June 2023
Articles in this Issue
Handré Viljoen
Although he grew up in Strand, Handré Viljoen was exposed to farming by both sides of his family. He says…
Heleen Tayler
“I grew up on a farm,” says fruit physiologist Heleen Tayler. “My dad was a medical technologist, and farming was…
Dr Renate Smit
Dr Renate Smit was introduced to the deciduous-fruit industry as an undergraduate working for Dr Elmi Lötze in the Department…
Doré de Villiers
“I initially thought of studying pharmacy,” says Doré de Villiers. So how did she end up researching apple replant disease…
Prof. Adéle McLeod
Prof. Adéle McLeod first encountered plant pathology as an undergraduate at the University of Pretoria. She says that she started…
Dr Sebinasi Dzikiti
Dr Sebinasi Dzikiti obtained his undergraduate degree in physical sciences from the University of Zimbabwe. He says he was interested…
Dr Lindsay Muchena
Dr Lindsay Muchena is originally from Zimbabwe but has gotten to know South Africa well during her studies. She started…
Dr Stephanie Midgley
“I got into climate change from day one in my first job,” recalls Dr Stephanie Midgley, Climate Change and Risk…
The plum-transport dilemma
Can plums tolerate higher CO2 levels during shipping? By Kyra-Kay Rensburg. The current reefer container-vent setting of 15 m3 per…
Postharvest performance of Lady in Red
What can physiological profiling tell us about this Cripps Pink mutation? By Anna Mouton. Apple growers are always on the…
Piecing together the packaging puzzle
Innovative packaging strategies can improve energy efficiency and space utilisation in shipping containers. By Anna Mouton. The South African deciduous-fruit…
PHYLA focuses on phytosanitary research
A new Hortgro-funded facility protects and expands South African pome- and stone-fruit market access. By Anna Mouton. Gaining and maintaining…
Are cover crops hosts for lesion nematodes?
Cover crops in orchards have many benefits, but could there also be risks? By Kyra-Kay Rensburg. A Hortgro-funded project led…
Management of apple replant disease
Soil fumigation is the cornerstone of replant control. Can research provide growers with more options? By Anna Mouton. Apple replant…
Effective pollination period of plums
What is the window of opportunity for pollination of popular Japanese plum cultivars? By Anna Mouton. Japanese plums account for…
Can shade nets reduce water use?
Research shows that netted apple orchards need less water – but growers should read the fine print. By Anna Mouton.…
Can dwarfing rootstocks cope with drought?
A Hortgro-funded project assessed the response of new and popular apple rootstocks to deficit irrigation. By Anna Mouton. Dwarfing rootstocks…