Tecniche alternative alla curatura per il controllo degli stadi preimmaginali di balanino (Curculio spp.) (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) presenti nelle castagne

Abstract

Chestnuts were cured in tap water (7 d), in water at pH=3 for 1 d, in water at pH=3 for 5 d, in CO2 (50%) for 7 d at 15°C, or N2 (100%) for 7 d at 15°C. After the treatment chestnuts were kept in cold store at 15°C and 90% relative humidity for 2 months. Tap water resulted the best treatment for controlling the preimaginal stages of chestnuts weevil larvae. The same treatment was effective even in maintaining the quality of chestnuts in term of sugar content and black decay development. The scarce effect of nitrogen and carbon dioxide can be imputed to the short time of treatment.