Fire blight
A single outbreak of fire blight in Michigan led to the death of 220 000 apple trees and estimated losses of USD 42 million in 2000. This is not a disease we want in South Africa. By Anna Mouton. Fire…
From blossom to apple
Understanding why some flowers set and others drop. By Grethe Bestbier. Many questions regarding fruit production were raised during the past season. With heat waves, warmer autumn temperatures and drought conditions, growers were uncertain what to expect, especially in terms…
Fruit quality underpins profits
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…
Geneva rootstocks in Brazil
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…
Graymead
Innovation adds value. By Anna Mouton. “M.9 has been used successfully as a rootstock all over the world,” says Keith Bradley, general manager of agri-services at Fruitways Farming, “but there was always the perception that M.9 wouldn’t work in South…
How much water do orchards use?
The analysis of water use commissioned by Hortgro provides an interesting perspective on evapotranspiration data for pome and stone fruit. By Anna Mouton. The lead researcher on the project, agrometeorologist Dr Caren Jarmain, collaborated with Dr Nicky Taylor, senior lecturer…
How preharvest PGRs impact postharvest quality
Understanding the relationship between the preharvest application of plant growth regulators (PGRs) and fruit maturity is crucial for optimising storage and avoiding disorders. By Anna Mouton. “What happens on the farm is the most important influence on the postharvest performance…
How to achieve good red colour in apples and pears
This checklist of pre-plant decisions and management considerations will help growers increase pack outs with the required red colour. By Wiehann Steyn. Plant redder strains of existing cultivars. Don’t plant apple cultivars that colour up with difficulty in areas where…
Improve postharvest outcomes with preharvest ethylene inhibitors
Experts explain two agrochemical options that growers can use to manage harvest maturity. By Anna Mouton. Ethylene is a plant hormone that promotes fruit ripening, flower opening, and leaf dropping. In mature pome and most stone fruit, ethylene drives the…
Integrated mealy bug management
Growers must adopt a strategic approach to overcome this ancient pest. By Anna Mouton. Mealy bugs co-evolved with vascular plants over millions of years, and modern mealy bugs comprise more than 2 000 species exploiting a vast range of hosts. Despite…