New insights into scab control in pears: a necessary step forward for effective management (NOVOSCAB)(NOVOSCAB)

The scab fungus, Venturia pyrina, is one of the key parasites in fruit cultivation. Under favorable weather conditions for the pathogen, if no control measures are taken, the entire harvest can be completely affected in a single season. Scab is also a significant problem in organic pear production. One additional cause of this problem is attributed to the fact that after switching to organic production methods in the short term, depending on the variety, shoot scab can develop. This source of contamination makes scab more challenging to control because growers need to consider secondary infections via conidia from the beginning of the season. Once shoot scab is present in the orchard, it becomes a significant challenge to ensure profitable organic production with the currently available resources.

In recent years, there has been a push for sustainable agriculture. More and more chemical fungicides are under pressure, leading to fewer applications or the withdrawal of their approval. Furthermore, fewer new chemical fungicides are being recognized. Currently, there are some organic fungicides available, but they have not achieved the same level of efficacy as chemical fungicides.

This makes scab control in pear cultivation increasingly difficult. In recent years, there has been an increase in reports of scab infestations in pears, both in integrated and organic cultivation.

The objective of this project is to gain new insights into scab control in pears, with the ultimate goal of implementing an optimized control strategy for pear cultivation in Flanders. This is to be achieved through the following objectives:

1.       Determine the effect of various sanitary measures on scab development (pruning, growth control, leaf shedding).

2.       Understand the (difference in) susceptibility of leaves, fruit, and twigs in new pear varieties.

3.       Gain insight into the effect of plant defense-enhancing agents and their proper positioning.

4.       Assess the effect of alternative/organic agents on scab in pears.

5.       Develop and implement an optimized treatment schedule.