POD-mildium
The POD (Operational Decision Process) Mildium® experimental protocol was developed by INRA UMR Plant Health Bordeaux and IRSTEA UMR ITAP Montpellier. It is part of a project aimed at designing, evaluating, and transferring innovative indicators and decision procedures to significantly reduce pesticide use for major diseases caused by fungi, notably downy mildew and powdery mildew. The goal of this project is to evolve the viticulture sector towards new practices of protection that reduce the Treatment Frequency Indicator in accordance with the wishes expressed by the Grenelle Environment Forum.
Objectives
Significantly reduce the load of inputs by adapting, at the plot scale, the number and timing of treatments for downy mildew and powdery mildew to the actual development of epidemics – excluding any systematic approach.
- Maintain production objectives (quality / quantity).
- Limit the number of observations per plot to facilitate field implementation.
- Manage both diseases in a combined way while separating the reasoning for treatments.
- Obtain a tool directly usable by the winegrower.
Experimental methodology
The POD Mildium® is based on a limited number of mandatory treatments, possibly supplemented by optional treatments. The mandatory treatments aim at controlling "low" epidemics, which are difficult to detect through observations. The indicators used by the POD allow identifying situations requiring optional treatments to control risks.
