In search of sustainable Botrytis management: An extension and research effort

View the project final report

• 2005 annual report
• 2006 annual report
• 2007 annual report

Commodities

• Fruits: berries (other)

Practices

• Crop Production: application rate management
• Education and Training: demonstration, display, extension, participatory research
• Pest Management: biorational pesticides, botanical pesticides, chemical control, competition, compost extracts, cultural control, field monitoring/scouting, prevention
• Production Systems: holistic management
• Sustainable Communities: sustainability measures

We will increase grower knowledge and use of preventative tactics for small fruit diseases, and awareness of organic and biorational products for Botrytis management. Organic growers rely primarily on preventative tactics for pest management; however, for some pests, such as Botrytis diseases, preventative management strategies alone are not sufficient for management. For these pests growers turn to alternative chemical options, the efficacy of which is often not established. This project contains a research and education component. For the research component we will evaluate eight organic and biorational cultural and chemical options for Botrytis management in a test crop of raspberries. Botrytis is the focus of the research project because it has a widespread negative impact on many crops. Raspberries were selected as a test crop because they are a high-value crop produced by a large number of growers in the NE US. Additionally, since raspberries are extremely susceptible to Botrytis, growers contend with it every year. Because of this we anticipate useable results after two trial years. Those results can be transferable to other small fruit crops including strawberries. For the Extension component of the project, we will develop activities to increase awareness and use of preventative disease management options for small fruit crops, including those for Botrytis diseases. Of the 100 growers attending Extension events, 80 will approach disease management on their farms in a more environmentally sustainable way and 50 will have adopted at least one recommended practice one year after Extension events. Surveys will be used to determine that milestones have been reached.

Of the 100 growers attending Extension events, 80 will approach disease management on their farms in a more environmentally sustainable way and 50 will have adopted at least one recommended practice one year after Extension events.
A written survey will be administered to growers attending Extension events to determine their current disease management strategies and whether they plan on changing their management strategies, including adopting at least one recommendation based on the information presented. A follow-up survey will be administered to growers one year after Extension events to document changes in approaching disease management and whether they have adopted at least one recommended strategy for Botrytis management.