Validation of a Warning System to Control Brown Rot in Peach and Nectarine

Monilinia spp. is the main pathogen that affects stone fruit, causing significant production losses, especially in seasons with favorable climatic conditions for disease development. Currently, standard practices controlling this are by means of spray programs synthetic fungicides. Fungicide applications using treatment schedules imply an increase number applications; however, justified considering real risk infection. Consequently, fruit surface contains a higher and concentration residues, but not better control disease. From previous studies, epidemiology was deeply studied one regions Europe, ‘Valle del Ebro’, epidemiological model developed to describe brown rot epidemic pattern area. After that, warning system fungicide field elaborated included factors be considered as susceptibility, presence inoculum field, climatological (temperature, leaf wetness, rainfall, or their interaction). In present study, we data validation during six 38 fields peaches nectarines Ebro’. The results indicated incidence caused spp., recorded postharvest, similar both plot evaluations calendar systems. However, level late varieties (3.2% 9.3% infected respectively) comparison earlier (0.6% 3.1% respectively). general, strategy applied (the system) did affect recorded. when treatments were following system, reductions than 50% 96% trials early varieties; meanwhile, varieties, reduction obtained 77% trials. Our encourage use proposed effective nectarines, reducing chemical high efficacy.