The Fruit Pests Laboratory has been conducting studies on pests in important product groups of the Aegean Region since 1931. As a result of these studies, important findings have been obtained and put into practice, especially in apples, citrus fruits, olives, pistachios, cherries and figs. Integrated Pest Management projects have been created under the guidance of the results obtained. With the Forecast and Early Warning System, necessary application dates have been estimated and pesticide use has been minimized. Biotechnical, biological control and organic farming studies have been carried out in parallel with current studies in the world and have been transferred to farmers. Many projects have been carried out so far in cooperation with various organizations, especially exporter associations and universities.
Far-East countries, Japan in particular, do not purchase fresh fruits and vegetables from Türkiye because it is contaminated with the Mediterranean fruit fly. The studies performed by the Fruit Pests Laboratory with the support of different Exporters' Unions ended in 2009 and grapefruit and lemon exportation from Türkiye to Japan started in 2010 and 2014, respectively. This scientific study conducted by Bornova Plant Protection Research Institute is the first in Türkiye and has been beneficial for the entire country.
Studies were carried out in the Grape Pests Laboratory on pests such as European Grapevine Moth, thrips species, Two spotted spidermites, Black Vine Weevils, Mealy Bug preventing obtaining crop and causing economic losses for the farmers if not controlled and on their biological characteristics, natural enemies, spreads, losses caused by and methods to control them; resultant findings were implemented. Furthermore, studies on the strawberry areas, which are subject to studies of the laboratory, were completed and non-biotic factors on biology and mechanism of loss of Black Vine Weevils in the strawberries were investigated. In addition to several plant protection projects, the laboratory participated in studies on management and population changes of grape pests in the projects of Organic Sultani Seedless Growing and Organic Wine Grape Growing. Forecasting and Early-Warning System has been implemented against European Grapevine Moth (EGVM), Lobesia botrana Den.-Schiff. (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) which is the main pest. Timing of preparations effective against the eggs of the pest in the Forecasting and Early-Warning System has been practiced. Timing, methods of use and dose of preparations with environmentally friendly Bacillus thuringiensis against European Grapevine Moth in Aegean Region was established. As an alternative to the chemicals, mechanical control method has been put into practice for the control of black vine weevil, Otiorhynchus spp. Mating Disruption Technique, an alternative to the chemicals in the control of European Grapevine Moth has been found to be successful and implemented in especially organic and integrated vineyards. Afterwards, Mating Disruption Technique has been widened to a total of 700 ha in cooperation with growers and companies of organic dried grape in the Aegean Region. Based on the results of all research studies, Project of Integrated Pest Management in Vineyards has been implemented since 1995. Each of the three five-year periods of the project has been conducted in cooperation with agricultural extension services and private companies. New findings obtained from the research studies are included in the Integrated Pest Management Programs.
Natural enemies of EGVM and their natural effectiveness have been determined in the vineyards of Manisa and Izmir Provinces. In this study, the egg parasitoids, Trichogramma euproctidis Girault and T. brassicae Bezdenko (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae), have been specifically determined on the eggs of EGVM and recorded for the first time. At present, experiments on releasing parameters and effectiveness of T. euproctidis have been conducting in the vineyards for the implementation of biological control.
Post-harvest control of Western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) has been accomplished in Round Seedless grape and Camarosa strawberry varieties in cold storage conditions due to refusal of infested fresh fruit items and as a consequence of that, prohibition of export from Türkiye. The dosage and duration of phosphine (PH3) gas were determined, which killing 100% of F. occidentalis population. Fumigation standard method was prepared for postharvest control of F. occidentalis in fresh fruit and vegetables.