Zichová T., Falta V., Kocourek F., Stará J., 2011. Diff erences in the susceptibility of codling moth populations to Cydia pomonella granulovirus in the Czech Republic. Hort. Sci. (Prague), 38: 21-26. Th e Cydia pomonella granulovirus is a very important agent for the biological control of the codling moth, Cydia pomo-nella, in both organic and integrated apple and pear production. Th ree populations of Cydia pomonella originating from three separate areas of the Czech Republic were tested for their susceptibility to Cydia pomonella granulovirus in laboratory bioassays at several concentrations of Cydia pomonella granulovirus. A sensitive laboratory strain was chosen as a control. Th e larval mortality was checked 14 days after the infection. Th e mortality of Cydia pomonella larvae was similar in specimens originating from both the wild populations and the laboratory strain. Decreased susceptibility to Cydia pomonella granulovirus was demonstrated neither in samples from locality without Cydia pomonella granulovirus treatment nor from a locality experimentally treated with Cydia pomonella granulovirus for several years during the registration process. However, one population experimentally treated for more than 10 years was partially resistant to Cydia pomonella granulovirus. Based on our fi ndings; the Cydia pomonella granulovirus biopesticides will be effi cient due to the high susceptibility of fi eld codling moth populations to Cydia pomonella granulovirus in the Czech Republic.

Although the Green Revolution was a milestone in agriculture, it was accompanied by intensive use of synthetic pesticides, which has raised serious concerns due to their impact on human and environmental health. This is increasingly stimulating the search for safer and more eco-friendly alternative means to control plant diseases and prevent food spoilage. Among the proposed alternatives, pomegranate peel extracts (PPEs) are very promising because of their high efficacy. In the present review, we discuss the complex mechanisms of action that include direct antimicrobial activity and induction of resistance in treated plant tissues and highlight the importance of PPE composition in determining their activity. The broad spectrum of activity, wide range of application and high efficiency of PPEs against bacterial, fungal and viral plant pathogens suggest a potential market not only restricted to organic production but also integrated farming systems. Considering that PPEs are non-chemical by-products of the pomegranate industry, they are perceived as safe by the public and may be integrated in circular economy strategies. This will likely encourage agro-pharmaceutical industries to develop commercial formulations and speed up the costly process of registration.

This chapter lists the number and type of currently available organic plant protection tools and provides information on how they should be used. These include products based on microorganisms (or substances produced by microorganisms), products based on plant extracts, products based on pheromones, beneficial organisms and products based on substances traditionally used in organic farming, among others.

Biological control is currently being used in 100 ha of tunnel‐grown strawberry in northern Italy. Second‐instar larvae of Chrysoperla carnea are released (18 larvae per m2) against aphids when more than 30% of leaflets are infested. Releases of Phytoseiulus persimilis (4–6 predatory mites per m2) are also being used in IPM strategies against Tetranychus urticae; wild P. persimilis populations also occur in the test area, which is near the Adriatic coast. Releases of predators are also successful in the field.

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