Researchers at Cornell are fighting grape mildew using robots and UV light.
The field trials on Chardonnay grapes controlled not just the powdery mildew but another disease called downy mildew.
“What makes it possible for us to use UV is we apply UV at night. So, we can affect the pathogens with very small doses, doses that don’t really affect the plant,” Cornell Agri-Tech’s David Gadoury said.
Using the UV light application will also reduce the use of chemicals required to spray the vines.