Strategies to mitigate the risk of internal browning. By Anna Mouton. “Internal browning touches people’s pockets,” says Dr Elke Crouch, a post-harvest physiologist with the Department of Horticultural Sciences at Stellenbosch University. “Particularly in Cripps Pink, because it’s a high…
What have we learnt over the past ten years? By Anna Mouton. Internal browning is a post-harvest disorder in which the flesh of apples turns brown while remaining firm. The two main types are diffuse browning and radial browning. These…
A new project to reduce plastic in pome-fruit packaging. By Grethe Bestbier. As the pressure on producers and pack houses to use environmentally friendly practices increases, a group of researchers is asking how we can reduce the use of plastic…
Creating a complete image database of pome-fruit diseases and disorders. By Grethe Bestbier. A picture tells a thousand words, and a compilation of pome-fruit disorder images does even more. In fact, according to Dr Ian Crouch, post-harvest physiologist at ExperiCo,…
Originally from Vanderbijlpark, Monja Gerber majored in microbiology and botany at North-West University. She completed an honours degree in plant protection, focussing on ecophysiology. In 2016, Gerber made a drastic move all the way to the Namib Desert and worked…
Currently a senior lecturer at Stellenbosch University, Dr Elke Crouch holds a doctorate in horticulture and has been affiliated with the Department of Horticultural Science since 2003. Truly passionate about her research field, Crouch loves every part of the job.…
Finding the best long-term storage strategy for Granny Smith apples. By Grethe Bestbier. For acceptance by international markets, not even 1% of a shipment of Granny Smith apples may be affected by superficial scald. Unfortunately, this cultivar is especially prone…
Spores of decay-causing fungi are an ever-present threat to stone and pome fruit. Understanding exactly how the rot sets in can help growers prevent losses. By Anna Mouton. A post-harvest disease is any disease where the symptoms appear after harvest.…
Three experts on post-harvest disease share advice for growers. By Anna Mouton. Post-harvest diseases start in the orchard. “What you do before harvest will largely affect what happens after harvest,” says Dr Pieter Louw, portfolio manager of crop protection at…
Ongoing research aims to optimise old and discover new methods to maintain fruit quality. By Anna Mouton. Delivering fresh fruit to distant markets partly depends on chemical control of decay-causing organisms. “The importance of orchard practices can never be discounted,”…