Projects

Home / Projects
Citrus Health Operative Group Project
Project description

Design of strategies for the sustainable control of the whitefly Dialeurodes citri and the cotonet of South African Delottococcus aberiae

To increase the competitiveness of the Catalan citrus sector by obtaining high-quality citrus fruits, this project aims to minimize the impact of the pest species Dialeurodes citri and Delottococcus aberiae.

The project starts in May 2022 and ends in September 2024.

Citrus Health Operative Group Project
Objectives
  • Design effective strategies for control of D. citri integrated into the current integrated pest management programs for citrus.
  • Minimize environmental and human health impact of control methods.
  • Establish bases for the control of D. aberiae in citrus that allow effective control with tools that are currently available and adapted to the different situations of pest incidence.
  • Improve the competitiveness of the Catalan citrus sector.
Citrus Health Operative Group Project
Participating cooperatives
  • Citrics Terres de l’Ebre, SAT 1521 CAT
  • Exportadora d’Agris d’Alcanar, SCCL
  • Actel, SCCL.
Citrus Health Operative Group Project
Project partners

The Federació de Cooperatives Agràries de Catalunya (FCAC) is the coordinator of this project which, in addition to participating cooperatives, includes La Canareva, SL, Montfruits Export, SL and the IRTA Sustainable Plant Protection program, acting as a research center.

Citrus Health Operative Group Project
Expected results
  • Survey of plague incidence D. citri in the citrus fruits of Les Terres de l’Ebre to have an updated map of its distribution and severity.
  • Study of seasonal dynamics of the different stages of development of D. citri in two citrus areas of Terres de l’Ebre.
  • Study of the complex of native natural enemies of D. citri.
  • Study of the effect of interior pruning of trees, which allows good aeration and better penetration of phytosanitary products.
  • Study of the effect of the decrease in nitrogen fertilization on the population abundance of D. citri.
  • Design of strategies for the chemical control of D. citri within Integrated Pest Management programs.
  • Study of plague incidence D. aberiae in the citrus fruits of the Terres de l’Ebre to have a map of distribution and severity.
  • Study of tree phenology in two citrus varieties and study and monitoring of the seasonal dynamics of the D. aberiae pest.
  • Establishment of control bases for D. aberiae and definition of chemical, biological, cultural and biotechnical strategies.
Citrus Health Operative Group Project
Financing entities

Project financed through Operation 16.01.01 (Cooperation for Innovation) through the Catalan Rural Development Program 2014-2020.