Apple ber fruit getting damaged by fruit fly and other pests. Want to know how to manage them.
2 Answers
Fruit fly is the main problem in apple ber, causing maggoty, rotting fruit, and you may also see fruit borer, powdery mildew on leaves and fruit, and scale or aphids. The core of management is sanitation and traps, collect and destroy fallen and infested fruit so flies do not multiply, hang fruit fly traps, and prune for airflow to reduce mildew. For powdery mildew and any pest needing a spray, use only labelled products, observe the PHI carefully since the fruit is eaten fresh, and follow KVK advice for the specific problem and stage. Pruning after harvest and good orchard hygiene through the year reduce next season's pressure. Confirm the locally recommended traps and approved sprays for your conditions with your KVK.
Traps plus picking up every fallen fruit made the biggest difference for me against fruit fly. Powdery mildew shows up in our area too, so pruning helps.