Мassive is the attack of diseases and pests after the flowering of fruit trees

In the orchard in May

The average monthly temperature in May for most regions of the country is within the range of 15 to 18 ℃. Very often in certain years the daytime temperatures reach up to 30℃. In May the amount of precipitation increases. It is short but intensive.

Meteorologists forecast that this year in May the average air temperature will be around 17℃, with the lowest expected to be within 4-7℃ in the morning hours and the highest around 20 to 25℃ during daylight hours. Precipitation during the month will not exceed the average norm and this year will be around 70 l/sq.m, and is expected to reach up to 100 l/sq.m in the eastern part of the country.

In May, fruit trees are in the phenophase of intensive growth.

Post-bloom sprays are mandatory for:

- apple – against scab, powdery mildew, codling moth, San José scale, leaf-mining moths, mites and aphids

- pear – against scab, leaf spots, pear psylla, codling moth and oriental fruit moth

- sweet cherry and sour cherry – against cherry leaf spot (cylindrosporiosis), red leaf spots, rust, brown rot, plum fruit moth and common plum scale insect

- peach – against powdery mildew, shot-hole disease, brown rot, Anarsia, oriental fruit moth and aphids

- apricot – against brown rot, gnomonia, Anarsia and oriental fruit moth

For effective plant protection it is necessary:

• Spraying to be carried out according to the warnings of the Regional Food Safety Directorates and the advice of plant protection agronomists.
• To use only pesticides that are authorised for use, and spraying to be carried out only when the pest density exceeds the established economic injury thresholds, which are as follows:

Codling moth – 0.8 – 1% fresh entries;

Oriental fruit moth – 1.5% damaged fruits;

Plum fruit moth – 1 – 1.5% fresh entries;

Anarsia – 3% damaged shoots;

Cherry fruit fly – 10 flies/trap;

Aphids – 10 – 15% infested shoots;

Common plum scale insect – 5-7 individuals per leaf;

Leaf-mining moths – 1-2 fresh mines per leaf;

Orchard mites – 3-4 individuals per leaf;

Pear psylla – 4-6% shoots with colonies;

Strawberry blossom weevil and strawberry stem weevil – 15% infested plants.

In organic production the use of synthetic pesticides is not permitted. For the control of fungal diseases, copper-containing and sulphur-containing fungicides are used. For the control of codling moth and oriental fruit moth, Madex Top and Madex Twin are approved – 10 ml/da, as well as dispensers – RAK 3+4 for codling moth and RAK 5+6 and FEROCON AM for oriental fruit moth. Naturalis OD is included in the list for the control of cherry fruit fly and common pear psylla.

Cherry fruit fly can also be controlled by means of yellow sticky traps, with 4 traps placed on each tree.

Against leaf-chewing pests on fruit trees, Dipel 2X is used – 0.1%. For the control of the apple spotted leaf-mining moth an effective bioinsecticide is Neem Azal T/S – 300 ml/da.

Sineis 480SC – is authorised for use in: strawberry against thrips, apricot, peach and nectarine against peach twig borer, pear against pear psylla and apple against codling moth and apple spotted leaf-mining moth.

Detailed information on the plant protection products approved against the pests and their application rates can be found in issue 4/2018 of the journal “Plant Protection“