Innovation and sustainable solutions for the Asparagus production in Apulia
The project aims to increase the profitability of the production of green asparagus in Apulia by
improving the economic, environmental and toxicological sustainability of crop protection measures.
Specifically, the project aims to deepen the knowledge on the bioetology of Parahypopta caestrum
(Hübner) the key pest of asparagus cultivation in Apulia. According to the new market demand for
healthy and safer products, innovative biological and/or integrated pest management (IPM) strategies
will be developed and transferred to farmers.
1. Optimization of a monitoring device based on the use of the sex pheromone;
2. Definition of the duration of the biological stages of the asparagus cosside;
3. Evaluation of the effectiveness of mass capture of males as a means of controlling P.
caestrum;
4. Evaluation of the insecticidal activity of nematode and entomopathogenic strains;
5. Evaluation of the insecticidal activity of entomopathogenic fungal strains;
6. Definition of biological and / or integrated control protocols of the asparagus cosside;
7. Environmental impact assessment through LCA;
8. Evaluation of the economic impact and profitability;
9. Market analysis.