Controlled Atmosphere Storage for Cyclamen mite elimination

We are aware that cyclamen mite has again come through to fruit growers on material from one of the nurseries.  As a reminder to growers, fruit growers, this is what cyclamen mite infestation looks like:

Options for fruit growers when damage is at this level are quite limited.  Control options for fruit grower are well summarized by the notes from the April 2026 webinar with Juliane Braun from Delphy (attached).

Over the winter NZBP organized a webinar for propagators on cyclamen mite control in nursery settings, and got some fresh ideas relevant to the plant production phase. 

One idea that came was also relevant to fruit growers, and we thought we’d share it.  It’s called Controlled Atmosphere Temperature Treatment (CAAT).

It was developed in the Netherlands following withdrawal of methyl bromide.  Plants are stacked in crates and packed into a cool store-type unit, then given a 2-day treatment. 

Treatment conditions outlined:

Reported outcomes:

• approximately 98–99% cyclamen mite mortality
• reduction of spider mites
• reduction of nematodes
• less risk of plant damage than hot water

It seemed feasible to treat significant numbers of plants, such as just prior to planting in a fruiting field. Both plug plants and bare root plants have been successfully treated.  Treatment is offered as a service by a logistics company in the Netherlands.  

We’re interested in whether strawberry growers view this is an attractive option for treatment of plants prior to planting.

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