young plant tissues, and the corrosive action of the fungicide may
compromise the structure of the vine. Due to these characteristics,
Bordeaux mixture is recommended for use only after fruiting. Other
synthetic fungicides, such as metalaxyl, thiophanate-methyl and
cymoxanil, are used on a large scale in the wine industry for the
control of these diseases (Amorim and Kuniyuki, 2005).
The use of fungicides can increase production significantly.
However, fungicide use can also cause serious damage to the
environment and can result in the selection of pathogens that are
resistant to certain active ingredients contained in the fungicides.
Consumers of fresh fruit are increasingly concerned about the
origin of the products that they purchase, the presence of toxic
waste and the conservation of the fruit. For this reason, the consumption
of organic products has increased steadily, causing
changes in the production, storage, distribution and marketing of
agricultural products (Flores-Cantillano et al., 2001). This ecological
awareness has created opportunities for agriculture, enhancing
trade in organic products and leading some growers to shift from