Notes on Drosophila suzukii Matsumura (Diptera Drosophilidae): field survey in Tuscany and laboratory evaluation of organic products

Reported for the first time in Italy in 2009, the Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD), Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera Drosophilidae), has rapidly spread throughout the country, causing serious damage on many fruit crops. The potential of infestation rate by D. suzukii is enormous: the females can complete many generations per year, and are able to attack the fresh, ripe fruit of many hosts by laying eggs under the soft skin; the larvae grow in the fruits and destroy the commercial value of them. The host range of SWD is reportedly wide, including both cultivated (soft fruits, sweet cherry, stone fruits etc…) and wild plants. In 2013, field surveys aimed at monitoring the presence of the insect on Tuscany territory, were regularly carried out: on an important district for the sweet cherry production with differently managed in control, on a biological blueberry orchard and even on other host plants neighboring the samples’ areas. D. suzukii was present in the monitored areas and its numerically large populations and heavy infestations on sweet cherries have shown that the species has settled in these areas. In laboratory tests, labeled organic products and substances of natural origin - in accordance with the requirements of EU regulations which provides for the reduction of chemicals - were evaluated as concern toxicity and residual effect on the pest. As regards effects of direct toxicity, products based on Beauveria bassiana have shown some effectiveness in the control of SWD, other organic products have shown interesting results. The evidences acquired are discussed

Effects of Land-Use Change on Soil Functionality and Biodiversity: Toward Sustainable Planning of New Vineyards

Sustainable agriculture largely depends on soil biodiversity and requires efficient methods to assess the effectiveness of agronomic planning. Knowledge of the landscape and relative pedosite is enriched by data on the soil microarthropod community, which represent useful bio-indicators for early soil-quality detection in land-use change (LUC). In the hilly Maremma region of Grosseto, Italy, two areas, a >10ys meadow converted into a vineyard and an old biodynamic vineyard (no-LUC), were selected for evaluating the LUC effect. For maintaining soil vitality and ecosystem services by meadow, the vineyard was planted and cultivated using criteria of the patented “Corino method”. The aim was to evaluate the LUC impact, within one year, by assessing parameters characterizing soil properties and soil microarthropod communities after the vineyard was planted. The adopted preservative method in the new vineyards did not show a detrimental impact on the biodiversity of soil microarthropods, and in particular, additional mulching contributed to a quick recovery from soil stress due to working the plantation. In the short term, the adopted agricultural context confirmed that the targeted objectives preserved the soil quality and functionality