For apple trees, at the “mouse ear” stage, the first pre-bloom spraying against scab and powdery mildew is carried out with one of the following fungicide mixtures: Bordeaux mixture 1% + Bayfidan 250 EC – 0.015%; Champion WP – 0.3% + Bayfidan 250 EC – 0.015%; Cuproxat FL – 0.3% + Bayfidan 250 EC – 0.015%; Merpan – 0.15% + Bayfidan 250 EC – 0.015%; Strobi DF – 0.02% + Delan 700 WG – 0.035%.
Varieties resistant to scab – Prima, COOP-10, Florina, Liberty, Pioneer, McFree, Pilot, Topaz, Novamak, Sava, Rubinola, Jonafree, Jonathan, etc., should be sprayed only against powdery mildew with Bayfidan 250 EC – 0.015% or Systhane Ecozom – 60–185 ml/da. The second pre-bloom spraying is carried out at the pink bud stage. The same fungicide mixtures as for the first spraying are used. Dithane M45 – 0.3%, Manfil 75 WP – 320 g/da, Merpan/Captan/ – 0.15%, Polyram DF – 0.2%, Sankozeb 80 WP – 0.3%, Thiram 80 WP – 0.3%, Folpan 25 WG – 0.15% are also effective against scab, but for varieties sensitive to powdery mildew they must be combined with Bayfidan 250 EC – 0.015%. In orchards where there is a high population density of apple sawfly (in the previous year damage to the fruit set has been established), Decis 2.5 EC – 0.03% or Nurelle D (Samba) – 0.04% is added to the fungicide solution. These two insecticides are also suitable for control of the hairy beetle in young apple orchards that are at the initial fruit-bearing stage, where at very high pest density the crop can be completely destroyed.
In apples, during April, bloom spraying is also carried out, which is very important for protecting the blossoms from scab. In years with frequent rainfall and high air humidity, in varieties sensitive to this disease, mass infections occur, as a result of which the blossoms drop – such damage very often remains unnoticed and growers attribute it to other causes. This spraying is also aimed at controlling powdery mildew and brown rot.
For bloom spraying, one of the following fungicides is used: Bolero 12 EC – 0.06%, Luna Experience – 20–75 ml/da, Systhane Super 24 EC – 0.03%, Strobi DF – 0.02%, Flint Max 75 WP – 0.02%, Chorus 50 WP – 0.03%, Folicur 25 WG – 0.04%, Shavit 72.5 WG – 0.2% or the combination Strobi DF – 0.02% + Delan 700 WG – 0.035%.
For pear, only one pre-bloom spraying is carried out. It is aimed at scab, pear psylla, pear lace bug and pear sawfly. Bordeaux mixture 1% or Champion WP – 0.3% is used in combination with one of the insecticides: Vaztak New 100 EC – 0.02%, Decis 2.5 EC – 0.03%, Sinapis 480 SC – 30–43.7 ml/da. Bloom spraying in pear is aimed at scab and brown rot and the fungicides indicated for bloom spraying in apple are used.
During this period, quince is sprayed against fruitlet blight. The first spraying against this fungal disease is carried out at the pink bud stage, and the second during flowering. For the first treatment it is best to use Bordeaux mixture 1% or Champion WP – 0.3%, and for the bloom spraying – Chorus 50 WP – 0.03% or Luna Experience – 20–75 ml/da.
Before flowering, or more precisely at the pink bud stage, plum trees are sprayed against plum sawfly. Decis 2.5 EC – 0.05% or Sumicidin 5 EC – 0.02% is used.
In young fruit-bearing stone fruit species, at the pink bud stage, spraying is carried out against the hairy beetle, which, at very high population density, can completely destroy the blossoms. For its control, Decis 2.5 EC – 0.03% or Nurelle D (Samba) – 0.04% is used.
In all stone fruit species, bloom spraying for control of brown rot is usually carried out in April. Effective fungicides against this disease are: Luna Experience – 20–75 ml/da, Chorus 50 WP – 0.045%, Delan 700 WG – 0.05%, Thiram 80 WG – 0.3%.
Most of the apricot and sour cherry varieties grown in our country are sensitive to brown rot and, in a wet spring and prolonged flowering period, two bloom sprayings must be carried out in these two species. The first – at the beginning of flowering, and the second – 8–10 days after the first.
Bloom sprayings should be carried out in the morning, when there is no bee flight. The fungicides used are not toxic to bees, but they must be protected from the spray jet and from being contaminated with fungicides.
Strawberry plantations are sprayed before flowering with Bordeaux mixture 1% or Champion WP – 0.3% in combination with Karate Zeon 5 CS – 0.02% for their protection against leaf spots (white and red) and weevils. During flowering, they should be treated against grey mould with one of the following fungicides: Topsin M 70 WG – 0.1%, Thiram 80 WG – 0.3%, Shavit F 72 WG – 0.2%.
In raspberry, when the young canes reach a height of 15–20 cm, they are sprayed with Bordeaux mixture 1% or Champion WP – 0.3% against bud blight (Didymella) and cane blight (Coniothyrium).
