Fragola: le api nostre alleate nella lotta contro la botrite

Summary

We aimed to demonstrate the applicability of the entomo-vectoring approach, using as a case study the control of strawberry grey mould Botrytis cinerea, with the biocontrol fungus Gliocladium catenulatum, delivered to strawberry flowers by honey bees. The trial targets cultivations in the open field included four treatments: untreated control, chemical fungicide, entomovectored biocontrol, and chemical + biocontrol combined. The proportion of mouldy berries, and/or the marketable yield of healthy berries was recorded from each treatment, along with other parameters of local interest, and showed the best results in the treatment biocontrol+chemical control, and in the entomovectored biocontrol with respect to untreated control.