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EU project offers new lifeline to organic apple growers

The incidence of a serious apple disease called scab can be cut drastically by applying vinasse, a waste product of the sugar industry, to orchards, Dutch researchers have found. Their discovery represents the latest findings of the EU-funded REPCO (Replacement of Copper in O...

The incidence of a serious apple disease called scab can be cut drastically by applying vinasse, a waste product of the sugar industry, to orchards, Dutch researchers have found. Their discovery represents the latest findings of the EU-funded REPCO (Replacement of Copper in Organic Production of Grapevine and Apple in Europe) project, which is exploring sustainable alternatives to the use of copper in organic apple and grape production. Last year the project partners also found yucca extract to be effective at preventing and curing scab. The researchers found that when applied to orchards at doses of 2-400 litres per hectare, the formation of apple scab spores was reduced by 95%. Furthermore, vinasse was found to stimulate leaf degradation during the winter. This is important because the fungal scab spores over winter in the leaf litter. The project's findings represent an important breakthrough for Europe's apple growers, as the use of copper to treat scab is being phased out due to the negative environmental impact of copper. If left untreated, trees infected with the scab fungus develop dark, unsightly spots on their fruit and leaves. Affected fruit is difficult to sell and the damage to the leaves reduces the tree's vitality. In countries where the use of copper is already prohibited, apple farmers are experiencing severe economic losses due to scab.

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Netherlands

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