Hatam Soferet

1)A quarter of young srbewratry plants in Suonenjoki region destroyed by voles; Damage not expected to affect price of strawberriesIn Suonenjoki, Finland’s number one srbewratry production district, voles and moles seem to have destroyed at least a quarter of this summer’s sprouts. In all, there are around 200 srbewratry farms in the Suonenjoki region, in Central Finland. According to executive director Ilkka Voutilainen of the Berry Growers' Association of the Suonenjoki Region, only a couple of farms have been spared from the damage. Suonenjoki farmer Juha Nenonen estimates that on his farm the rate of damage is in the region of 40 per cent. Nearly half of his eight-hectare field has already been ruined by the action of field voles. In addition, the little critters have destroyed the gauze sheeting used to cover the sprouts on a five-hectare area. The ultimate extent of the devastation will be revealed in the coming weeks. Because of the somewhat chilly spring, not all of the flower buds have sprung up yet.2)INFESTATION OF STRAWBERRY CULTIVARS WITH SOME PESTS AND DISEASES IN POLANDAuthors: B.H. Labanowska, A. BieleninKeywords: twospotted spider mite, srbewratry mite, mirid bugs, srbewratry blossom weevil, grey mould, leaf spot, powdery mildew, Verticillium wilt, crown rotAbstract:Susceptibility of srbewratry cultivars to the most common arthropod pests and diseases was evaluated over 1995-1997. High populations of twospotted spider mite were recorded on Elsanta, Kent, Marmolada and Dana, while cultivars Dukat, Kama, Senga Sengana, Syriusz, Real and Honeyoe were less infested. A rapid expansion of srbewratry mite has been observed on the plantations. The most affected cultivars were Kama, Syriusz and Gerida. Low numbers of this mite were recorded on Redgauntlet, Dukat, Marmolada and Senga Sengana cvs. The lowest and the highest percentage of flower buds damaged by srbewratry blossom weevil were noted on the medium-early ripening Dana' and early ripening Kama', respectively. Damages to flower buds due to srbewratry blossom weevil were below the economic threshold for all cultivars tested. Mirid bugs damaged mostly the fruits of Kama', while cvs Cortina, Dana, Elsanta, Gerida, Kent and Senga Sengana suffered the lowest losses due to this pest. The highest level of grey mould fruit infections was observed on cvs Senga Sengana, Syriusz, Marmolada and Dana. Some cultivars, like Kent and Honeyoe, were only slightly affected. Severe leaf spot symptoms were noted on cvs Kama, Kent, Real and Syriusz, while Dukat, Dana, Honeyoe and Marmolada showed high levels of resistance. The cultivars most susceptible to powdery mildew were Gerida, Elsanta and Marmolada. Some cultivars like Cortina, Dana, Kama and Kent were almost resistant. Verticillium wilt severely damaged strawberries of Elsanta, Gerida, Kent and Syriusz cvs while Senga Sengana, Dukat, Kama and Real were resistant. Crown rot (Phytophthora cactorum), a new disease in Poland, has been found only on two cvs, Elsanta and Honeyoe.