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Apple orchards are perennially planted where pesticides are applied to control numerous pests and diseases. The extensive long-term use of fungicides can lead to overall environmental load and resistance risk. This study aims to assess which fungicide-active substances have been used more intensively in the last decade in Latvia, evaluating the overall environmental load using the Pesticide Load Indicator (PLI). It was essential to see whether the amount of active substance usage rises, how it correlates with the total changes of the PLI and which substances are with the highest scores. The other issue was to test the sensitivity of Venturia inaequalis populations to systemic fungicides. Six full-bearing apple orchards that reflected local plant protection practices were selected from the different growing regions of Latvia to analyze fungicide use from 2012 to 2021 and test V. inaequalis populations’ sensitivity to systemic substances difenoconazole and cyprodinil. The PLI demonstrated that the protective fungicides were the most crucial group overall, with the highest potential impact on the environment and human health. Systemic fungicides had a relatively lower environmental impact, but after long-term use, the pathogen population’s sensitivity to difenoconazole and cyprodinil was reduced. Introducing new fungicide classes and biological control agents could help growers improve plant protection strategies against V. inaequalis, reducing the risk of resistance and environmental load.

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The development of new environmentally friendly plant protection products against grey mould disease (caused by Botrytis cinerea Pers.) was started in 2010. In the Latvian State Forest Research Institute “Silava”, production of coniferous biomass extracts using different solvents for extraction was performed. During 2010-2011, several laboratory investigations were carried out in the Institute of Biology, University of Latvia. Effectiveness of pine (Pinus sylvestris) and spruce (Picea abies) biomass extracts against Botrytis cinerea was tested. On the basis of coniferous extracts, 11 formulations were created and characterised. The effect of the formulations on mycelial growth of B. cinerea test cultures was tested using the fungal radial growth test. All formulations had inhibitory effect on mycelium growth (inhibition rate over 50%) at concentration 20 g L-1 in medium. The impact of formulations on plants after spraying was evaluated using in vitro propagated strawberry plants. Chlorophyll content and chlorophyll fluorescence were estimated. Extracts did not show negative effect on the chlorophyll content and fluorescence of strawberry leaves. Field investigations on strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) ‘Senga Sengana’ and primocane raspberry (Rubus idaeus) ‘Gerakl’ were conducted in the Pûre Horticultural Research Centre in 2011. None of tested the coniferous biomass extract formulations showed higher effectiveness than fungicide Signum® (pyraclostrobin 6.7%+ boscalid 26.7%, BASF).

This review summarizes and discusses the geographical distribution, overwintering, dissemination, and management of the asexual stage of Venturia inaequalis, the fungal pathogen causing apple scab. The asexual overwintering of V. inaequalis has primarily been described as wood scab, superficial scab, or bud scab, and more rarely, it is mentioned as overwintering on infected leaves and fruits still attached to the trees. Wood scab is fungal pustules found on new and 1-year-old shoots, but it is also found on 2-year-old wood. It has been reported in many apple-growing countries throughout the world; however, most reports of wood scab being an important source of primary inoculum, as well as the most in-depth studies, are from the UK. Reports from some countries describe what is named superficial scab, which are symptomless infections of the pathogen on shoot surfaces. Overwintering of V. inaequalis on the inner or outer bud scales has also been reported in some countries. Infections may appear as small lesions on the bud scales, but numerous conidia have also been found in buds without symptomatic fungal tissue. The incidence and quantity of overwintering in the asexual stage are dependent on the amount of scab in the previous season, growth characteristics, and cultivar susceptibility. In orchards with limited options for fungicide control and/or in orchards with loss of scab control in the preceding season, conidia of V. inaequalis should not be underestimated as a source of primary inoculum.