Possibility and problems of organic apple growing in Hungary.

ABSTRACT In Hungary, growers of vegetables and fruit are increasingly interested in organic production methods. Because of the lack of a home market, organic production is mainly oriented towards the export market. A study of organic apple production methods was begun in 1993. Unfortunately, the main apple varieties grown in Hungary are susceptible to diseases: on ‘Starking’, scab and on ‘Jonathan’, mildew cause problems. Of the insect pests, apple blossom weevil (Anthonomus pomorum L.), codling moth (Cydia pomonella L.), aphids (Dysaphis devecta Walk., D. plantaginea Pass., Aphis pomi De Geer), leaf miners (Phyllonorycter corylifoliella Haw., Leucoptera malifoliella Costa), leaf rollers (Adoxophyes orana F.v.R., Pandemis heparana Den. et Schiff.) and San Jose scale (Quadraspidiotus perniciosus Comst.) are the most significant. Besides applying products such as copper and sulphur preparations and Bacillus thuringiensis insecticides, various physical and mechanical methods were used, including trapping to ...