Testing the effect of a rainproof protection net on the apple production regarding disease and pest damages

Summary

In a field trial within the CORE Organic project DOMINO, the effect of a rain protection combined with lateral insect nets (“Keep in touch – Antiacqua”) was tested for organic apple production. The rain-proof roof should protect the trees from rainwater, reducing the emergence of fungal infections such as scab and rotting diseases including post harvest diseases, while the lateral nets should markedly decrease the damages caused by pests.
The Keep in touch system without any spray from the blooming on was compared to an uncovered and unsprayed treatment (control) as well as an uncovered and organically sprayed treatment. The trial was carried out from 2019 to 2021 on ‘Gala’ in South Tyrol and ‘Topaz’ and ‘Ariwa’ in Switzerland. Diseases and pests on the trees resp. on the fruits were assessed during the season resp. at harvest. Furthermore, fruit quality and post-storage diseases on fruits were rated.