MATING DISRUPTION AGAINST THE GRAPEVINE MOTH, LOBESIA BOTRANA, IN THE DOURO DEMARCATED REGION USING TWO TYPE OF PHEROMONE DISPENSERS: ISONET-LTT BIO? AND ISONET-LTT?

Mating disruption is an innovative technique of biotechnical protection against the grapevine moth, Lobesia botrana, considered a key-pest of vineyards in the Douro Demarcated Region (DDR). The ISONET-LTT (R) dispenser, developed by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co, has shown, in recent works, to be effective in protecting the vine against L. botrana. However, the repeated use of polyethylene dispensers generates an environmental problem, trough the accumulation of plastic in the vineyard. Recently, the same company developed a new biodegradable dispenser, the ISONET-LTT BIO (R), similar to the traditional ones. In the present study, which was carried out during 2020, it was intended to evaluate the effectiveness of these two models of pheromone dispensers in protecting the vineyard against grapevine moth in the DDR. Additionally, it was also assessed the effect of altitude on the evolution of the amount of pheromone released by each model. In general, the two dispensers allowed a decrease in the attack intensity of L. botrana, in the three generations, with the exception of some plots during the third flight and third generation. The evolution of the amount of pheromone released by the studied dispensers lasted until the beginning of August. The evaluation of the amount of pheromone emitted, in milligrams per day per hectare, allowed the identification of differences in losses at different levels of altitude, with greater release at lower levels. The application of the biodegradable dispenser was effective in protecting vineyards against the grapevine moth, and may constitute a viable alternative for reducing plastic residues in vineyard ecosystem.