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A total system approach to sustainable pest management in grapevines: research, demonstration, and cost benefit analysis project |
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A
total system approach to sustainable pest management in grapevines:
research, demonstration, and cost benefit analysis project
Dr Martina Bernard, Post doctoral Researcher (Funded by GWRDC)
This
post doctoral project is a collaboration with CESAR associate: Dr P.A.
Horne and IPM Technologies Ltd., and an extension of PhD research into
Integrated Management of grapevine rust mite, (Calepitrimerus vitis) in Australian wine grapes. An
Australian eco-toxicological testing standard for evaluating pesticide
safety to phytoseiid predatory mites was developed, and used to test
the majority 22 pesticides registered in Australian viticulture on Euseius victoriensis (Acarina:
Phytoseiidae), at the highest registered field rate, and mancozeb as
the toxic reference. The results were used as a general guide for
pesticide safety to beneficial arthropods in viticulture, and to devise
IPM spray programs for three IPM/Total System implementation
demonstration sites; three large commercial vineyards in 2003, and two
vineyards in 2004. This implementation project ran for the 2nd
year in 2004. Robust, commercially viable monitoring procedures for
pests, and beneficial arthropods are being developed, in particular
for: Pseudococcus longispinus (longtailed mealybug), Epiphyas postvittana (light-brown apple moth), Phalaenoides glycinae (wine moth), weevils (Curculionidae), Mallada sp. (green lacewing) and Micromus sp.
(brown lacewing), Araneae, ladybird beetles (Coccinellidae), and other
predators. Different wine varieties are compared to determine the
monitoring effort required to make robust population assessments, and
for spray threshold development. Data on final bunch infestation at
harvest were collected to assess the relationship between E. postvittana damage and Botrytis, and between P. longispinus
infestation and direct damage to grape bunches. A field trial was
conducted, testing optimal application procedures for late season BT
sprays against E. postvittana. In 2004 insect predator monitoring was extended to sample inter-row grass vegetation in alternate row mowing programs. |
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