Microrganismi fungini associati al punteruolo rosso delle palme in Sicilia

INVESTIGATIONS ON ‘CANDIDATUS PHYTOPLASMA SOLANI’ IN WESTERN SICILY, SOUTHERN ITALY

‘Candidatus Phytoplasma solani’, belonging to the 16SrXII-A subgroup, is associated with grapevine Bois Noir (BN). It is usually transmitted by Hyalesthes obsoletus from a wide range of weeds to grapevine, which is considered a dead-end host. Moreover, other alternative vectors can play a role in the epidemiology of the disease. In Sicily, the presence of BN was reported in 1996, both on typical and on newly introduced cultivars. Furthermore, high BN incidence was observed on native grape cultivars grown close to ‘Chardonnay’ vineyards. In summer 2014 and 2015, the spread and the severity of BN were recorded in a 10 year-old vineyard located in San Giuseppe Jato (PA, Western Sicily), grown …

Effectiveness of clays and copper products in the control of Bactrocera oleae (Gmelin)and Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) in organic farming

Tests on the effect of clays (kaolin and bentonite) and copper products (hydroxide and oxychloride) in the control of olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae (Gmelin), and Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), were carried out from 2003 to 2006 in olive groves, and in 2005 and 2006 in organic orange orchards (early ripening cv. Navelina). Results demonstrate an efficacy of kaolin products in reducing attacks of Bactrocera oleae to olives and those of Ceratitis capitata to oranges. In olive groves, they gave similar or better results than copper hydroxide. Bentonite AG/W8 showed a significant reduction in punctures towards C. capitata. Bentonite products and BPLK kaolin are clea…

Biodiversity in the grapevine: rhizosphere arthropods and mycorrhizal fungi