INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT OF HAZELNUT PESTS : A WORLDWIDE PERSPECTIVE

Insect pest are a major detriment to hazelnut cultivation throught the world. Damage estimations vary form 20–50% depending upon the cultural practices, treatment efficacy, and environmental conditions. Most growers depend on the application of harsh, broad-spectrum pesticides to control these pests. This causes dispruption of natural enemies, development of resistance in target pest, secondary pest, secondary pest outbreaks, deposition of residures on treated products and massive environmental contamination. If undisturbed, the biological control is effective against most hazelnut insects. Development and utilization of integrated pest management (IPM) programs based on ecologically compatible approaches including microbial, biological and chemical controls with improved utilization of insect monitoring programs have been adapted in many hazelnut growing countries of the world. The salient features of the successful IPM programs in hazelnuts are discussed in this paper.