Abstract
The high level of copper (Cu) accumulation in the soil, the risk of surface water contamination, and the potential public health problems due to Cu entering the food chain have raised concerns on the use of Cu compounds in agriculture, including olive growing. As a consequence, there is worldwide regulatory pressure on agricultural systems to limit the use of Cu compounds. Hence, a field trial was carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of low copper containing chemicals to control olive leaf spot (OLS) disease caused by Venturia oleaginea. The trial was conducted in 2021 in an olive (cv. Nabali Baladi) grove in Palestine. Copper complexed with lignosulphonate and gluconate (Disper Cu Max®) and the self-defense inducer Disper Broton GS® were evaluated and compared to dodine and the traditionally and frequently used copper hydroxide. In addition, untreated trees were used as the control. Treatments were made in March, July, and August. In March 2021, leaves grown in 2020 were present and 100% infected. V. oleaginea infections caused defoliation in untreated and treated olive trees with varying degrees of intensity: the Control had the most defoliation, followed by copper hydroxide and Disper Cu Max®, whereas dodine and, in particular, Disper Broton GS® had the least. All treatments reduced symptomatic leaves but their efficacy varied significantly: copper hydroxide was the least effective, Disper Cu Max® was intermediate, dodine and, mainly, Disper Broton GS® were the most effective. Overall, the results are promising since Disper Cu Max® and Disper Broton GS® were able to significantly reduce OLS damage and the amount of copper used for treatments.
Highlights
Olive (Olea europaea L.), the largest fruit crop in the Mediterranean area, is cultivated on about 9.5 million hectares, contributing to 95 per cent of the total land used for olive cultivation worldwide
Control Cu complexed with LS and G acids Dodine Self-defense inducer Cu hydroxide a aa a aa a a aa aaaaa a
All the compounds tested made it possible to significantly reduce the use of copper, as dodine does not contain any copper and Cu complexed with LS and G acid and the self-defense inducer contain low amounts
Summary
Olive (Olea europaea L.), the largest fruit crop in the Mediterranean area, is cultivated on about 9.5 million hectares, contributing to 95 per cent of the total land used for olive cultivation worldwide. About 98% of the olive oil and 80% of the table olive production worldwide are from Mediterranean countries [1]. Olive cultivation plays a significant role on the economic and social life of communities where it is cultivated. It is essential for providing olive oil and table olives, and for creating, conserving, and shaping the landscape and improving human nutrition and health [2]. Olive production accounts for 13% of the annual agricultural production and is one of the principal sources of income [3,6]
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