P
hytosanitary questions are
a constant concern in the
routine treatments of the
apple sector for a crop that
is satisfactory in quality and
quantity. At its fundamental role, research
seeks innovative solutions for the preven-
tion and control of pests and diseases,
with more sustainable and viable options
in economic terms. This is what Mosca-
sul proposes – Embrapa Grape and Wine
Biological Control and Integrated Fruit
Fly Management Center, based in Vacaria
(RS), now at its conclusion stage.
The center is a temporary structure
that lends support to research on the con-
trol of the fruit fly, with the focus on inte-
grated pest management (IPM). Accord-
ing to Adalécio Kovaleski, supervisor of
the station and coordinator of the center,
the goal consists in producing and dissem-
inating sterile insects and parasitoids, at a
pilot scale and for undetermined time, for
assessing its effectiveness. After the valida-
tion process, it is supposed to be used on
a large scale on the crops affected by the
The apple sector is engaged inmany
researchinitiativesandphytosanitarysurveillance,
asastrategyoftheFruitFlyControlCenter
Appropriatemanagement
wards off diseases
Planthealth iswhat
matters
pest, as a complement to other manage-
ment practices, such as massive capture.
On a visit to the location in August
2016, Blairo Maggi, minister of Agricul-
ture, Livestock and Food Supply (Mapa),
and Maurício Lopes, president of Embra-
pa, highlighted the importance of the
public-private partnership in the proj-
ect and use of this state-of-the-art tech-
nology. “The technology, with the use of
sterile insects, combined with biological
control, will result into the production
of fruit at lower cost and low environ-
mental impact, increasingly strength-
ening our competitiveness”, said Lopes.
Embrapa (Grape and Wine and Temper-
ate Climate), Ministry of Agriculture and
Brazilian Association of Apple Producers
(ABPM) are in this partnership.
Other organs that take part in the
Inor Ag. Assmann
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