Dr Renate Smit was introduced to the deciduous-fruit industry as an undergraduate working for Dr Elmi Lötze in the Department of Horticultural Sciences at Stellenbosch University. After graduating with a BSc in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology in 2009, she managed…
Basics, benefits, and the rise of ethyl formate. By Grethe Bestbier. Worldwide, fumigation is recognized as an effective way of controlling phytosanitary pests like chinch-bugs, weevils, mites, and moths. These insects all meet their match in powerful fumigants that safeguard…
Three new research projects aim to help fruit growers navigate the challenges of spotted wing drosophila. By Anna Mouton. Hortgro, BerriesZA, SATI, and SAWine have joined forces to fund two crop-protection projects led by Prof. Pia Addison of the Department…
In a world demanding more from every harvest, ozone fumigation could help South African fruit growers to stay ahead. By Ilyaas Rhoda. Postharvest treatments are essential for meeting phytosanitary requirements and maintaining fruit quality during storage. However, the fruit industry…
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…
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…
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,…
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…