Overcoming phytosanitary obstacles
South African fruit must meet phytosanitary requirements to access certain key markets. How are these determined?
PHYLA
Hortgro establishes a new phytosanitary laboratory to support market access. By Engela Duvenage. On 14 February 2022, the South African pome- and stone-fruit industry felt some love when construction began on the Phytosanitary Laboratory — PHYLA — in Stellenbosch. The…
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 market access for South African deciduous fruit often comes down to phytosanitary risk management. We must demonstrate that we can…
Research rundown
A summary of past and present Hortgro-funded Forelle research not covered elsewhere in this issue. Hortgro-funded work on other pear cultivars is not discussed here – consult the research inventory in the PDF for a complete list of pear-related projects…
Stopping grain chinch bugs
Grain chinch bugs — Macchiademus diplopterus — are indigenous to the wheat-growing areas of the Western Cape. They are pests of cereals but also cause problems for fruit exporters. By Engela Duvenage. “Ironically, they do not damage fruit at all,…
Systems approach proves its worth
Dr Aruna Manrakhan of Citrus Research International reviews its use in South African citrus and deciduous fruit. By Engela Duvenage. “Prior to 1980, fruit industries relied on single-point disinfestation treatments to mitigate insect pest risks,” said Manrakhan. “The ban or…
The Deciduous Fruit Plant Certification Scheme
Top-performing orchards start with a blue-label investment. By Anna Mouton and Rachel Kriel. What is the Deciduous Fruit Plant Certification Scheme? The Deciduous Fruit Plant Certification Scheme is a voluntary certification programme for plant material. The Scheme is managed by…
The six-legged hitchhiker
The tiny grain pest catching a ride on our fruit. By Grethe Bestbier. The grain chinch-bug — Macchiademus diplopterus — is a grain pest that feeds on cereals and grasses. This tiny critter has made a nuisance of itself by…
Yin and yang
Understanding the cold sterilisation of dual-temperature plums. By Esté Beerwinkel. Yin and yang describe how seemingly opposite forces may actually be complementary. Dual-temperature plums need both moderate and cold temperatures to be successful on the international markets. In this Q&A,…