Commercial Apple Orchards Research Articles

Draft Genome Sequences of Four Streptomycin-Sensitive Erwinia amylovora Strains Isolated from Commercial Apple Orchards in Ohio.

ABSTRACTErwinia amylovora is the causative agent of fire blight, a devastating disease of apples and pears worldwide. Here, we report draft genome sequences of four streptomycin-sensitive strains of E. amylovora that were isolated from diseased apple trees in Ohio.

Apple blister mite (Eriophyes mali Nal): pest biology and measures to prevent it harmfulness on apple orchards in Ukraine

Apple blister mite (Eriophyes mali Nal): pest biology and measures to prevent it harmfulness on apple orchards in Ukraine

Both organic and integrated pest management of apple orchards maintain soil health as compared to a semi-natural reference system

Growing concerns about the negative environmental impacts of agriculture have resulted in the increasing adoption of farming systems that try to reconcile crop production with environmental sustainability, such as organic farming. As organic farming refrains from using synthetic inputs, it heavenly relies on maintaining soil health. However, it is still poorly understood how organic management performs in terms of maintaining soil health in real commercial and heterogeneous farm settings as compared to conventional management, and especially as compared to a natural reference system. Here, we compared a set of soil health indicators among 24 commercial apple orchards that were either managed organically or conventionally using Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices. In addition, we quantified the same indicators in 12 semi-natural grasslands as a benchmark to assess to what extent soil processes and functions have been degraded due to agricultural practices. As soil heath indicators, we quantified soil bulk density, organic matter content, organic carbon content, organic carbon stock, total nitrogen (N), potential heterotrophic respiration, potential net N mineralization, litter decomposition and litter stabilization, and we added the diversity of the herbaceous vegetation and the soil microbiome as covariates in our models. We found no differences between organic and IPM orchards, and neither of the farming systems showed evidence of impaired soil health compared to the semi-natural benchmark, with the exception of higher decomposition rates measured in both orchard types. We observed, however, high spatial variation in soil health between drive and crop rows within the orchards. Especially in the IPM orchards, crop rows showed impaired soil health compared to the adjacent drive rows, indicating that there is still opportunity to improve soil management in the IPM system. In addition, our results show that a considerable part of the variation in soil characteristics can be attributed to the study site, suggesting that both natural heterogeneity and personal management preferences by individual farmers are more important than the management system. Overall, and at least in terms of the soil variables measured in this study, our results suggest that perennial crop systems can be managed in a sustainable way, without jeopardizing soil health.

Seasonal Distribution of Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) Captures in Woods-to-Orchard Pheromone Trap Transects in Virginia.

The invasive brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål), is a pest of numerous economically important crops in the USA. In the Mid-Atlantic region, it is a significant, direct pest in tree fruit orchards, many of which are bordered by woodlots containing a variety of its deciduous tree and shrub hosts. During the growing season, H. halys moves from woodland habitats into crops, but seasonal changes in its relative abundance between these adjacent habitats have not been examined. Using linear transects of six pheromone-baited pyramid traps that extended from 100 m into the interior of woodlots to 100 m into the interior of adjacent commercial apple orchards in Virginia, spatiotemporal changes in H. halys captures were measured during three growing seasons. Captures of H. halys adults and nymphs were recorded weekly from May through October, and annual data were separated into early, mid, and late-season captures. Only adults were captured during the early season, and there was no indication of a spatial trend in captures across traps in the transects among years. Beginning in mid-season and becoming increasingly apparent by late season, captures of H. halys adults and nymphs tended to become most frequent in traps at the woods and orchard edges and at 50 m into the orchard interior. These findings conform with and expand upon previous research documenting an edge effect for H. halys relative abundance and can inform and support the optimization of perimeter-based management strategies for H. halys in Mid-Atlantic apple orchards.

Dominance of honey bees is negatively associated with wild bee diversity in commercial apple orchards regardless of management practices

Commercial apple production relies on managed honey bees (Apis mellifera) for pollination, and on intensive management for pest control. Previous studies have highlighted the potentially detrimental effects of intensive crop management on wild bee diversity in agroecosystems, potentially jeopardizing the pollination services they provide. However, the extent to which honey bee dominance and crop management interact under field-realistic conditions and drive the structure of wild bee assemblages has not been investigated so far. In this study, we measured species richness, as well as the functional and phylogenetic diversity of wild bee assemblages in 36 paired organic and non-organic apple orchards during their flowering season and along a geographic gradient across western Europe. Our results show a strong significant and negative association between honey bee dominance and all wild bee diversity metrics, regardless of local management. Semi-natural habitats had a significant and positive effect on functional diversity, while urbanization and crop cover around the orchards showed no effect on all measured diversity metrics. A greater number of species exhibited less common, or frequent, combinations of functional traits at sites with high honey bee dominance, especially larger bee species with longer tongues. Collectively, we show that wild bee diversity decreases with increasing honey bee dominance, and that this negative association is not buffered by alternative (i.e., organic) management practices in commercial apple orchards. Although organic farming can bring about biodiversity benefits, our study demonstrates that, in the context of commercial apple production, other measures are needed to enhance and harness biodiversity for sustainable and profitable crop production. In particular, a lowered reliance on honey bees and a redesign of orchards through configurational crop heterogeneity and/or the restoration of in-field semi‐natural elements are required beyond agricultural input substitution.

Life table simulations of a univoltine codling moth, Cydia pomonella, population 1. Biological control with Mastrus ridens

ABSTRACT The potential for the newly established ichneumonid Mastrus ridens (Horstmann) to provide biological control of codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.), was simulated by incorporating different rates of parasitism into previously published life tables for a univoltine codling moth population on unsprayed apple trees in Nelson, New Zealand. Simulations over eight years were conducted using high and low initial codling moth densities, as occur respectively on neglected apple trees and commercially managed orchards. Life table simulations without M. ridens served as control treatments for comparison with simulations that included various rates of parasitism by each of the estimated three annual generations of the parasitoid. Based on the percentage parasitism recorded in New Zealand and the international literature, M. ridens is projected by the models to provide a valuable reduction of codling moth populations on neglected host trees in Nelson and thereby reduce the numbers of immigrant adult moths invading commercial apple orchards. In contrast, the codling moth is maintained at such extremely low densities within commercial apple orchards growing fruit for export that M. ridens is projected to make only a small contribution to parasitism within the orchard. These simulation results confirm the validity of the rationale for the introduction of M. ridens to New Zealand, which aimed to reduce the numbers of immigrant codling moths arriving in orchards from highly infested and neglected host trees in the wider environment.

No Evidence of Resistance to Trifloxystrobin, Triflumizole, and Boscalid in Podosphaera leucotricha Isolates From U.S. Commercial Apple Orchards.

Apple powdery mildew, caused by Podosphaera leucotricha, continues to be a challenge in commercial apple orchards in the U.S. Pacific Northwest and worldwide. In this study, P. leucotricha isolates were collected in 2018 and 2019 from two organic (baseline) and eight conventional (exposed) apple orchards in Washington, New York, and Virginia, and assessed for their sensitivity to trifloxystrobin (TRI, n = 232), triflumizole (TFZ, n = 217), and boscalid (BOS, n = 240) using a detached leaf assay. Effective concentrations inhibiting 50% growth (EC50) were not significantly different between baseline and exposed isolates, and ranged from 0.001 to 0.105, 0.09 to 6.31, and 0.05 to 2.18 µg/ml, for TRI, TFZ, and BOS, respectively. Reduction in sensitivity by factors of 105, 63, and 22 to TRI, TFZ, and BOS, respectively, were observed in some isolates, but all isolates were controlled by the commercial label rates of the three fungicides on detached leaves. Sequencing of the cytochrome b (cytb), cytochrome P450 sterol 14α-demethylase (CYP51), and the iron-sulfur protein subunit (SdhB) genes in isolates with high EC50 revealed no mutation previously reported to confer resistance to these fungicides in other fungi, and presence of a group I intron after codon 143 in the cytb gene. Significant (P < 0.001) moderate positive correlations (r = 0.38) observed between sensitivity to TRI and TFZ warrant continuous rotations of fungicides with different modes of action in conventional orchards. The established baseline sensitivities and the molecular markers will help in selecting discriminatory doses and bypassing the challenging invivo testing for future sensitivity monitoring in P. leucotricha.

Proximity to natural habitat and flower plantings increases insect populations and pollination services in South African apple orchards

Abstract Introducing areas of wildflower vegetation within crop fields has been shown to enhance pollinator activity and pollination services to crops, and findings in Europe showed an interaction effect between floral treatments and landscape context. Natural fynbos patches in the South African Cape Floristic Region (CFR) are potential reservoirs for beneficial insects that could enhance pollinator populations and crop pollination in commercial apple orchards. However, the effect of proximity to natural habitat and floral enhancement treatments on crop pollinators and yield are yet to be fully tested in southern temperate regions. To elucidate the impact of enhanced floral resources to apple flower visitors and crop yield, we established small experimental patches of flowers in non‐productive areas of commercial apple Malus domestica orchards in the CFR. Experimental orchards were embedded in landscapes with varying proportions of natural habitat within 1 km. We used pollinator exclusion experiments to determine the benefits of insect pollination on apple yield, quality and economic value. We found that the primary pollinator of apple flowers in the region is the endemic Cape honey bee, Apis mellifera capensis. Floral plantings enhanced overall pollinator abundance and honey bee flower visitation within the orchards, and positively affected apple size and economic value. Increased landscape complexity had a significantly positive effect on wild bees but not on honey bees. Synthesis and applications. We demonstrate that presence of floral plantings within orchards enhances pollinator activity within apple orchards and apple quality. This sustainable management practice may represent a profitable choice for growers, which could increase pollination services while reducing reliance on renting hives. These practices can indirectly contribute to increased landscape‐scale resilience and connectivity while also benefiting pollinators within the remaining natural habitat.

β-Aminobutyric Acid Induced Resistance against Alternaria Fruit Rot in Apple Fruits.

Fruit body rot and calyx rot caused by Alternaria alternata f. sp. mali is an important disease of apple worldwide. The disease has recently become severe in cv. Pink Lady apple in Israel to an extent that has never been reported elsewhere in the world. No alternative control measures of the disease except fungicides are known. Here, we show for the first time that dl-β-aminobutyric acid (BABA) induces resistance against Alternaria fruit rot (AFR) in apple fruits in the laboratory and in the orchard. AFR was inhibited in fruits treated with BABA of 1000 μg/mL. BABA did not inhibit spore germination or mycelial growth of the pathogen in vitro (up to 2000 μg/mL). It was most inhibitory when applied 4 days prior to inoculation of detached fruits. BABA inhibited AFR also curatively when applied at 24 h post inoculation. Five other isomers of aminobutyric acid failed to protect the fruits from rot formation. Three field trials in commercial apple orchards proved that BABA was as protective against AFR as the commercial standard fungicidal mixture of azoxystrobin and difenoconazole. This research suggests that BABA may serve as a resistance inducer in apple against AFR. It can be used as an adequate alternative to the currently used fungicides or integrated in disease management programs to reduce fungicide load and buildup of fungicide resistance.

Modeling of Individual Fruit-Bearing Capacity of Trees Is Aimed at Optimizing Fruit Quality of Malus x domestica Borkh. 'Gala'.

The capacity of apple trees to produce fruit of a desired diameter, i.e., fruit-bearing capacity (FBC), was investigated by considering the inter-tree variability of leaf area (LA). The LA of 996 trees in a commercial apple orchard was measured by using a terrestrial two-dimensional (2D) light detection and ranging (LiDAR) laser scanner for two consecutive years. The FBC of the trees was simulated in a carbon balance model by utilizing the LiDAR-scanned total LA of the trees, seasonal records of fruit and leaf gas exchanges, fruit growth rates, and weather data. The FBC was compared to the actual fruit size measured in a sorting line on each individual tree. The variance of FBC was similar in both years, whereas each individual tree showed different FBC in both seasons as indicated in the spatially resolved data of FBC. Considering a target mean fruit diameter of 65 mm, FBC ranged from 84 to 168 fruit per tree in 2018 and from 55 to 179 fruit per tree in 2019 depending on the total LA of the trees. The simulated FBC to produce the mean harvest fruit diameter of 65 mm and the actual number of the harvested fruit >65 mm per tree were in good agreement. Fruit quality, indicated by fruit's size and soluble solids content (SSC), showed enhanced percentages of the desired fruit quality according to the seasonally total absorbed photosynthetic energy (TAPE) of the tree per fruit. To achieve a target fruit diameter and reduce the variance in SSC at harvest, the FBC should be considered in crop load management practices. However, achieving this purpose requires annual spatial monitoring of the individual FBC of trees.

Effectiveness of modern insecticides in protection of apple planting from blood-red aphids

Goal. To investigate an efficacy of the insecticides Movento 100 SC (spirotetramate, 100 g/l), Sivanto Prime 200 SL (flupiradifuran, 200 g/l) and Transform WG (sulfoxaflor, 500 g/ kg) on a reduction of a number and a harmfulness of blood-red aphid (Eriosoma laniqerum Hausm.), their impact on yields in commercial apple orchards.&#x0D; Methods. A field method, in the commercial apple orchards under the conditions of educational production department of Uman National University of Horticulture of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine . A type of apple trees was Golden Delicious. Planting scheme — 4.0 × 3.0 m. Year of planting — 1992. Crown shape — sparsely (improved) — tiered. Rootstock — MM-106. Phases of plant development at application timing — “after blooming, fruit size — up to 20 mm” (BBCH 72) and “development of fruit (fruits about 90% of the final size)” (BBCH 79). Soil — shallow, low — humus dusty — loamy podzolic leached black soils: humus content — 1.3—2.5%; pH 4.8—5.2; mobile compounds Р2О5 — 130—180 mg/ kg and К2О — 8.9—9.2 mg/ kg (by Chirikov method). The measures for care of the experimental site — loosening a soil in the stem strips during the growing period, an application of organic and mineral fertilizers, a pruning, a splaying of grass between the rows (row spacing),a protection from pests and diseases. The technical effectiveness of applications was determined in different rates against blood-red aphids and their impact on yields in commercial apple orchards. Calculations were made according to generally accepted methods in in horticulture, plant protection and entomology.&#x0D; Results. The use of insecticides Movento 100 SC (spirotetramate, 100 g/l), Sivanto Prime 200 SL (flupiradifuran, 200 g/l) and Transform WG (sulfoxaflor, 500 g/kg) against blood-red aphids provided a reduction of this species in the number of 92.8—97.2%. It allowed to obtain a high — grade apple product with a yield of 1.7—1.9 times higher comparing to control. The outcome of non-standard products did not exceed 4,9% compare to 24,9% in the control (water treatment). An application of these insecticides allowed to increase the effectiveness of main biometric indicators of trees, namely: the average length of annual shoots, shoot thickness, leaf surface area by 52.4—76.9%, 1.1—1.2 times and 47.9—138.5%, accordingly, which is important for settlement of potential fruit buds and future yields.&#x0D; Conclusions. The use of insecticides Movento 100 SC (spirotetramat, 100 g/l), Sivanto Prime 200 SL (flupiradifuran, 200 g/l) Transform WG (sulfoxaflor, 500 g/kg) can reduce effectively the harmfulness of blood-red aphids in apple orchards and control its number during the growing period. A limitation of a number of the current sucking species in apple orchard by using the studied applications provided a yield increase and a marketable quality of the obtained fruit products and the effectiveness of basic biometric indicators of trees, namely: the average length of annual shoots, shoot thickness, leaf surface area, which is important for the potential yields in commercial apple orchards in the next years.

Border Habitat Effects on Captures of Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in Pheromone Traps and Fruit Injury at Harvest in Apple and Peach Orchards in the Mid-Atlantic, USA.

Simple SummaryBrown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) is a significant threat to the production of tree fruit, corn and soybean, and some vegetable crops in much of the USA and abroad. Its feeding causes injury that reduces crop quality and yield. BMSB invades crop fields from adjoining habitats, where it also feeds and develops on a broad range of wild and cultivated plants. Thus, it is considered a perimeter-driven threat, and research on management tactics to reduce insecticide applications against it has focused on intervention at crop edges. Woodlands often border one or more edges of crop fields in the Mid-Atlantic, USA, and are considered a main source of BMSB invasion, although tree fruit orchards in this region are typically also bordered along other edges by other habitats, including other tree fruit blocks and field crops. The effect of woodlands and other habitats bordering orchards on BMSB captures in pheromone traps and crop injury at harvest has not been compared. A two-year study in Mid-Atlantic fruit orchards confirmed that BMSB captures and fruit injury were often highest at edges bordering woodlands, but that other border habitats also contributed significantly to captures and injury in some instances.The invasive Halyomorpha halys invades crop fields from various bordering habitats, and its feeding on crops has caused significant economic losses. Thus, H. halys is considered a perimeter-driven threat, and research on alternative management tactics against it has focused on intervention at crop edges. Woodlands adjacent to crop fields contain many hosts of H. halys and are therefore considered “riskiest” in terms of pest pressure and crop injury. However, tree fruit orchards in the Mid-Atlantic, USA, are often bordered on one or more sides by woodlands and other habitats, including other tree fruit blocks, and field crops. Monitoring H. halys using pheromone traps has most often focused on the crop–woodland interface, but the relative effects of woodlands and other habitats bordering orchards on pest pressure and crop injury have not been examined. A two-year study comparing seasonal captures of H. halys and fruit injury among different habitats bordering commercial apple and peach orchards in the Mid-Atlantic revealed that while woodland borders often posed the greatest risk, other border habitats also contributed significantly to captures and injury in numerous instances. The relevance of these findings to refining and optimizing perimeter-based monitoring and management approaches for H. halys is discussed.

Using RNA-seq to characterize pollen\u2013stigma interactions for pollination studies

Insects are essential for the reproduction of pollinator-dependent crops and contribute to the pollination of 87% of wild plants and 75% of the world’s food crops. Understanding pollen flow dynamics between plants and pollinators is thus essential to manage and conserve wild plants and ensure yields are maximized in food crops. However, the determination of pollen transfer in the field is complex and laborious. We developed a field experiment in a pollinator-dependent crop and used high throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to quantify pollen flow by measuring changes in gene expression between pollination treatments across different apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) cultivars. We tested three potential molecular indicators of successful pollination and validated these results with field data by observing single and multiple visits by honey bees (Apis mellifera) to apple flowers and measured fruit set in a commercial apple orchard. The first indicator of successful outcrossing was revealed via differential gene expression in the cross-pollination treatments after 6 h. The second indicator of successful outcrossing was revealed by the expression of specific genes related to pollen tube formation and defense response at three different time intervals in the stigma and the style following cross-pollination (i.e. after 6, 24, and 48 h). Finally, genotyping variants specific to donor pollen could be detected in cross-pollination treatments, providing a third indicator of successful outcrossing. Field data indicated that one or five flower visits by honey bees were insufficient and at least 10 honey bee flower visits were required to achieve a 25% probability of fruit set under orchard conditions. By combining the genotyping data, the differential expression analysis, and the traditional fruit set field experiments, it was possible to evaluate the pollination effectiveness of honey bee visits under orchards conditions. This is the first time that pollen-stigma-style mRNA expression analysis has been conducted after a pollinator visit (honey bee) to a plant (in vivo apple flowers). This study provides evidence that mRNA sequencing can be used to address complex questions related to stigma–pollen interactions over time in pollination ecology.

Assessment of risk to honey bees and honey consumers resulting from the insect exposure to captan, thiacloprid, penthiopyrad, and λ-cyhalothrin used in a commercial apple orchard.

Samples of leaves, flowers, soil, pollen, bee workers, bee brood, honey, and beeswax were collected to assess the possibility of a transfer of captan, thiacloprid, penthiopyrad, and λ-cyhalothrin from apple trees of Idared variety to honey bee (Apis mellifera) hives. Chemical analyses were performed using the Agilent 7890 Gas Chromatograph equipped with the Micro-cell Electron Capture Detector. It was found that significant amounts of penthiopyrad, the active ingredient of Fontelis 200 SC, were present in leaves, flowers, pollen, bee workers, and beeswax. Simultaneously, captan was present in the brood, worker bees, and honey samples. Significant levels of the captan residues were also detected on the soil surface. In honey samples, captan residue levels exceeded the acceptable standard, reaching 160% of its maximum residue level. However, in no case the amounts of captan, thiacloprid, penthiopyrad, and λ-cyhalothrin ingested with honey by an adult consumer exceeded the level of 0.02% of the acceptable daily intake. Despite the trace amounts of pesticide residues in honey samples collected during the field trial, bee honey consumption can be considered safe. An adult consumer can safely consume about 16kg of honey.

Assessing and Minimizing the Development and Spread of Fire Blight Following Mechanical Thinning and Pruning in Apple Orchards.

The adoption of mechanical thinning and pruning in commercial apple orchards has been limited largely by the risk of development and spread of fire blight. This devastating disease, caused by the bacterial pathogen Erwinia amylovora, may be transmitted by mechanical injury such as pruning, especially under warm, moist conditions conducive to bacterial growth, infection, and disease development. However, risk may be mitigated by avoiding highest-risk times and applying a bactericide, such as streptomycin, after mechanical thinning or pruning. In 'Gala' and 'Idared' orchards, we evaluated the risk of fire blight development and spread after mechanical thinning early in bloom (20% bloom), when seasonal temperatures are cooler and there are few open flowers available for infection. In both orchards, we also evaluated the spread and development of fire blight by mechanical pruning in July and in August, before and after terminal bud set, when shoot growth is slowed and the tree is less susceptible to infection. We also assessed the potential efficacy of a streptomycin or Bacillus subtilis biopesticide application after mechanical thinning and pruning to mitigate the spread of fire blight. In the 'Gala' orchard, disease never developed beyond the inoculated tree after thinning or pruning, which was unexpected for this highly susceptible cultivar. In the 'Idared' orchard, incidence of blossom or shoot blight from the point source, represented as relative area under the disease progress curve, was rarely different for trees that underwent mechanical thinning or mechanical pruning compared with untreated trees, and it was often reduced or eliminated when the antibiotic streptomycin or the B. subtilis biopesticide was applied within 24 h of mechanical thinning or pruning. For both thinning and pruning, incidence of fire blight dropped off quickly beyond the inoculated tree in the 'Idared' orchard and generally was not observed in trees beyond 10 to 15 m from the inoculated point source or predicted beyond 10 m by exponential and power law models fit to the disease progress curves. The results of this work demonstrate the low risk for fire blight development and spread by mechanical thinning and pruning when practiced under low-risk conditions-early in bloom for mechanical thinning and after terminal bud set (in August) for mechanical pruning-especially when paired with a subsequent bactericide application. This study demonstrates the safe use of mechanical thinning and pruning in commercial apple production, corroborated by anecdotal evidence from apple growers in western New York State.

Assessment of the Possibilities of Using Cross-Linked Polyacrylamide (Agro Hydrogel) and Preparations with Biostimulation in Building the Quality Potential of Newly Planted Apple Trees

The research was carried out in a commercial apple orchard in southeastern Poland. The aim of the research was to evaluate the effect of fertilizer with biostimulation and humic acids with algae extracts and agrogel on the reception and growth of newly planted maiden apple trees of the ‘Gala Must’ variety. One-year-old budwoods were planted annually on the site where fruit trees had grown for 20 years. For the purpose of the experiment, old trees were grubbed up every year in autumn. The experiment assessed the growth and quality of apple trees in the fall of the first year after planting them permanently using a biostimulator in the form of fertilizer and agrogel. On the basis of 3-year studies, it was shown that the application of the assessed preparations had a positive effect on the quality parameters of the trees. The experiment showed the positive effect of the preparation with biostimulation on the best growth and quality parameters every year, which was confirmed by the multidimensional cluster analysis. The fact that the use of agrogel significantly modified the height of the evaluated apple trees in the second year of the study, when lower amounts of rainfall were recorded, is particularly noteworthy.

Native Predatory Mites Collected from Undergrowth in Commercial Apple Orchards in Iwate Prefecture, Northern Japan

Native Predatory Mites Collected from Undergrowth in Commercial Apple Orchards in Iwate Prefecture, Northern Japan

A high-throughput &lt;i&gt;S-RN&lt;/i&gt;ase genotyping method for apple

Knowledge of the genotypes for the self-incompatibility locus (S-locus) in apple varieties and in genotypes being used as parents is critical for breeding and commercial production. We present a high-throughput set of molecular markers for the identification of 13 common S-RNase alleles (S1, S2, S3, S5, S7, S8, S9, S10, S20, S23, S24, S25 and S28). This set is composed of seven allele-specific quantitative PCR-based High-Resolution Melting assays and four multi-allelic SSR markers. Validation of these markers was performed using 86 apple accessions, including cultivars with known S-genotypes and recent commercial varieties arising from the Plant & Food Research (PFR) cultivar breeding programme. We also characterized the S-genotypes of 183 genotypes representing some of the most valuable parents within PFR’s cultivar breeding programme. The results of this work demonstrate the practical usefulness of this marker set to provide accurate cross-compatibility information to optimise choice of pollenisers in commercial apple orchard design, and to identify compatible parents and guide parental selection when executing apple breeding programmes, to optimise fruit crop yield and quality.

Effectiveness of modern insecticides in protection of apple planting from red-headed aphides

Goal. To investigate an efficacy of the insecticides Movento 100 SC (spirotetramate, 100 g/l), Sivanto Prime 200 SL (flupiradifuran, 200 g/l) and Transform WG (sulfoxaflor, 500 g/kg) on a reduction of a number and a harmfulness of red-headed or gray apple aphid (Disaphis devecta Walk.) in commercial apple orchards.&#x0D; Methods. A field method, in the commercial apple orchards under the conditions of educational production department of university. A type of apple trees was Golden Delicious. Planting scheme — 4.0 × 3.0 m. Year of planting — 1992. Crown shape — sparsely (improved) — tiered. Rootstock — MM-106. Phases of plant development at application timing — «after blooming, fruit size — up to 20 mm» (BBCH 72). Soil — shallow, low — humus dusty — loamy podzolic leached black soils: humus content — 1.3—2.5%; pH 4.8—5.2; mobile compounds Р2О5 — 130—180 mg/ kg and К2О — 8,9—9,2 mg/kg (by Chirikov method). The measures for care of the experimental site — loosening a soil in the stem strips during the growing period, an application of organic and mineral fertilizers, a pruning, a splaying of grass between the rows (row spacing),a protection from pests and diseases. The technical effectiveness of applications was determined in different rates against red-headed aphids in the apple orchards. Calculations were made according to generally accepted methods in plant protection and entomology.&#x0D; Results. The use of insecticides Movento 100 SC, Sivanto Prime 200 SL and Transform WG against red-headed aphids provided a reduction of this species in the number of 92.8—97.2%. It allowed to obtain a high — grade apple product with a yield of 1.7—1.9 times higher comparing to control. The outcome of non-standard products did not exceed 4.9% compare to 24.9% in the control (water treatment).&#x0D; Conclusions. The use of insecticides Movento 100 SC, Sivanto Prime 200 SL, Transform WG can reduce effectively the harmfulness of red-headed aphids in apple orchards and control its number during the growing period. A limiting the number of a current sucking species in the apple orchard by using the studied applications provided a yield increase and a marketable quality of the obtained fruit products.

Soil Nitrogen and Weed Biodiversity: An Assessment under Two Orchard Floor Management Practices in a Nitrogen Vulnerable Zone in Italy

Nowadays, understory vegetation along the tree row is considered a vital source of agroecosystem services and functional biodiversity improvement in the fruit orchard. Hence, current orchard floor management systems encourage practicing a more sustainable approach that supports vegetation cover rather than keeping bare soil herbicide use, or tillage. A two-year field trial was conducted using two different ground management techniques; integrated mowing (mower and brush or disc) and herbicide (glyphosate) in two commercial apple and peach orchards in a nitrogen vulnerable zone (NVZ) of the Marche region, Italy. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of these practices on soil N status, weed abundance, percent of soil cover, and dry weed biomass production. Weed management systems had no significant effect on soil organic matter and N availability; however, an improvement was noticed under integrated mowing when compared to the one treated with herbicides. Integrated mowing had a significant effect on species richness, soil coverage, and weed biomass production, which was approximately 2-times higher than in the herbicide-treated plots. The overall results showed that integrated mowing maintained a balance in the soil N status of both orchards, while supporting above-ground weed biodiversity and soil protection.