Grapevine pest management through natural compounds and agronomic practices

Supervisor: Francesco Pavan

Several insect pests damage European vineyards, such as the grape berry moths Lobesia botrana and Eupoecilia ambiguella, the leafhoppers Empoasca vitis and Scaphoideus titanus, the thrip Drepanothris reuteri, the mealybug Planocioccus ficus, the scale Parthenolecanium corni and the red mite Panonychus ulmi. Insecticide (or acaricide) applications are the main tools to control them. The impact of pesticides on human health and environment is a major problem of European agriculture and the substitution of chemicals with alternative control strategies is the main objective of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) according to Directive 128/2009/EC. The first aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of substances of natural origin in the control of grapevine pests. Substances will be tested in the laboratory for potential control mechanisms and then tested in field trials for efficacy and side effects on natural enemies. The second aim of this study is to assess, in field trials, if there are positive interactions between tested substances, cultural practices and biodiversity enhancement. Many alternative IPM strategies are been developed over time but their effectiveness is often limited and their adoption is not satisfactory for the farmers. In fact, understanding of the effects of commonly used vineyard agronomic practices on pests, of enhancing biodiversity on biological balances, together with products characterized by a favourable eco-toxicological profile, could make available to farmers strategies effective in controlling pests and easy to apply.

Biography and Contacts

Federico Tacoli was born in 1987 in Udine (IT). In 2011 he graduated in Agricultural Science at the University of Udine (110/110 cum laude). In 2012 he worked as an agricultural technician for “Casa Vinicola Zonin” winemakers. In 2014 he graduated as a Master of Agricultural Science and Technology at the University of Udine (110/110 cum laude). In November 2014 he started the doctoral course at the PhD school “Agriculture Science and Biotechnology” of the University of Udine.

federico.tacoli@spes.uniud.it

[Phone 0432 558508]