Feb 24, 2022

Webinar planned on ‘Organic Management of Postharvest Decays’

Washington State University (WSU) Tree Fruit Extension will hold a webinar titled “Organic Management of Postharvest Decays” on March 9.

The event will take place at 8:30 am. Pacific.

Participants will learn about best management practices to fight pre- and postharvest pathogens which continue to be a major concern in organic and conventional systems.

This event is targeted towards pome fruit growers, packers, field and warehouse workers, Extension specialists, industry representatives, consultants and others interested in learning about early disease detection and best management practices in organic orchards and packinghouses to reduce the impact of postharvest rots and increase pack-out.

What

• Work done on a newly registered fungicide for conventional warehouses will be presented.
• Demonstration of a novel early infection detection assay.
• Pre and postharvest rot pathogens and best management practices in organic systems (e.g. cultural and sanitation practices, efficacy of multiple organic materials, and dynamic controlled atmosphere).
• Updated research on a novel postharvest conventional fungicide will also be presented.

Format

• The event includes presentations, activities, quizzes and networking opportunities.
• Seven hours of training and interactive activities.

In this workshop participants will

• build a foundation for best management practices of major postharvest rots;
• learn the latest research-based information for effective management;
• learn how to optimize decay management in organic systems, i.e., choosing most effective materials and best time for sprays.

This workshop is sponsored by Washington State University Extension with support from the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission and Syngenta Crop Protection.

Registration

Registration required. To register visit here.

Agenda

9:00 am Welcome: Objectives and overview of the program

MODULE I: Organic Systems: Trend and Challenges

9:05 am Organic production: Trend: Production and Prices  – David Granatstein, Extension Specialist, WSU

9:20 am Pathogens: Are they different from conventional systems – Prashant Swamy, Research Associate, WSU
Occurrence, Inoculum sources and timeline of fruit infections

9:50 am Break

MODULE II: Best Organic Management Practices

10:00 am Efficacy of multiple commercial preharvest organic materials: What works, what doesn’t – Achour Amiri, Assistant Professor, WSU

10:45 am When to spray preharvest to optimize decay management – Tianna DuPont, Extension Specialist, WSU
How to develop an effective and timely preharvest organic spray program?

11:15 am Hands-on Activity – Tianna DuPont, Extension Specialist, WSU
Identify the best organic spray program

MODULE III: Dynamic Controlled Atmosphere

11:30 am Does DCA work better than regular CA in reducing storage decays? –  Achour Amiri, Assistant Professor, WSU

12:00 pm Credits and Adjourn