The Integrated Production System (IP) is a technology that aims to increase food safety, diminish application of chemical products, and reduce the environmental impact. IP methods suitable for peach trees are scarce and recent in Brazil. The present research focused on comparing two 'Chimarrita' peach orchards, one managed under IP, and the other under conventional system management (CP) in Lapa, Parana, Brazil. CP orchard management was the usually applied by local grower's and IP orchard management was the recommended by the "Brazilian Norms for Integrated Peach Production". For three crops (2002, 2003, 2004), productivity, fruit caliper, brown rot incidence, and damages (caused by Grapholita molesta, Anastrepha spp., caterpillars, and others), were quantified in both managements. The pesticides and fungicides applications on CP were higher than on IP, and so did the brown rot incidence. G. molesta, Anastrepha spp., and caterpillars were kept under control during three crops in both systems. Productivity was higher and fruit size was larger under IP, indicating the advantage of such production system.
stone fruit; management; Monilinia fructicola; Grapholita molesta; Anastrepha spp
