Andrés France Iglesias, from INIA: "In prevention is the secret"
The Chilean phytopathologist Andres France Iglesias is known for spreading the need for a cultural change in producers, warning that there are diseases that can end with a garden if they do not take early action. "In prevention is the secret", Says the researcher of the Institute of Agricultural Research (INIA).
"Today, the most important diseases are clearly identified and most producers know how to recognize them. The problem seems to be that it is difficult to prevent”, He comments. He emphasizes that when the orchard remains in the same soil for several years, diseases establish themselves and increase their incidence over time, for this reason it is essential to prevent and not wait until the orchard is sick to act. Andrés France insists that early measures must be taken, especially in a kind of berries such as blueberries, which suffer more diseases than the average berry.
In an interview with GrupoAgro, the researcher France answers about the time when the diagnosis of diseases should be made: "Symptoms are most easily detected during plant growth. During the recess, in winter, it is difficult to observe symptoms, sometimes one observes the signs of pathogens, but the symptoms are visualized when the plants are developing, in spring and summer", answer back.
- Is there a likelihood that a garden must be uprooted by disease?
- Yes, with Silver, orchards have been uprooted, and they are not few. It is possible to reverse this disease, but with early management, when it is first detected. For example, with the use of high doses of compost applied early in the season.
The agronomist, Andrés France Iglesias, is one of the INIA researchers who will participate in the X International Blueberry Seminar that will be held at the 19 in April at Grand Monticello.
- Is there any other blueberry disease that should be of concern to farmers?
- If of course, there are those present in orchards of neighboring countries, which are relevant from the phytopathological point of view and that could passively enter our country, especially with so much exchange of people. In addition, we are following a new pathology of wood that apparently has begun to spread in the south central area and that produces severe damage to plants. Both cases will be presented during the Blueberries Consulting seminar, since learning to prevent them can make the difference between a productive or lost garden.
The scientist's message is to prevent and generate an important cultural change in this field. Do not keep reacting when the disease appeared. Fruit growing is not an annual crop. "There is an important investment and that has to be protected"He warns.
Currently, the researcher is part of a project about "Protection Technologies in Blueberry orchards to mitigate climate risks and their impact on yield and quality in post-harvest fruit destined to the export market as fresh".
The main objective of the ongoing project is to implement a technology transfer model through the use of agroclimatic sensors and smart agriculture for the protection of blueberry orchards, which assure the producer a higher yield of fruit packed as fresh and greater storage potential. the fruit in destination.
Specifically, the project seeks to determine the impact on productivity, packaged fruit and the post-harvest storage potential of the use of three types of protection cover against the impact of critical environmental conditions, such as rainfall, frost and extreme temperatures, during the period of flowering and fruit development.
It also seeks to adapt the Cropcheck technology package in blueberries, based on the use of agroclimatic sensors that record changes in micro-climatic conditions and crop phenology, generated from the use of different crop protection covers.
This project seeks to transfer and disseminate the most efficient and effective crop protection technologies to producers and professionals linked to the cranberry industry, promoting its adoption.
The 19 International Seminar in April will be a great opportunity to learn about the progress of this research headed by Andrés France and carried out by an INIA work team.
Source: Martín Carrillo O. - Blueberries Consulting
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