The name Phytophthora literally means plant destroyer — fitting for a genus that abounds in disease-causing species. By Anna Mouton. Phytophthora infestans thrust the genus into notoriety by launching the Irish Potato Famine of 1845–1849, estimated to have killed 1…
A recent resurgence of galls on apple trees has sparked new interest in an old disease. By Anna Mouton. Plant galls are abnormal growths formed by cell enlargement or proliferation — or both — resulting from infections and other causes.…
Growers need to consider all the preharvest influences on fruit quality when establishing and maintaining apple orchards. By Anna Mouton. Fruit quality is more important than ever in a time of skyrocketing living costs. This is why Prof. Stefano Musacchi…
Prof. Leo Rufato of the Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina in Brazil shared his latest research results. By Anna Mouton. “Ten years ago, we had only two rootstocks — the one was M.9, and the other was Marubakaido with…
An ongoing project in Washington State puts technology to the test. By Anna Mouton. The explosion of new technologies has been a mixed blessing for fruit growers. Never before have growers had access to so much data — and never…
Research results demonstrate the many benefits of putting nets over apple orchards. By Anna Mouton. Sunburn is as much a problem in Washington State as it is in South Africa. Washington growers have historically managed sunburn through overhead evaporative cooling.…
Will 200 tonnes per hectare become the new normal? By Anna Mouton. Debates about the relationship of yield to planting systems and tree structure are as old as horticulture, according to plant physiologist Dr Ken Breen of the New Zealand…
Tonnes are not enough — growers must focus on boosting Class 1 pack-outs. By Anna Mouton. Technical adviser Willie Kotze of Dutoit Agri thinks that apple producers are leaving money on the table by not optimising fruit quality. He believes…
A focus on yield and quality is indispensable to profitable pome-fruit farming. By Anna Mouton. “The good news is that there are some brilliant orchards — and growers — that are making a lot of money,” said Graeme Krige, technical…
And what should growers be doing to prepare for the future? By Anna Mouton. Rising prosperity in developing countries will boost market opportunities for South African apples over the next twenty years according to data presented by Dr Nigel Cook…