Institut für Pflanzenschutz in Gartenbau und Forst
The aim of the project is to develop effective strategies which require a minimum of plant protection products to prevent yield-relevant damage to plants and fruits of organically grown tomatoes by the tomato russet[BE1] mite Aculops lycopersici. These strategies can also be used in other cultivation systems, e.g. in integrated cultivation. In order to ensure that the results are relevant and can be applied in practice, exact trials are carried out both in experimental cultivation and on practical farms. In addition, the overall system is optimised with regard to the management of the tomato russet mite.A core objective of the project is to optimise the use of beneficial insects and to broaden the range of beneficial insects against the tomato russet mite. In addition to Amblyseius swirskii, a predatory mite species of the genus Homeopronematus and the genus Pronematus will be tested. A further aim of the project is to be able to give recommendations for tomato varieties for an optimised use of predatory mites. In addition, variety recommendations for tomato varieties that are less susceptible to russet mite damage are to be given.The project also aims to develop an optimised climate control system under which mass infestation with russet mites is suppressed. To this end, various climate management and shading options are being tested in practice. In addition, physical barriers are being developed that are suitable for greenhouse cultivation in order to effectively prevent or reduce colonisation of tomato plants by the russet mite. Combined measures are also being tested in the project in order to make sure that the project results can and will be applied in practice.An optimised early detection of the infestation is also to be developed in the project, among other things with an automated russet mite sampling technique. The aim is to find measures to prevent or reduce mass reproduction in spring.
Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture
