Innovation Technology to Empower Safety, Health and Welfare in Agriculture and Agro-food Systems

Abstract

Abstract Results of trials on mechanical methods to release beneficials and on new techniques to apply sulphur are reported. The former were carried out on two predators, a phytoseiid mite and an anthocorid bug. Laboratory and greenhouse tests were conducted with the aim of evaluating the vitality and the damage eventually caused and setting the machine. The latter dealt with new techniques of sulphur application on tomato crops using dispensers transforming granular sulphur into vapour. In order to evaluate the effects of sublimated sulphur both on fungal diseases and arthropod pests, different trials have been carried out. The incidence and the severity index for airborne pathogens were bi-weekly evaluated and the infestations caused by some of the most relevant pests have been regularly monitored. Moreover, the incidence of the viral disease TYLCD has been evaluated. During the trials on mechanical methods, no physical damage to the beneficials was observed. The distribution in laboratory seems to be suitable for applications in biological control programs, and the results on protected sweet pepper crops showed a better spatial distribution and a more effective interaction beneficials/preys in the "mechanically released" plots than in the "manually released" ones. The trials on sublimated sulphur confirmed the good effectiveness of the technique in controlling natural infection of tomato powdery mildew as well as a moderate efficacy on tomato late blight. A good protection has been registered in the case of arthropod pests: the tomato russet mite was totally controlled; appreciable results were also obtained on phytophagous insects. A significant reduction in viral infections was also observed