticos. Considerando criterios de clasificación binaria nítida y difusa, de capas ráster de temperatura máxima, media y mínima diaria, se generó un índice de riesgo bioclimático relativo, considerando el número de días con condiciones óptimas para el desarrollo de Bactrocera oleae (Gmelin) (Diptera: Tephritidae) y Cerotoma arcuatus (Olivier) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Se realizaron análisis de sensibilidad de los modelos. Los modelos deductivos de distribución potencial de especies realizados mediante clasificación difusa, serían más robustos y menos restrictivos en la determinación de áreas de riesgo fitosanitario potencial que aquellos realizados con criterios de clasificación nítidos. Estos últimos serían más sensibles y tendrían mayor capacidad de discriminar áreas con diferentes perfiles de riesgo ambiental.The objective of this paper was to evaluate the performance of crisp and fuzzy classification criteria in the construction of deductive potential distribution models of exotic insects. As case studies, Bactrocera oleae (Gmelin) (Diptera: Tephritidae) and Cerotoma arcuatus (Olivier) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) were selected. Considering crisp and fuzzy classification for raster layers of maximum, average and minimum daily temperature, a relative bioclimatic risk index was generated. The number of days with optimal conditions for pests’ development was considered. Sensitivity analyses of both models were performed. Considering each case evaluated and the variables used, deductive pest distribution models made by fuzzy classification was more robust and less conservative in the determination of potential phytosanitary risk areas than those made with crisp classification criteria. This last case was more sensitive and would have a greater capacity to discriminate areas with different environmental risk profiles.Fil: Heit, Guillermo Eugenio. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomia. Departamento de Producción Vegetal. Cátedra de Zoología Agrícola; ArgentinaFil: Sione, Walter Fabian. Universidad Autónoma de Entre Rí­os. Facultad de Ciencia y Tecnología. Centro Regional de Geomática; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Luján; ArgentinaFil: Claps, Lucia Elena. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Instituto Superior de Entomología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Aceñolaza, Pablo Gilberto. Provincia de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción. Universidad Autónoma de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción; Argentin

Three years field trials to assess the effect of kaolin made particles and copper on olive-fruit fly (B.oleae Gmelin) infestations in Sicily

In most countries of Mediterranean Basin, Bactrocera oleae (Gmel), the olive fruit fly, is the key pest insect on olives. In Sicily this pest causes losses of fruits and a poor quality olive oil. Many researchers have recently carried out some field studies which were based on the use of kaolin and copper against the olive-fruit fly. In the last years these products have been effective several times in reducing olive fly infestation. Kaolin had, also, some important effect in reducing heat-stress in fruit crops and olive-trees. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of kaolin and copper treatment on olive infestations in Sicily and to evaluate chemical and sensory parameters of oils extracted. For this reason, within 2003-2005, the IX Servizio of Assessorato Regionale Agricoltura e Foreste, selected some olive groves where to carry out trials with kaolin and copper and to realize information and divulgation activities

Tests on the effectiveness of mass trapping by Eco-trap (Vyoril) in the control of Bactrocera oleae (Gmelin) in organic farming

Tests on the effectiveness of mass trapping by Eco-trap (Vyoril) in the control of Bactrocera oleae (Gmelin) in organic farming were carried out in 2003 and 2004. The tests took place into two organic olive groves located in Agrigento and Trapani (Sicily); in both years the olive cultivar was Cerasuola. In Agrigento, it was considered the effectiveness of Eco-trap vs. bottle traps baited with diammonium phosphate; while in Trapani the effectiveness of Eco-trap added to other products admitted in organic farming (two products containing kaolin and one containing copper) was evaluated. In 2003, year with a low B. oleae population density, no statistically significant difference resulted among Eco-trap, bottle traps with diammonium phosphate and control. In 2004 B. oleae infestations were high; although some statistically significant differences among plots with Eco-traps and plots without them emerged, the additional power of Eco-trap in controlling B. oleae resulted very limited in plots sprayed with kaolin products and more consistent in the plot with copper hydroxide. The economic advantage of the use of Eco-trap, also in comparison with repellent and antiovipositional products, still remains doubtful

Estudo da influência do diâmetero dos orifícios de armadilhas Olipe na luta contra a mosca-da-azeitona, Bactrocera oleae (Rossi).

A mosca-da-azeitona, Bactrocera oleae (Rossi) é praga chave da oliveira na maioria dos países mediterrânicos, sendo também um dos inimigos mais importantes da cultura em Trás-os-Montes. Esta praga pode provocar prejuízos elevados chegando, em alguns anos, a atingir mais de 80% das azeitonas. Em modo de produção biológico, a utilização de armadilhas do tipo Olipe, para captura em massa de adultos de B. oleae, tem sido um método frequentemente utilizado em diferentes regiões da Península Ibérica. Esta armadilha consiste numa garrafa de plástico com capacidade de 1,5 litros, onde são feitos 6 orifícios, a cerca de 1 O cm do topo, e em cujo interior é colocado um atractivo alimentar, em geral uma solução de fosfato biamónico a 3%. Apesar da facilidade de obtenção e do custo reduzido, a sua eficácia necessita de ser melhorada, considerando-se que o diâmetro dos orifícios, um dos aspectos a estudar. Assim, o objectivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de diferentes diâmetros dos orifícios (4, 6, 8 e 1 O mm) das armadilhas Olipe na captura de mosca-da-azeitona e nos níveis de ataque nos frutos. O trabalho de campo decorreu em 2009 e 201 O, num olival em modo de produção biológico localizado próximo de Mirandela. O olival foi dividido em cinco blocos com cerca de um hectare. Em quatro dos cinco blocos foram colocadas as armadilhas, a razão de uma armadilha por árvore e por diâmetro de orifício, enquanto no quinto, funcionou como testemunha. O acompanhamento dos níveis populacionais da mosca-da-azeitona foi feito semanalmente através da contagem dos adultos em armadilhas cromotrópicas amarelas com feromona, enquanto para a avaliação dos níveis de ataque, quinzenalmente foram observados 25 frutos por árvore num total de 20 árvores, tendo-se registado o número de frutos e o estado de desenvolvimento do insecto quando este se encontrava presente. Os resultados obtidos mostram que de maneira geral as armadilhas Olipe diminuem os níveis populacionais de B. oleae e consequentemente o nível de ataque nos frutos. Verificou-se também que as armadilhas com diâmetros superiores (8 e 1 O mm) registaram maior número de capturas. Convém contudo registar que diâmetros superiores apresentam um maior impacto na fauna auxiliar dos olivais

Comunicación corta: efecto del trampeo masivo tipo OLIPE sobre los artrópodos no objetivo del olivar

Due to the widespread of mass-trapping systems for Bactrocera oleae (Gmelin) (Diptera: Tephritidae) control in organic olive cropping, an assessment of the impact on arthropods of the olive agroecosystem was undertaken for the OLIPE trap type. The sampling was carried out in "Los Pedroches" valley (Cordoba, southern Spain) in three different organic orchard sites. Six OLIPE traps baited with diammonium phosphate were collected from each site (18 in total) from July to November 2002 every 15 days on average. Additionally, in the latest sampling dates, half the traps were reinforced with pheromone to assess its impact on non-target arthropods. From an average of 43.0 catches per trap (cpt) of non-target arthropods during the whole sampling period, the highest number of captures corresponds to the Order Diptera (that represents a 68.5%), followed distantly by the family Formicidae (12.9%) and the Order Lepidoptera (10.4%). Besides the impact on ant populations, other beneficial groups were recorded such as parasitoids (Other Hymenoptera: 2.6%) and predators (Araneae: 1.0%; Neuroptera s.l.: 0.4%). Concerning the temporal distribution of catches, total captures peaked on July and had a slight increase at the beginning of autumn. No significant differences were observed between traps with and without pheromone. The results evidence that a considerable amount of non-specific captures could be prevented by improving the temporal planning of the mass-trapping system.Debido a la extensión del trampeo masivo como método de control para Bactrocera oleae (Gmelin) (Diptera: Tephritidae) en el cultivo ecológico del olivo, se llevó a cabo una evaluación del efecto de la trampa tipo OLIPE sobre los artrópodos del agroecosistema del olivar. El muestreo fue realizado en el valle de "Los Pedroches" (Córdoba, sur de España), en tres olivares ecológicos distintos. De cada olivar se recogieron 6 trampas OLIPE cebadas con fosfato diamónico (18 en total) desde julio a noviembre de 2002 con una periodicidad media de 15 días. Además, en las últimas fechas de muestreo, la mitad de las trampas fueron reforzadas mediante la adición de feromona para evaluar su impacto. De una media de 43,0 capturas por trampa (cpt) de artrópodos no objetivo a lo largo del periodo total de muestreo, la mayor parte de las capturas correspondieron al Orden Diptera (representando el 68,5%) seguidos por la familia Formicidae (12,9%) y el Orden Lepidoptera (10,4%). Aparte del impacto sobre la población de hormigas, se registraron capturas de otros grupos de beneficiosos tales como parasitoides, (Otros Hymenoptera: 2,6%) y depredadores (Araneae: 1,0%; Neuroptera s.l.: 0,4%). En cuanto a la distribución temporal, las capturas totales tuvieron un máximo en julio y un ligero incremento al comienzo de otoño. No se hallaron diferencias significativas entre las capturas de trampas con feromona y sin ella. Los resultados indican que una mejora de la planificación temporal del sistema de trampeo masivo permitiría evitar una importante cantidad de capturas no específicas.This project was funded by the project 92162-1 contract number 85, Junta de Andalucía. Ministry of Education and Science of Spain provided a collaboration grant to O.S