Gwangju Agricultural Technology Center Accepting Pesticide Applications Until the 18th

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] The Gwangju Metropolitan City Agricultural Technology Center on the 15th urged pear and apple farmers to apply pesticides in a timely manner to prevent the spread of fire blight and black branch wilt diseases within the region.

Fire blight and black branch wilt are bacterial diseases classified as quarantine pests, mainly occurring in apples and pears. They are characterized by symptoms such as leaves, flowers, branches, and fruits turning black and withering.

Currently, there is no clear treatment method, and affected orchards must be closed, prohibiting the cultivation of not only apples and pears but also host plants such as peaches and cherries for three years.

Accordingly, the City Agricultural Technology Center is providing pesticides free of charge for the preemptive control of fire blight. Apple and pear farmers wishing to receive pesticide supplies can apply to the Agricultural Technology Center by the 18th.

Yang Hee-yeol, Director of the City Agricultural Technology Center, said, “It is important to apply pesticides according to the control timing for fire blight and black branch wilt,” and added, “If suspicious symptoms appear, we ask that you promptly report to the City Agricultural Technology Center for swift action.”

Meanwhile, last year, fire blight occurred nationwide in 744 farms covering 394.4 hectares, causing significant damage to farmers. The total apple and pear cultivation area in the Gwangju region is 18 hectares, and although fire blight has not yet occurred, efforts are focused on preventing its introduction.

In particular, spraying registered preventive pesticides at the appropriate control time is the most important measure to prevent fire blight.

To prevent bacterial diseases in fruit trees during winter, it is necessary to ▲ thoroughly disinfect agricultural tools during pruning ▲ remove branches 70 cm above and below the ulcer (dead areas formed black on branches and stems) symptoms and apply pesticides.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.