Cultural Control of Bacterial Blossom Blight Using Trunk Girdling and Rainproof Installation over Kiwifruit Trees

Girdling of trunk and rainproof installation over kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) trees were turned out to alleviate bacterial blossom blight effectively in kiwifruit orchards. The disease was most effectively prevented by girdling of tree trunks with 20 mm width around April 10 before about 45 days of flowering stage of kiwifruit, but control efficiencies were not affected by height of girdling on trunks above the ground. Use of a transparent polyvinyl film to protect kiwifruit trees from rain was more effective than windbreak net to prevent the disease, irrespective of kinds of rainproof installation. Installation of partial rainproof vinyl cover over kiwifruit trees around March 10 before about 75 days of flowering stage of kiwifruit prevented most of the disease occurrence on kiwifruit. It is expected that girdling of tree trunks and installation of partial rainproof vinyl cover over kiwifruit trees will be practical as environmentally friendly control methods to manage bacterial blossom blight in kiwifruit orchards.