A brief history of pears
Pears have come a long way in the 25–65 million years since their evolution in the mountains of western China. By Anna Mouton. Pears are woody trees and shrubs in the genus Pyrus. No one is sure how many Pyrus…
A daily decision
Two soil scientists share their take on irrigation scheduling and systems. By Anna Mouton. “Irrigation is critical, but it’s difficult to optimise,” observes Karen van der Westhuizen of Agrimotion. “For nutrition, you take leaf and soil samples and make a…
A model of fruit microstructure
Researchers are using advanced medical technologies to unravel the relationship between storage disorders and internal structure in pome fruit. By Anna Mouton. Commercial controlled-atmosphere storage has been around for nearly a century and helped fresh apples become a year-round supermarket…
A pack-house perspective on postharvest challenges
Fruit faces everything from storage disorders to shipping delays en route to the consumer. By Carin Smith. The South African pome- and stone-fruit industries encountered several postharvest challenges in the 2022–2023 season, including irregular weather, unreliable shipping, and demanding consumers…
A perspective on plant quarantine
Plant quarantine is an essential link in the plant-production chain and a crucial component of plant improvement. By Kyra-Kay Rensburg. “Importing plant material from other countries provides an opportunity to also import exotic pathogens that can have potentially devastating consequences,…
A rational approach to biocontrol
Successful incorporation of biological control in integrated pest management programmes requires in-depth knowledge and excellent execution. By Anna Mouton. Integrated pest management has existed since the 1950s but is only now becoming more widely implemented. “The Food and Agriculture Organization,…
A rethink of 1-MCP and DCA
How are new cultivars shaping the adoption and application of 1-MCP and DCA by the North American apple industry? By Anna Mouton. The use of 1-MCP (1-methylcyclopropene) and DCA (dynamic controlled atmosphere) by the New York State apple industry is…
A sustainable model for agricultural research and education
Sustainability is not about maintaining the status quo. By Kyra Rensburg. “Universities are not in a bad place, but I think they can and should be better, and going forward they have to be better,” said Prof. Danie Brink, dean…
Advancements in spray application
The key takeaways from the most recent international Workshop on Spray Application and Precision Technology in Fruit Growing. By Anna Mouton. The value of new spray-application technology depends on the grower’s perspective, said Dr Gideon van Zyl, crop-protection specialist at…
Agricultural technology in Australia
A perspective from Tatura SmartFarm. By Anna Mouton. Agriculture Victoria’s world-renowned Tatura SmartFarm is synonymous with horticultural innovation. Dr Mark O’Connell is a senior research scientist in horticultural production science at Tatura. He has more than three decades of experience…