Orientador: Antônio de Pádua Sousa / Coorientador: Valdemício Ferreira de Sousa / Banca: Fernando Broetto / Banca: Edson Eiji Matsura / Resumo: O morangueiro é uma cultura de clima temperado que demanda práticas culturais elaboradas para viabilizar seu cultivo. Dentre estas práticas, a irrigação fornecida por gotejamento visa suprir as necessidades hídricas da planta, em caráter total ou suplementar. Por outro lado, a adubação empregada no cultivo do morango é um dos insumos que gera alto custo na produção. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar as necessidades hídricas da cultura de morango e seu manejo, visando elevar sua produtividade. Além disso, estudou-se a nutrição potássica da cultura, através da aplicação de diferentes doses do nutriente via fertirrigação em combinação com lâminas de irrigação (125%, 100%, 75%, 50% e 25% com base na tensão de água no solo), com o finalidade de elevar a qualidade dos frutos. O experimento foi conduzido em estufa de forma convencional. Em relação à nutrição potássica, foram aplicados três doses na forma K2SO4 as quais consistiram de uma adubação convencional (300 kg ha-1), uma superdose do nutriente equivalente a 3 vezes a dose recomendada (900 kg ha-1) e ausência completa de adubo potássico. Os tratamentos foram dispostos em delineamento experimental em blocos casualizados, com parcelas subdivididas com quatro repetições. A boa disponibilidade de água relacionada com a adubação potássica recomendada proporcionou a maior produtividade, crescimento das plantas e maiores frutos. Quando associadas menor disponibilidade de água e maior adubação potássica as características químicas dos frutos apresentaram melhores resultados. Entretanto, a menor disponibilidade de água e maior adubação potássica proporcionaram problemas fisiológicos e bioquímicos nas plantas / Abstract: Strawberry is a culture of temperate climate that requires cultural practices developed to make possible its cultivation. Among these practices, the drip irrigation aims to supply the plant water needs, on a full or supplementary way. On the other hand, the fertilizer used in the strawberry cultivation is one of the inputs that generate high cost in production. The aim of this study was to evaluate the strawberry crop water requirements and its management in order to increase the productivity. In addition, we studied the potassium nutrition of the crop using the application of different concentrations of the nutrient by fertigation combined with irrigation water depths (125%, 100%, 75%, 50% and 25% based on the soil water tension) with the purpose of increasing the quality of the fruit. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse in a conventional way. Regarding to the potassium nutrition, three doses were applied in the K2SO4 form according to the following manners: 1) conventional fertilization (300 kg ha-1); 2) overdose of the nutrient equivalent to three times the recommended dose (900 kg ha-1); 3) absence of potassium fertilizer. The treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with split plot with four replications. The good water availability correlated with the recommended dose of potassium fertilizer provided the highest productivity, greater plant growth and larger fruits. When associated the lower water availability with the higher potassium fertilization dose the chemical characteristics of the fruits showed the better results. However, the lower availability of water and the higher potassium fertilization dose have caused physiological and biochemical problems in the plants. / Mestre

No Brasil o morangueiro (Fragaria x ananassa Duch), representa um papel sócioeconômico de grande importância nas regiões Sul e Sudeste, constituindo-se num importante produto para consumo in natura e para indústria de alimentos. No entanto, o cultivo intensivo e muitas vezes com práticas culturais inadequadas tornam praticamente inevitável o controle químico de pragas e doenças, constituindo-se, o morango, num dos produtos com maior carga de agrotóxico. Nesse sentido, a produção de alimentos mais saudáveis, isentos de resíduos tóxicos, vem crescendo no mercado nacional e internacional demandando o desenvolvimento de tecnologias mais sustentáveis. O trabalho foi desenvolvido, nos anos de 2007 e 2008, na área experimental da UTFPR - Campus Dois Vizinhos com objetivo de avaliar o comportamento agronômico e as alterações bioquímicas de morangueiros em sistema de cultivo orgânico em função da aplicação de diferentes concentrações de calda bordalesa, calda sulfocálcica e biofertilizante supermagro, o delineamento experimental utilizado foi blocos ao acaso com 4 repetições contendo 16 plantas por parcela. O primeiro experimento realizado em 2007 foi um fatorial misto 3x4 sendo, fator A (qualitativo) constituído pela calda bordalesa, a calda sulfocácica e biofertilizante supermagro e o fator B (quantitativo) representado pelas concentrações de 0,5;1,0;2,0;4,0% e a testemunha onde se aplicou água. A freqüência de aplicações foi a cada 7 dias. No segundo experimento no ano de 2008, os tratamentos foram um fatorial 5x3, onde o fator A foi representado pelas caldas (calda bordalesa a 1%; calda sulfocálcica a 1%; biofertilizante supermagro a 4%, alternância de aplicação de caldas nas mesmas concentrações e a testemunha) e o fator B pelas cultivares (Camarosa, Camino Real e Albion). As avaliações realizadas no primeiro experimento foram: número de frutos por planta, produtividade, massa média, análises físico-químicas dos frutos (firmeza de polpa, acidez titulavel, sólidos solúveis totais - SST, aspecto visual e avaliação degustativa), avaliações de doenças de mancha-de-micosferela e mancha-dedendrofoma e análises bioquímicas em tecidos foliares (proteínas, aminoácidos, açúcares totais e redutores, fenóis totais e atividade de peroxidases). No segundo experimento, foram avaliados os mesmos parâmetros agronômicos, bem como as análises bioquímicas de açúcares totais e redutores, proteínas e atividade da enzima fenilalanina amonialiase. Os dados foram submetidos à análise da variância pelo programa SISVAR e seus resultados submetidos a comparações de médias e regressões. As caldas bordalesa e sulfocálcica, bem como o biofertilizante supermagro interferiram positivamente no número de frutos, massa média e produtividade do morangueiro. Concentrações acima de 1,0% de calda bordalesa e sulfocálcica causaram manchamento dos frutos, limitando seu emprego. O supermagro não apresentou restrição sendo que as melhores respostas agronômicas foram observadas nas maiores concentrações. A firmeza de polpa manteve-se mais elevada em função da aplicação das caldas. A aplicação das caldas e do supermagro interferiu no controle de doenças com redução da severidade da mancha-de-micosferela. A aplicação das caldas não interferiu na qualidade organoléptica dos frutos na pós-colheita, não sendo observado sabor estranho nos mesmos. / In Brazil, the strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) represents a socio-economic importance in South and Southeast, becoming an important product for fresh market and food industry. However, intensive cultivation and often with inadequate cultural practices make it practically inevitable chemical control of pests and diseases, being the strawberry, one of the products with the highest pesticide load. In this sense, the production of healthier foods, free of toxic waste, is growing in national and international market demanding the development of more sustainable technologies. The study was conducted in the years 2007 and 2008 at the site of UTFPR - Campus Dois Vizinhos to evaluate the agronomic performance and biochemical changes of strawberry in organic cropping system according to the application of different concentrations of bordeaux mixture, lime sulfur and fertilizer supermagro, The experimental design was randomized blocks with four replications containing 16 plants per plot. The first experiment was conducted in 2007 with a 3x4 mixed factorial, factor A (qualitative) consisting of Bordeaux mixture, the spray and fertilizer sulfocácica supermagro and factor B (quantitative) represented by concentrations of 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 , 4.0% and the control where water was applied. The frequency of applications was every seven days. In the second experiment in 2008, the treatments were a 5x3 factorial design, where the first factor was represented by grout (1% Bordeaux mixture, lime sulfur at 1%; biofertilizer supermagro 4%, alternating application of grout at the same concentrations and control) and factor B by cultivars (Camarosa, Camino Real, and Albion). The evaluations performed in the first experiment were: number of fruits per plant, yield, average weight, physical-chemical characteristics of fruits (firmness, acidity, soluble solids - TSS, visual appearance and evaluation gustative), assessments of disease micosferela spot and stain dendrophoma and biochemical analysis in leaf tissues (proteins, amino acids, total and reducing sugars, total phenolics and peroxidase activity). In the second experiment examined the same parameters agronomic and biochemical analysis of total and reducing sugars, proteins and enzyme activity of phenylalanine ammonialyase. The data were subjected to analysis of variance by SISVAR program and its results submitted to mean comparisons and regressions. The Bordeaux mixture and lime sulfur and fertilizer supermagro interfered positively in the number of fruits, average weight and yield of strawberry. Concentrations above 1.0% Bordeaux mixture and sulfur caused staining of the fruit, limiting its use. The supermagro showed no restriction being that the best agronomic responses were observed at higher concentrations. The fimness remained higher depending on the application of grout. The application of the grout and supermagro interfere with disease control with reduced severity of the stain micosferela. Applying the grout does affect the flavor of the fruit after harvesting, were not noticed strange flavor to them.

No description available.

Further automation of the agricultural industry and an increase in organic fruit production are needed to address labor shortage and increased demand. The move to an autonomous bug vacuum is easier if the equipment is electric, and not powered by a tractor’s PTO (power take-off) shaft. The main objective of this project was to design a set of lygus bug vacuums to go on a robot that meets industry standards while using electric power instead of hydraulic. The frame of the vacuum was designed using the industry standard. While hydraulic systems have been a very effective power source for vacuums until now, electronic motors with VFD (variable frequency drive) control allow for a cost effective, precise control, of the lygus bug vacuums with less failures. This also allows a robot type system to be able to run the vacuums using a preexisting power source without the addition of a bulky hydraulic system.

Thesis (MSc (Genetics. Institute for Plant Biotechnology)--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / Strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) fruit quality is largely determined by the relative amounts of sugars and organic acids present, as well as soluble solid content. This study had three components: 1) Characterisation of cytosolic carbohydrate metabolism and carbon partitioning to sugars and organic acids in two commercial varieties, 2) analysis of transgenic strawberry fruit with increased pyrophosphate: D-fructose-6-phosphate 1-phosphotransferase (PFP) activity and 3) analysis of transgenic strawberry fruit with increased ß-fructosidase (invertase) activity in either cytosol or apoplast. Analyses of transgenic strawberry may inform similar attempts in grape berries. Festival and Ventana, two popular commercial strawberry cultivars in South Africa, were fairly similar with respect to sugar and organic acid content. Twelve cytosolic enzymes were investigated. Temporal differences in maximum catalytic activity were observed for invertase, PFP, pyruvate kinase and ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase). Invertase, PFP and AGPase activity also differed between the cultivars. One enzyme, SuSy, could not be analysed effectively, due to the purification method employed. These analyses established methodology for the analysis of transgenic berries. Constructs were designed to constituitively express Giardia lamblia PFP (GL-PFP), or to express Saccharomyces cerevisiae invertase (SCI) in a fruit-specific manner. A second invertase construct was designed to target SCI to the apoplast. Strawberry (cv. Selekta) was transformed and the presence of each transgene confirmed by PCR. Untransformed Selekta was used as control in both transgenic studies. Transgenic lines were selected based on GL-PFP activity in leaves and total PFP activity in ripe fruit. Sugar and organic acid content of ripe berries with high PFP activity was determined. Although berries displayed marked changes in sugar composition, the total sugar content was similar to controls, in all except one line. Organic acid content was decreased, leading to a clear reduction in organic acid-to-sugar ratio. This points to a gluconeogenic role for PFP in strawberry fruit. Transgenic berries were screened for SCI activity. Berries containing untargeted SCI exhibited total invertase activity similar to controls and were not analysed further. Berries with apoplasttargeted SCI displayed three-fold increases in invertase activity compared to controls. Total sugar content was reduced and exhibited reduced sucrose content relative to hexoses. Despite the effect of increased invertase activity on metabolites, maximum catalytic activity of enzymes involved in cytosolic sucrose, hexose and organic acid metabolism were unchanged. Transgenic plants selected in these studies were subsequently vegetatively replicated and future work will include immature fruit.

Strawberries are an extremely perishable fruit mainly due to their soft texture and sensitivity to fungal infection. The fungal pathogen Botrytis cinerea is responsible for grey mould on strawberries and is the main causal agent of postharvest decay and subsequent economic loss. As an alternative to fungicides, manipulation of plant nutrition, such as calcium and boron, has been suggested as a means of disease management. This project investigated the effects of calcium and boron application on fruit quality and grey mould development in strawberry. The effect of calcium on fruit quality, grey mould development and leaf blight in strawberry cultivars ‘Aromas’ and ‘Selva’ was investigated through preharvest and postharvest applications. To determine the effect of preharvest application, calcium sulphate in 0.25X strength Hoagland’s solution was applied at 0, 100, 300 and 500 ppm Ca through fertigation. Fully-ripened fruit were harvested and evaluated for postharvest quality at harvest and then after storage at 10⁰C, 90±5% RH for 2 to 10 days. Although fruit firmness of both cultivars declined slightly during storage, this was not affected by preharvest calcium application. Similarly, preharvest calcium treatment had no effect on the external appearance, pH, soluble solids content (SSC) or titratable acidity (TA). No grey mould development was observed on fruit at harvest when flowers were inoculated with a conidia suspension of B. cinerea (10⁴ conidia per mL). However, fruit harvested from plants that received calcium at any concentration had less incidence of grey mould during storage at 10⁰C, 90±5% RH for 14 days than fruit harvested from plants that received no calcium for both cultivars. For ‘Aromas’, 79% and 51% of fruit, and for ‘Selva’, 69% and 43% of fruit, showed rot when treated with 0 and 500 ppm Ca, respectively. The shelf life of ‘Aromas’ and ‘Selva’ increased by about 8% when plants received 500 ppm Ca in comparison with plants that received 0 ppm Ca. After 7 days of incubation at 22 to 24⁰C, there was no difference between blight lesions on wound-inoculated detached leaves from different calcium treatments for either cultivar. However, the lesions on ‘Selva’ were smaller than on ‘Aromas’. The calcium levels in leaves from plants that received calcium at any concentration were adequate for strawberry growing and significantly higher (P < 0.05) than in leaves from plants that received 0 ppm Ca. However, calcium treatment did not ensure transfer of calcium to fruit tissues. Calcium lactate and calcium chloride were used as postharvest calcium treatments at 1500, 3000 and 4500 ppm Ca. Fruit of ‘Selva’ were dipped in calcium solution for 5 min and wound-inoculated with B. cinerea (10⁶ conidia per mL). Calcium lactate and calcium chloride at 3000 and 4500 ppm Ca, respectively, were most effective in delaying Botrytis rot development on ‘Selva’ after 7 days of storage at 10⁰C, 90±5% RH. Storage for least 24 h after calcium dips prior to inoculation was required to delay the development of fruit rot. Fruit harvested early in the season seemed to be less susceptible to grey mould than those harvested later. However, calcium treatment tended to be more effective when applied to late-season fruit. Preharvest boron treatment, applied as for calcium but at 0, 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 ppm B, had no effect on fruit firmness of either cultivar. However, firmness of ‘Aromas’ fruit was slightly greater than ‘Selva’ fruit for all treatments. The amount of boron applied had no effect on the external appearance, pH, SSC or TA for either cultivar after storage of fruit for up to 10 days. Application of boron had no effect on fruit grey mould development in either cultivar. Furthermore, boron had minimal effect on the incidence of blight on woundinoculated detached leaves of ‘Aromas’ 7 days after inoculation. However, blight lesion diameters on ‘Selva’ leaves in the 1.0 ppm B treatment (8.0 mm) were significantly smaller (P < 0.001) than in the 0 ppm B treatment (13.0 mm). Phytotoxicity was observed in boron treatments even at the level considered optimum for strawberry growing. Severity increased with increasing boron concentration but no consistent effect on flower death or flower abortion was observed. In conclusion, strawberry is sensitive to boron toxicity. Calcium may enhance fruit firmness and, consequently, delay grey mould development if calcium penetrates the fruit. Postharvest calcium treatment tended to be more effective in delaying development of grey mould when applied to late-season fruit. Calcium lactate is a potential alternative to calcium chloride for reducing decay caused by B. cinerea in strawberry without providing undesirable bitterness. This finding may provide a basis for application in industry. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1331382 / Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine 2008

The temperature-dependent development of pupae and adults of strawberry root weevil (SRW) Otiorhynchus ovatus (L.) was studied in strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch. var. 'Totem'). The development of pupae and adults was investigated at constant temperatures from 3-33��C at 3��C intervals. Major emphasis was on the development of a weighted linear temperature-based pupal prediction model. The predictive ability of this weighted model was compared to a traditional non-weighted linear degree-day model by relating predictions to the observed occurrence of SRW lifestages determined by field sampling. The upper thermal lethal limit for SRW pupae was between 30 and 33��C. Pupae did not eclose below 6��C. Mean pupal duration was 127 d at 6��C and 7 d at 30��C. Rate of development (1/days) was greatest at 30��C. The weighted linear pupal prediction model produced a developmental threshold of 4.3��C and a degree-day requirement of 227.3. The non-weighted linear pupal prediction model produced a developmental threshold of 6.2��C and a degree-day requirement of 163.9. Adults fed at all temperatures from 3-33��C and oviposited at temperatures between 18 and 30��C . The longest preoviposition period (32.8 d) and the least total number of eggs (2.2) were observed at 18��C. The shortest preoviposition period (15.1 d) and the greatest total number of eggs (282.5) were observed at 27��C. A temperature range of 21 to 27��C appeared to be optimum for oviposition; i.e. relative to other temperatures, preoviposition time was short, mortality was low, and total number of eggs laid was high. / Graduation date: 2000

Braškių veislių tyrimas, auginant jas balta plėvele mulčiuotose žemose trieilėse lysvėse, panaudojant lietinimo sistemą, buvo atliktas Lietuvos sodininkystės ir daržininkystės institute 2009 m. Tirtos šios braškių veislės: ‘Honeoye’, ‘Elkat’, ‘Figaro’, ‘Elsanta’, ‘Marmolada’, ‘Darselect’ ir ‘Sonata’. Bandyminis braškynas įveistas kasetėse išaugintais daigais, sodinimo schema: 1,0 + 0,35 + 0,35 × 0,2 m ( 87 719 vnt. ha-1). Žiemos pradžioje prieš didesnius šalčius, siekiant apsaugoti kerelius nuo pašalimo žiemą ir paankstinti braškių derėjimą, bandyminis braškynas uždengtas agro danga. Didžiausią antrąjį derlių po priedanga išaugino ‘Darselect’ veislės braškės (29,2 t ha-1). Taip pat labai gausiai derėjo ‘Elsanta’ veislės braškės (28,2 t ha-1). ‘Elkat’, ‘Marmolada’ ir ‘Sonata’ braškės praktiškai derėjo vienodai ir davė po 26 t ha-1 derlių. Pagal sunokusių uogų derliaus dalį atskirais laikotarpiais tirtos braškių veislės skirstomos sekančiai: standartinė ‘Honeoye’ priskiriama prie ankstyvųjų, ‘Figaro’, ‘Elkat’ ir ‘Darselect’ - prie vidutinio ankstyvumo, ‘Marmolada’ ir ‘Elsanta’ – prie vidutinio vėlyvumo, o ‘Sonata’ – prie vėlyvųjų. Labiausiai standartinės ‘Honeoye’ veislės uogas pagal išvaizdą lenkė ‘Figaro’, ‘Darselect’, ‘Elsanta’ ir ‘Marmolada’, o skoniu ‘Darselect’ uogos. Tirtų veislių uogos už standartinės ‘Honeoye’ veislės buvo tvirtesnės, išskyrus ‘Elkat’. Tyrimo rezultatus įvertinus kompleksiškai, versliniuose braškynuose galima sėkmingai auginti visas tirtas... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The research of the strawberry cultivars, growing under the white film in three-rowed beds, was carried out in Lithuanian Institute of Horticulture in 2009. These strawberry cultivars were tested: Honeoye’, ‘Elkat’, ‘Figaro’, ‘Elsanta’, ‘Marmolada’, ‘Darselect’ and ‘Sonata’. There is the planting sheme of the tested strawberry field, which was planted from sprouts, grown in cassettes : 1,0 + 0,35 + 0,35 × 0,2 m ( 87 719 vnt. ha-1). In early winter, before more extreme cold, the tested strawberry field was covered by agro-covering in order to protect little plants from cold influence and to advance the yield of strawberries. The second largest yield grown under covering was the strawberry strain ‘Darselect’ (29,2 t ha-1). ‘Elsanta’(28,2 t ha-1) strawberry cultivar also abundantly yielded. ‘Elkat’, ‘Marmolada’ and ‘Sonata’ strawberries yielded virtually the same and gave the 26 t ha-1 yield. According to ripe fruit yield in different periods, the tested strawberry cultivars are classified for the next: the standard ‘Honeoye’ is assigned to the early cultivar, ‘Figaro’, ‘Elkat’ ir ‘Darselect’- the average early cultivar and ‘Sonata’ - to the late cultivar. ‘Figaro’, ‘Darselect’, ‘Elsanta’ and ‘Marmolada’ were ahead of the most of the standard ‘Honeoye’ strawberry cultivar according to the appearance. According to the taste ‘Darselect’ berries were ahead. The tested cultivars were stronger than standard ‘Honeoye’, except ‘Elkat’. To appreciate the results of the research... [to full text]

This study investigated the antiviral, chemoprotective and proliferative effects of strawberry anthocyanins on herpes simplex virus type-1, cancerous cell lines HT-29 and AGS, and normal cell lines Hs 738.St/Int and CCD-18Co. Antiviral properties were measured by infecting vero cells from adult grivet (Cercopithecus aethiops) with herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) and treating with a concentration of 1.25-20 µg/mL of strawberry anthocyanins. Infectivity and replication were quantified for herpes simplex virus type-1 using the direct plaque assay and reporting PFU/mL. Strawberry anthocyanins (>20 µg/mL) inhibited the herpes simplex virus infectivity in vero cells by 100% (p<0.05). Strawberry anthocyanins at concentrations of 5, 10 and 20 μg/mL were reduced to 75.36, 57.98, and 31.46 percent of the control (100%) (p<0.05). Chemoprotective and proliferative effects of strawberry anthocyanins were analyzed for the human cell lines AGS, Hs 738.St/Int, HT-29, and CCD-18Co at a concentration of 25-200 µg/mL and quantified using the sulforhodamine-B assay. Growth inhibition occurred at a level of ≥87% for treatment concentrations 100 and 200 µg/mL for the cancerous AGS and HT-29 cell lines (p<0.0001). Proliferation rates for the normal Hs 738.St/Int and CCD-18Co cell lines increased at all treatment concentrations of 25-200 μg/mL (p<0.0001); suggestingthat the observed proliferative activity may be associated with anthocyanin treatment.Strawberry anthocyanin treatment concentration worked in a dose dependent manner for the HSV-1 and the cancerous AGS and HT-29 cells. The caspase-3 assay was performed to demonstrate potential mechanism of action and confirmed thatanthocyanin treatments play a role in apoptosisby the up regulation of caspase-3.Significantdifferences were seen between the growth characteristics of cancerous cell linescompared to their equivalent normal cell lines (p<0.0001). In summary, the antiviral findings suggest that strawberry anthocyanin extracts could be an effective topical treatment and/or prophylactic agent for oral herpetic infections (HSV-1). Also, the in vitro chemoprotective effect of strawberry anthocyanins found may be relevant to in vivo work in the future because when anthocyanins are consumed in the diet they come in direct contact with the gastrointestinal tract and may provide chemoprotection upon contact with the stomach and gastrointestinal tract’s epithelial cell layer.

Gray mold, caused by Botrytis cinerea is the major cause of postharvest loss in strawberries. Detection of flower and fruit infections enables producers to make intelligent management decisions. A plate-trapped ELISA protocol using a Botrytis-specific monoclonal antibody (BC-12.CA4) was developed for the detection of Botrytis cinerea in strawberry flower receptacles and red fruits. Horseradish peroxidase, was chosen as enzyme conjugate because it gave lower background absorbance in disease-free samples. B. cinerea reference antigen (RAg) was isolated from strawberry. BC-12.CA4 was very sensitive to the RAg, detecting up to 6 mug/ml of RAg when mixed with strawberry extracts. The MAb did not show any reaction to Rhizopus sp., Mucor sp. and Penicillium sp. associated with strawberry. B. cinerea could be detected in receptacles two days after inoculation. Treatment of inoculated receptacles with paraquat speeded-up detection. Inoculated red fruit infection could be detected after three days of incubation. Disease in commercially-produced receptacles and red fruits were assessed visually and by ELISA. The ELISA detected B. cinerea in 95% of commercial flower samples, whereas the traditional visual method detected only 50 to 70%. No dramatic differences between methods were found for red fruits.