Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 1

Canadian apple industry is vital to our country's economic success. Ontario is the largest apple-producing province in Canada with 40% of the production yield and with 16,000 acres of orchard. Fifteen per cent of the apples grown in Ontario are produced in Durham Region and eastern Ontario. Essentially all expansion of apple production in Canada is based on high density dwarf apple orchards. The orchard ecosystem is dynamic and recently a new orchard insect, Apple leaf curling midge (ALCM), has become a problem in many Ontario orchards. ALCM, with its potential severe impact on growth of young terminal shoots, can significantly hamper the profitable future of some orchards. Research in other jurisdictions indicates that insecticides are having a negative impact on the parasitoid populations. A comprehensive integrated pest management program is likely to result in the best control of ALCM and minimize the use of insecticides. Ontario Apple Grower Association (OAG) is a not for profit organization but has over 51% of its revenues through membership of apple growers across Ontario (Financial Statements of the organization attached). Any research outcome achieved by OAG gets disseminated to all its 235 members. OAG in collaboration with Durham College wishes to focus research to investigate ALCM populations as related to existing management practices, create a degree day model for predicting ALCM development and develop a threshold for application of insecticides to contain and manage the pest effectively.The outcomes of this project can be adopted by all the apple growers across Canada enhancing awareness, acceptance and adoption of sustainable apple production practices. This will result in enhanced economic viability of the apple industry and minimized negative impacts on the environment.