The scab fungus, Venturia pirina, is among the key parasites in pear cultivation and in both integrated (IPM) and organic cultivation. If no control measures are implemented and under favourable weather conditions for the pathogen the crop can be completely affected in one season. In recent years people have been increasingly striving for sustainable agriculture. Chemical crop protection products are under pressure, like copper and recently also captan, as a result of which fewer applications can be carried out or their approval for use will (possibly) no longer be renewed. In addition, fewer new chemical crop protection products are also being registered. Moreover, several retailers are asking to grow fruit according to a certain quality label (e.g. KKC) with less input of chemical agents. Some ‘green’ crop protection agents are already available for scab control but so far do not achieve the same control efficiency as chemical crop protection products. This makes scab control in pear cultivation increasingly difficult. In recent years, we have seen an increase of more than 20% in reports of scab infestation in pear, both in integrated and organic cultivation.

The more than 800 Flemish pear growers, as well as the auctions, are therefore pushing for a sustainable knowledge-based approach and control of this problem. They ask for additional insights/solutions regarding positioning of available products and additional/alternative products that can be used for scab control.

The overall objective of NOVOSCAB is to implement an optimised global approach to the control of scab in pear. Obtaining new insights into the control of scab in pear is therefore very important. We want to gain more knowledge about a) the effect of products that strengthen plant defences and their correct positioning, b) the effect of alternative agents/biocontrol organisms on scab in pear, c) the difference in sensitivity of leaf, twig or fruit for scab in new pear varieties. Furthermore, we aim to demonstrate the importance of sanitary measures for scab control in pear as well.

The main impact we want to achieve is that growers will start paying sufficient attention to pear scab and will implement the new strategy.