REDUCTAV – Tools for the control of Palomena prasina in hazelnut cultivation in Tarragona; reduction and detection of the incidence of white taca in the field and in the factory.

Agrícola y Sección de Crédito de la Selva del Campo (COSELVA), together with ADV de la Avellana, and with the participation of the Institute of Agri-Food Research and Technology (IRTA), are working on the REDUCTAV Operational Group project.

The industry demands hazelnuts free of defects and alterations to guarantee the organoleptic quality of its products throughout their estimated shelf life. However, there are a multitude of factors that can alter hazelnut quality. One of the most damaging is currently known as ‘white spot’, caused by Palomena prasina, which causes necrosis of the hazelnut’s internal tissue, generating hidden defects and affecting the quality of the fruit.

The project aims to work towards the following objectives:

• To innovate in the control of Palomena prasina in the field.
• To detect internal defects produced by Palomena prasina in the processing industry using non-destructive spectroscopy techniques.

With this study, it is hoped to obtain data on the areas with the highest incidence of white spot and to determine whether or not there is a correlation with the application of phytosanitary treatments. Subsequently, it is expected to receive results from a second phase in which larger areas will be analysed, comparing treated areas with standard areas, in order to assess whether collective control, with simultaneous treatment on different farms, improves the situation. In addition, it is hoped to obtain information on the efficacy of different products in reducing the incidence of the defect. Finally, the aim is to assess whether spectroscopy cameras can detect the defect in the plant, as the current systems do not.

PAC Strategic Plan 2023-2027 action co-financed by: