French low-input winegrowing demonstration farms: A dataset of their operations traceability and sustainability performances

This article presents data on farming operations traceability and associated performances, for winegrowing systems with low phytosanitary inputs. 343 farms were sampled from the DEPHY network: a governmental initiative to produce references on phytosanitary-efficient cropping systems under real conditions of production. Data were collected every campaign between 2017 and 2020, by multiple extensionists who provide support to the voluntarily enlisted growers, in exchange for traceability of their practices and their commitment to reducing pesticide use. The dataset includes raw data of farming operations (date, machinery, inputs, products and doses, etc.), and performance indicators computed at farm level (Treatment Frequency Index, workload, expenses, greenhouse gas emissions, etc.). This information could be useful to researchers, policymakers and agricultural consultants. It provides leads to understand how winegrowers manage to successfully reduce their pesticide consumption, as well as assessing the triggers and entailments of such transitions.

Efficacy of fungicides with various modes of action in controlling the early stages of an Erysiphe necator-induced epidemic

BACKGROUND

Limiting the use of fungicides is due to become an important issue in managing Erysiphe necator (Schwein) Burrill infections in vineyards. The authors determined how three fungicides currently used by vine growers could be managed to control the early stages of an E. necator-induced epidemic.

RESULTS

Leaf-disc bioassays and field experiments suggested that the protectant quinoxyfen induced minor disruption in E. necator development, but compounds with protectant and curative properties (tebuconazole and trifloxystrobin) caused significant, although different, disruption during E. necator-induced epidemics. Bioassays showed that each of the antifungals were most effective at different stages of fungal development, tebuconazole before sporulation and trifloxystrobin after sporulation of the colonies. Results from the bioassay also highlighted likely occurrences in the field, where several stages of fungal development are encountered simultaneously.

CONCLUSION

The present findings were complementary: leaf-disc tests showed when the fungicides were most effective at inhibiting E. necator infection cycles; the field trial provided results in terms of incidence and severity of disease on bunches without reference to the pathogenic cycle development. A protection strategy combining the different types of fungicide under study is suggested.