Department of Agronomy, State Universtity of MidWestern, Guarapuava, Paraná, Brazil.

Renato Vasconcelos Botelho is Associate Professor of Viticulture and Fruit Crops at the State University of Midwest of Paraná (UNICENTRO), in Guarapuava, Paraná State, Brazil, since 2003. He is Graduated in Agronomy from the Faculty of Agronomic Sciences – UNESP, in Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil, Master of Science and PhD in Agronomy (Horticulture) from the same institution. Developed Postdoctoral projects in the Fruit Crops Section of the Agronomic Institute of Campinas, São Paulo State, Brazil and in the Agrarian and Veterinary School of the University of Bologna, Italy. He published 120 scientific papers and he is reviewer of numerous international journals and advises several Research Funding Agencies. He develops research in the area of viticulture and fruit crops in organic system, acting mainly on the following themes: training systems, management, alternative control of vine and fruit trees diseases, dormancy release, fertilizing, post-harvest and plant physiology.