Biocontrol in strawberry: bring a swirskii army at fighting strength

Growers of everbearing strawberry varieties better bear in mind that the end of spring and the beginning of summer is an ideal period for thrips to invade (open) fields. The peak is usually observed around late May/early June.” says Julien Mourrut-Salesse, Manager of the Sustainable Crop Management Specialists at Biobest.A rapid and massive pest attack requires an effective answer. In strawberry, the predatory mite Amblyseius swirskii is a trustworthy beneficial. When thrips is already present on the plants and fruits, A. swirskii actively looks for thrips on flowers, leaves and fruits. But also in absence of thrips, the swirskii mite is extremely useful. Thanks to the application of Nutrimite™, Biobest’s 100% natural food supplement made from a special selection of pollen, growers can bring their swirskii army at fighting strength before the pest arrives.“Nutrimite™ contributes significantly to a successful preventative installation of swirskii in strawberry. We saw twice the population level compared to a situation without alternative food source.” says Julien. “This strategy is very effective especially against thrips that appear on the fruits. Moreover, a good population of swirskii also helps to control spider mites and whitefly, other important pests in strawberry.”Practically, Julien typically recommends one swirskii sachet per two (linear) meters of strawberry. Application of Nutrimite™ every 15 days will ensure a good installation of the mites. In some cases, a second introduction of swirskii may be useful.In addition to thrips, spider mites and whitefly, strawberry growers may also face aphid attack. Julien: ”For effective aphid biocontrol, Biobest recommends a preventative strategy based on the Aphi-Mix-System, a ‘blend’ of four species of parasitic wasps (Aphidius colemani, Aphidius ervi, Aphidius matricariae and Aphelinus abdominalis) and Aphidoletes-System, containing the gall midge Aphidoletes aphidimyza. Aphi-Mix can be applied when temperatures are above 12°C, adding Aphidoletes-from the moment minimum temperatures stay above 16 degrees Celsius. Finally, in case of an aphid infestation, the gall midge and the green lacewing Chrysoperla carnea can used curatively.”

Foto and press release: Biobest Belgium N.V.

Read more:

Macfrut Academy, a new video lesson

17 September 2024

The Macfrut Academy, the training platform sponsored by Macfrut, is back after the summer break. A new video lesson on new developments in the production of strawberries, with a special focus on how to enhance and maintain their quality, will be released on Thursday 19 September at 5 pm Italian time (UTC+2). The video lesson begins by looking at the latest developments in variety research, and then analyses market demands and the strategies that researchers and growers can put in place to meet them. »

Expand Your Business at Egypt's Trade Fair! Pacprocess MEA

17 September 2024

pacprocess MEA, the International Exhibition for Processing & Packaging in the Middle East and Africa, is a comprehensive and highly-targeted exhibition that addresses the requirements of the food, beverage, confectionery, bakery, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, non-food, and industrial goods sectors in the Middle East and Africa region. The trade fair brings together local and international industry stakeholders from across the entire value chain to showcase cutting-edge technologies and forge lucrative partnerships. »

FPC Delivers Landmark Win: Import Checks Eased, Fees Waived, and Products Reclassified in Major Boost for UK Food & Drink Industry

16 September 2024

Key changes secured by the FPC include: • Postponement of Import Checks & Fees: Import checks and associated fees on medium-risk fruit and vegetables from the EU have been delayed from January 2025 to 1st July 2025. • Reclassification of Products: Several commodity groups, including apples and pears, have been reclassified from medium to low risk, facilitating their free movement from the EU, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein »