Irta organises again its day dedicated to the fruit

In the first communication, Josep Usall and Miquel Peris, presented the work carried out in the Irta on the control of the 'brown 'rot in the peach tree, a fungus that causes serious problems in post-harvest. To reduce the damage caused by this disease, were recommended to carry out different cultural techniques, such as remove the mummified fruit in winter and burn the wood of pruning, measures which allow to reduce inoculum in the plantation. From the point of view of plant health treatments for control of this disease, the tests carried out over four years by Irta, the active matter Metconazole has been one that has provided one of the best results in different techniques of application evaluated.

John Slaughter, Burchell Nursery company, made a presentation of the situation of the stone fruit in California, first producer of the United States State. With a wide range of areas of production, the peach is the most widely cultivated species. They have a cheap workforce and are used mostly vigorous rootstocks and trees of great volume. Nevertheless, the trend is to go toward reducing the volume of trees and an increase in the density of plantation. The peach and the Nectarine prices have experienced a steady decline in recent years and even more important has been the loss of fruit growers, with an increase in the surface per farm. For variety, in the State of California are the most important programmes for the improvement of the country such as, part of Burchell Nurseries, Zaiger Genetics, Bradford Genetics or Sun World, among others. Varietal innovation has as main objective the establishment of varietal ranges or 'series' to respond to a same type of fruit but which are collected at different times of the summer. Also have been selected varieties of Red pulp by the growing interest in fruit that will provide a functional component of the largest content of antioxidants. The size and color are still two important factors in selection of new varieties and prices on products.

In a third communication, presented by l. Asín and r. Montserrat, were presented the results of a trial that has lasted 10 years and which have been evaluated the effect of the density and height of the trees in the profitability of the 'golden' Apple. As most important conclusions must be noted that in the case of the tall trees, which is necessary the use of automotive platforms, has to maintain the proportion 1: 1 between the tree height and the width of the line-spacing to optimize profitability. In the case of low trees, the width of the street has been reduced to the maximum, but allowing the passage of the machinery and all tasks must be made from the ground without use of additional machinery. Both in the case of tall trees and low the optimal density lies between 2,000 and 2,500 trees per hectare.

In the aspect varietal innovation, i. churches and j. Carbó presented different news on Apple, pear and peach trees. In the case of the Apple, many evaluated new varieties are being developed in the form of "club" as in the case of 'pink Lady', 'modí', 'kanzí' or 'cameo', in different countries of Europe. In traditional groups such as 'fuji', 'Gala', or 'golden', evaluated varieties provide a less sensitive to the 'russeting' for 'golden', or a better colouration in the other two groups. In PEAR, innovation in varieties is unimportant when some new varieties allow to complete the current existing range. Presented the results obtained with the varieties of 'Carmen' (time 'Limonera'), 'Corrina' (early mutation of 'conference'), 'Selena-Elliot' (of tanned skin and very good gustative quality) and 'angelys', the latter two developed in the form of "club".

Different varieties of good color and sweet taste, allowing complete currently available varieties were highlighted in yellow and white flesh nectarines. Different varieties of flat peach and Nectarine flat allowing complete current varietal with varieties of better color range, more attractive and taste sweet and aromatic fruits were also highlighted.

Bologna (Italy) hosted two conferences organized by the Irta on alternatives to the castration of pigs and the descornado of beef, on 28 and 29 October. Through these initiatives are intended to increase the welfare of these animals, without influence on the quality of the meat. In the first event were the preliminary results on the alternatives to the castration of pigs, in particular for the production of entire males, as well as the acceptability and attitudes of consumers before meat from these animals. This international symposium program included a panel discussion on the impact that could have the production of entire males in the different European markets. For its part, the Conference on alternatives to the descornado of the beef arose to learn about the pros and cons of the methods for the descornado in bovine. During the event, proposed improvements and good practices, as well as possible alternatives, for example, work only with animals with horns or promote the birth of specimens without horns.

Both events, coordinated by the doctor and researcher of the Irta, Maria Àngels Oliver, are framed within the European project Alcasde, funded by the European Commission.