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Funded Project |
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Funding Program:
IPM Enhancement Grants |
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Project Title:
Evaluation of Sanitation as an IPM tool for SWD Control in Blueberry |
Project Directors (PDs):
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Lead State: GA Lead Organization: University of Georgia Research Foundation |
| Undesignated Funding: $28,893 |
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Start Date: Jan-01-2014 End Date: Dec-31-2014 |
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Pests Involved: Spotted Wing Drosphila |
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Site/Commodity: Georgia/Blueberry |
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Summary:
Blueberry producers currently need to optimize time and money spent towards control of SWD. While there are many recommended practices for SWD control, some are labor intensive, expensive and unproven. In addition, constant use of pesticides also bring about the development of resistance and problems associated with pesticide residue and minimum reentry periods during harvest. As such the development of sanitation mechanization procedures and determination of effectiveness on controlling SWD would be a benefit to growers by developing a procedure that reduces pesticide applications. Packinghouse owners would potentially benefit by reducing the necessary sampling, sorting, freezing and other additional steps due to the reduced infestation of fruit. There will also be a potential benefit to marketers and exporters with a reduced risk of exceeding maximum residue level (MRL) due to the reduction in pesticide use.
Objectives: The goal of this project is to use a blueberry field sanitizer to eliminate larvae from fallen fruit by rupturing the skin of the fruit on the ground. This will be accomplished by mounting a blower on the front of a tractor to move fallen blueberries from between the rows to the row middles (alleys) and developing a roller to break open the skins and disrupt the development of the SWD eggs and larvae. To reach this specific goal we propose to complete the following objectives: 1. Develop field sanitizer for fallen blueberries 2. Evaluate field sanitation of blueberry crop using sanitizer. 3. Analysis and Disseminate of field test results to stakeholders |
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Final Report: |
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Impacts Fifty-five percent of growers that responded to a post-presentation survey were more likely to try adding sanitation to their SWD program and about that same percentage would pay at least $500.00 to implement the sanitation system presented and developed from this project and presented for their review. A post-presentation question asked if the growers knowledge of sanitations was increased, 1, being very little and 10 being significantly. These results were very encouraging with over 60% rating their increased knowledge of sanitation as 8 or greater. |
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Outcomes The goal of this project was to use a blueberry field sanitizer to eliminate larvae from fallen fruit by rupturing the skin of the fruit on the ground. This was accomplished by mounting a leaf blower on the front of a tractor to move fallen blueberries from between the rows to the row middles (alleys) and developing a roller with modified surface to break open the skins and disrupt the development of the SWD eggs and larvae. To reach this specific goal we completed the following objectives: 1. Developed the field sanitizer for fallen blueberries 2. Evaluated the field sanitation of blueberry crop using sanitizer. 3. Analyzed and disseminated field test results to stakeholders 4. Assessed stakeholders view of sanitation before and after disseminating results. The average percent of berries moved from between the blueberry bushes to where the roller and/or tire could roll over them was 47% for the left and right side of the bushes. |
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