Drone detection of grapes infected with golden yellows begins

(Photo: Pixabay)

A nationwide campaign consisting of several elements was launched two weeks ago to curb the golden yellows disease of grapes. The program, which is based on comprehensive, rapid official action, required the National Food Chain Safety Office (Nébih) to organize drone detection and, in the most severely affected areas, aerial spraying, with the assistance of experts from government agencies.

Drone reconnaissance starts on October 9

The population across the country may encounter machines searching for infected crops for up to several weeks. The recorded images will be searched for symptoms indicating infection using artificial intelligence. This will allow the authority to specifically check plantations potentially affected by the disease, significantly speeding up identification.

Although the number of cicadas spreading the infection has decreased recently, insecticide spraying can still be helpful

In the largest continuous, heavily infected areas, aerial control will take place in the coming days – depending on weather conditions. The machines will apply the Klartan 24 EW (+DropMax spray adjuvant) at a dose of 0.2-0.3 l/ha, exclusively away from populated areas, on plantations where the harvest has already taken place. Organic/organic plantations will also be excluded from aerial control.

The golden yellow disease (FD) of grapes is spread by the American grape cicada

The pathogen has already been confirmed in 17 out of 22 regions in Hungary, with Zala and the areas around Lake Balaton being particularly severely affected. The disease poses no threat to humans and does not spread to wine, but it causes extreme damage to the grapes. There is no known cure for it, and the only way to control it is to take action against the vector that spreads it, the American grape cicada.

Nébih