Activity of Italian natural chabasite-rich zeolitites against grey mould, sour rot and grapevine moth, and effects on grape and wine composition

The activity of Italian chabasite-rich zeolitites for control of grey mould, sour rot and grapevine moth was compared to that from synthetic fungicides and insecticides in three vineyards in the Abruzzo region of Italy. Persistence of zeolitites on grapevine canopies has enabled applications to be carried out before rainfall events, which are likely to predispose for infections by grey mould and sour rot pathogens. Applications for control of Lobesia botrana (grapevine moth) were carried out after the peak of the male flight, and the presence of eggs on grape berries was also assessed. Disease and pest control were very satisfactory and comparable to those obtained from synthetic fungicides and insecticides. In addition, there were no differences among treatments for yield, berry composition, or wine ethyl alcohol, pH and total acidity. Phenolic compounds increased in wine from zeolitite-treated plants where the treatment was carried out within 15 days from grape harvest. These promising results have strategic value, because zeolitites provided simultaneous control of grey mould, sour rot and L. botrana. However, since these compounds have been tested for the first time for the control of diseases and L. botrana, the results obtained in this study require further validation.