Technological alternatives for the control of Botrytis sp. In Andean blackberry (Rubus glaucus)

Abstract The Andean blackberry crop (Rubus glaucus) is very important for the farmers, since they must implement cultural practices that allow reducing the use of synthetic pesticides. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of different technological alternatives for the control of Botrytis sp. in the blackberry crop. The treatments were: 1: Absolute control (silwet+water), 2: Traditional chemical treatment (Carbendazim), 3: Mirtaceae extract (Iridium®), 4: Bacterial metabolite (Balus®) and 5: Trichoderma spp. (Tricomix®). The applications were carried out every 15 days for the synthetic product and every 8 days for the biologicals, organic and the control. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) was used with 3 repetitions and Tukey test at 5 % were made. The studied variables were botrytis incidence (%), yield (g/plot), weight (g), polar and equatorial diameter (mm), firmness (N), total soluble solids (Brix), titratable acidity (% citric acid) and pH (log H+). Throughout a weekly incidence analysis, it was possibly to identify that the Carbendazim, Trichoderma spp. and mirtaceae extract had a better control in the incidence of Botrytis sp. in the blackberry fruit