Who we are
GEA snc is a cutting-edge Italian firm that has operated at Europen level since 2001. GEA’s mission is to merge specialised phytoexperts who adopt endotherapic techniques in order to heal and preserve both the public and the private arboreal patrimony.
GEA has been constantly stretching the borders of endotherapic techniques and has specialised itself in the treatment of high-trunk trees in urban ecosystems. GEA has exclusive rights to the Nuovo Metodo Corradi®, a patented endotherapic technique that consists in manual injections of a phyto-drug designed to eliminate high-trunk tree diseases.
The Nuovo Metodo Corradi® has revolutionised the world of endotherapy, bringing about change and significant improvement in terms of safety, implementation times, environmental protection, minimization of costs and phytotoxicity. It also allows for a quicker, more effective, and less invasive absorption of the active principles.
The whole procedure is patented and carries a 1-year warranty-period in the case of broad-leaved trees. For pine trees treated against the Pine Processionary Caterpillar, the warranty period is extended.
THE NEW CORRADI METHOD
The NMC technique provides for the delivery of one or more manual injections into the tree trunk, depending on the physiological features of the vegetable species. A conveniently diluted and mixed phyto-drug is poured into 2-4mm-wide and 2-4cm-deep holes, which the operators carry out at a distance of 80-100cm from the tree collar.
During each manual injection, the syringe piston gently pushes the phyto-drug into the tree-trunk without any mechanically-induced shocks. These manual injections let the operators both assess the tree absorption capability and decide the inoculation timing. In comparison with traditional methods, the hole number is in most cases dramatically reduced.
The NMC intervention kit is man-portable; the operators can therefore easily monitor the site during the whole procedure. Phytotoxic damage is avoided, as the operators solely enter the xylem and keep the cork cambium and the phloem intact.
As soon as the injection has been delivered, the hole is firstly disinfected, then filled with a special biodegradable cap.
The Horse Chestnut Leafminer
Cameraria ohridella causes significant damage to horse-chestnut trees. The larva feeds in a mine in the leaves of the tree. Infected leaves are covered in small brown patches, which spread rapidly across the entire tree, giving an autumnal appearance. Eventually the leaves die and drop off; when new ones grow they are again infected. This cycle can repeat itself several times in one season.
The dead patches that the horse-chestnut leaf miner causes on leaves are not to be mistaken for the similar damage caused to horse-chestnut trees by the fungus Guignardia aesculi.
The Sycamore Lace Bug
The Sycamore Lace Bug (Corythucha ciliata) is a white bug with brown markings that causes white stippling, progressing to bronzing, chlorosis and, eventually, premature leaf drop. Severe infestation in late summer can even cause defoliation and facilitate plane anthracnose.
Weed devitalization
Our intervention is increasingly requested to devitalise weeds, woodsy bushes, and climbing plants, both in the areas of historical and architectural interest, and of wall, building and monument restoration. The Nuovo Metodo Corradi® provides maximum user-friendly efficiency by manually injecting systemic herbicides through reduced-pressure syringes, the needles of which are only 2mm-wide.
The Processionary Caterpillar
The Pine Processionary Caterpillar (Traumatocampa pityocampa) is an abundant species of moth in Europe. The larva is a major forest pest, living communally in ‘tents’ in a single tree. They defoliate and dehydrate the trees they attack. The abundant hairs on their bodies release toxins which cause extreme irritation to the human skin (severe risk of anaphylactic shock).
The Lime Aphids and the Mites
Among the bugs, the aphid (Eucallipterus tiliae) and the mite (Eotetranychus tiliarum) are particularly debilitating to the linden tree. The former produces excessive, watery excrement (honey-dew), which causes premature leaf damage and asphyxiation besides littering the urban environment. The latter is responsible for the early foliar browning of the lime tree and its subsequent dehydration.
Other NMC-solved problems
The Nuovo Metodo Corradi® is similarly effective in treating: 1. Cedrobium laportei – a dangerous pest that infests cedar trees (Cedrus atlantica and Cedrus libanotica, especially); 2. Cinara cedri – a common parasite to Cedrus atlantica and Cedrus deodora. The Cedrobium laportei and Cinara cedri are cedar-tree aphids that live in thick colonies along the trees’ young branches. Infested trees often succumb in few years. 3. Acizzia jamatonica – a parasite that causes abundant honey-dew to Albizia plants; 4. Leptoglossus occidentalis – a conifer bug; 5. Chestnut Processionary (Thaumetopoea processionea); 6. Sycamore powdery mildew, Gnomonia platani and Guignardia aesculi – fungal diseases to the sycamore and the horse-chestnut.
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