Page 25 - Vol.38-No.2

CROP PROTECTION

KIWI: PROTECTA® COMPLETE PROTECTION EVEN

FOR ORGANIC ORCHARDS

Cesare Ippolito is the agronomic IROORZHG ,SSROLWR WKHQ PRGLÞHG DQG generate the fruits. Since flowering
consultant in Lazio for Mazzoni group, rebuilt the structures of the orchard, occurs only 10 days a year, in May, it
responsible for the management of PDLQWDLQLQJ LQ WKH ÞUVW LQVWDQFH WKH is important to be able to take advan-
mainly organic fruit orchards. Follow- “hut” structure provided for by the tage of each of these days: however,
ing numerous experiences, he chose previous structure and installing Ar- with adverse weather conditions and
Protecta® agrotextiles to protect the rigoni’s Protecta® nets. without plant protection, the operation
cultivation of kiwis in the Latina area in Thanks to the new agrotextiles, the cannot be carried out and the conse-
which he operates, with the aim of pre- company has managed to protect the quent risk of losses is very high. Thanks
serving plants and fruits from atmos- crops from winds and excessive per- to Protecta®, on the other hand, in the
pheric events. The Arrigoni screens spiration, which risks dehydrating the last season the properties followed by
have also proved to be useful allies to plant. In addition, a second goal was to Ippolito were able to work every day,
exclude harmful insects, a determin- reduce the amount of beating water on thus increasing the chances of having
ing factor especially for the organically the flowers at the time of flowering and an abundant production. Finally, by
grown kiwis. on the leaves. Ippolito explains, in fact, providing extensive protection, Pro-
that this is a crucial element to avoid tecta® helps to preserve crops even
the predisposition to the proliferation from the attack of unwanted insects, not
of bacteriosis, in particular for the new only from the Asiatic stinking bug that
variety of red kiwi, the Dong Hong. “At begins to create different damage to
that point we decided to try the arched crops in central Italy, but also compared
structure, which provides that the tex- to smaller insects, since the texture of
tile stays on the structure in a fairly rig- this agrotextile is very dense.
id, strong, and tense way, allowing the 7KH WHVWV FRQGXFWHG LQ WKH ÞHOG IRO-
fast drainage of water even in case of lowing two excellent seasons in the
hail, exactly as it happens with umbrel- production of kiwifruit, have therefore
las” continues Ippolito. “Protecta® has shown interesting and encouraging
actually helped us in an important way: GDWD FRQÞUPLQJ WKH FKRLFH IRU 3UR-
“Initially, to preserve the plants from this net allows the passage of a small tecta® net systems.
excessive rain, we opted for plastic amount of water but perfectly protects
ÞOPVr UHFDOOV ,SSROLWR q%XW LW ZDV D FRP- the plants, which grow under the net
plete disaster: the province of Latina in a more balanced way, have fewer
is very windy, with gusts that even go leaves and fruits with abrasions”.
so far as to eradicate the plants. After A further objective of the compa-
WKH ÞUVW ZLQWHU YHU\ IHZ SODQWV KDG ny was to protect the kiwi plants that
withstood the weather and where the produce the pollen – the “male” spec-
ZLQG ZDV VWURQJHU WKH SODVWLF ÞOP ZDV imens – to take the pollen and fertilize
in pieces.” In one of the companies he the “female” plants, that is, those that

Circle 36 on enquiry card
U.S. EPA APPROVES EXPANDED USE OF LEAP® ES

BACTERIAL DISEASE MANAGEMENT BIOLOGICAL

INSECTICIDE FROM VALENT BIOSCIENCES

Valent BioSciences has announced lepidopteran larvae that can reduce plant’s natural defense systems against
that the U.S. EPA (Environmental Protec- crop quality and yield. pathogen infections without reducing
tion Agency) has approved the expand- The product triggers plant defens- crop yield.
ed use of LEAP® ES Bacterial Disease es to minimize effects from bacterial “This expanded registration means
Management Biological Insecticide. As diseases while controlling yield-dimin- that more growers will be able to utilize
a result of this approval, LEAP ES is now ishing lepidopteran larvae that can in- LEAP ES to control bacterial disease
registered for preventative use against crease pathogen points of entry. LEAP and worm problems on their crops,”
cabbage Black Rot and Goss’s Wilt in ES contains methyl salicylate (MeSA), a said Rosa Gimenez, Valent BioSciences’
sweet corn. It was approved previously powerful plant compound that elicits a Global Business Director, Biorational
for use on tomatoes and peppers. Crop Protection. “LEAP ES offers a prov-
LEAP ES features a distinctive mode en and effective biorational product
of action and is the only alternative to solution that is ideal for the needs of
copper-based products that, as part of today’s growers.”
a program, delivers two-way protec-
tion from both bacterial diseases and
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Circle 37 on enquiry card Vol. 38 No. 2