Variation in damage levels by codling moth to ten apple cultivars in an organic orchard in Poland

Authors: WITOLD DANELSKI , DOROTA KRUCZYNSKA, PAWEL BIELICKI, ELZBIETA ROZPARA

Abstract: This study was conducted in an experimental ecological orchard in central Poland in 2011-2013. The experiment assessed the variation in damage to the fruit of ten apple cultivars by the codling moth Cydia pomonella (L.) under an organic system of apple cultivation. The cultivars were divided into two groups according to their susceptibility to apple scab Venturia inaequalis (Cooke) Wint. The first group of apple trees (A) consisted of cultivars resistant to scab (Enterprise, Gold Milenium, Rajka, Rewena, and Topaz), while the second group (B) consisted of cultivars with reduced susceptibility to scab (Delbard Jubile, Ligolina, Pinova, Piros, and Szampion). All of the trees of the evaluated cultivars were protected against the codling moth by applying treatments containing the codling moth granulosis virus (CpGV). Codling moth adults were monitored using pheromone traps during the study period. Each year, an assessment of fruit damage was made for all apple cultivars. The 3-year average percentage of damaged fruit for group A ranged from 1.0% (Gold Milenium) to 4.1% (Topaz), and in group B from 1.3% (Piros) to 3.3% (Pinova). Overall, the highest percentage of damaged fruit was recorded in 2013.

Keywords: Apple cultivars, organic orchard, fruit damage, Cydia pomonella (L.), Poland

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