Activities carried out by ASTRA into the project from 1th January to 31th May

ACTION B.1: Demonstration of the use of copper compounds for the control of bacterial diseases of plants important for the EU. In the first period the technicians who work into ASTRA Test Site made a research to determine which are the most used copper compounds for the control of bacteria. The Integrated Guidelines of Emilia-Romagna region were controlled but not specific products were found so a group of IPM expert was consulted and copper sulphate was preferred; copper oxycloride was the second one.

Tests carried out on pilot scale for investigation on plants artificially inoculated and grown in plastic tunnel Astra had to test the effect of copper on the control of bacteria on kiwi and olive plants. Citrus is not interesting for Emilia-Romagna region and the climate conditions aren’t good for its cultivation.

A tunnel of 400 square meters has been prepared to receive the olive and kiwi trees. A lot of nurseries have been contacted to find Olive and Kiwi plants and at the end about 120 olive plants was bought in Cesena from CRPV (a research centre who works on the fruit crops) and about 110 kiwi plants were bough from a nursery in Cesena. Olive plants were 3 years old and kiwi plants 1 year old.

Why to use a tunnel instead of open field orchards? Firstly we think to have the opportunity to anticipate the activities (it has not been simply to find plants of kiwi with leaves during winter), on the other hand isn’t correct to spray a very dangerous bacteria in open field.

Into the tunnel 12 plots were made: 6 for kiwi and 6 for olive. Each treatment (copper concentration) has been replicated 3 times. For each plot there are 15 plants. The distance from each plants on the row is 50 cm. Transplant date April

Plants some days after transplant and after treatment with copper.

1.Some days after transplant have been made treatments based on copper compounds. 2.After a week from the treatment an artificial inoculation of bacteria was made. 3.Samples of leaves are periodically keep and send to DIPSAA for analyisis.

From the date of the kick-off meeting there have been a lot of contacts with DISPAA. The help of DISPAA has been very useful to define the activities protocol. DIPSAA researchers made directly the artificial inoculation of the bacteria.

Plants are continuously inspected by technicians looking for symptoms of the disease but till now no visible symptoms was found.

Dissemination activities 1.The notice board was placed at the head office of Astra in Faenza and at Imola where is placed the tunnel. 2.People who visit the experimental farm sometime ask notices about the project. In next weeks detailed information will be made through press with the purpose of giving information to a wider audience. 3.When the first results will be reached a seminary will be organized and articles will be write and published on specialized journal.

Thanks for your attention