The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has granted an exceptional authorization for the marketing and use of plant protection products formulated with 100% [SC] P/V garlic extract as a nematicide in strawberry cultivation in Huelva.
The measure addresses soil disinfection needs in Andalusia's strawberry production, where limited land and fixed infrastructure hinder movement between plots. It targets nematodes and fungi, requiring specific treatments to ensure the crop's viability. The application was submitted by the Andalusian Directorate-General for Agriculture and Livestock due to the lack of effective alternatives.
The authorization will be valid until February 11, 2026, and permits the use of these phytosanitary products in a controlled and limited manner, exclusively in Huelva. The treatments may only be carried out by growers and trained professionals under the supervision of regional authorities.
The ministerial resolution permits up to six applications per season, with at least ten days between each. Each application involves 4 liters per hectare, applied directly to the soil via drip irrigation, manual application, or other systems. The suggested water volume ranges from 1,000 to 30,000 liters per hectare, and there is no specified safety period for this use.
Currently, about 63% of strawberry plots in Huelva are infested with phytoparasitic nematodes, based on data from Miguel Talavera at IFAPA. Despite the common use of chemical disinfectants, these nematodes are estimated to cause an average annual crop loss of 6%.
Common nematodes include Meloidogyne hapla, the primary plant parasite of strawberries in Huelva; Pratylenchus penetrans, found in 20% of plots and capable of associating with soil fungi to worsen some diseases; and Hemicycliophora species, which impact crops early when inoculum levels are high. "The prevalence of plant-parasitic nematodes and the losses caused by them have increased due to restrictions on the use of nematicides," Talavera stated.
Source: phytoma.com
