Innovative work being undertaken by East Malling Research (EMR) will be showcased at Fruit Focus 2015, in a new series of targeted tours that make it easier for visitors to choose the topics that appeal most to them.
The tours will highlight a wide range of research, including encouraging beneficial pollinators and predators, increasing pear yields and improving water use in soft and orchard fruit.
Given the breadth of information on offer, Fruit Focus host EMR has altered the way in which the research tours are delivered. Rather than having one long tour with three or four different stops, visitors to the show will be able to select sessions that are of the most interest to them over different time slots.
The concept pear orchard will feature at the start of the morning tour from 11.00. The soft fruit entomology topics follow this at 11.30 and make up the afternoon tour, which starts at 14.30.
Two separate visits are available to view work from EMR’s WATERR (Water Advisory Team for Efficient Resource Recovery) project, the first at 10.30 and the second at 16.00.
Visitors will gain a valuable insight into these key areas of research, and will be able to quiz researchers on their work and how it might help their businesses in the future.
Concept pear orchard (11.00)
Graham Caspell, East Malling Research
In 2009, Sainsbury's, Chingford Fruit Ltd and East Malling Research created the Sainsbury's East Malling Concept Pear Orchard to determine if the adoption of intensive growing technology could help to boost annual UK production of pears from 16,000t to 36,000t.
Four different planting regimes are being evaluated in the orchard: traditional bush, multi-V system, double head system and single stem 'Run Thru'. The aim is to demonstrate which of the four techniques is most productive in the British climate and how the commercial viability of home-grown Conference pears can be improved.
The orchard yielded 51.5t/ha in 2014 and is expected to deliver 55t/ha or even more, when established, compared with 18-20t/ha from traditional orchards.
Graham Caspell, head of farm and horticultural services at EMR, will update growers on year-on-year production in the sixth cropping year for the orchard.
Enhancing natural pollinating insects in fruit crops (11.30 and 14.30)
Dr Michelle Fountain and Dylan Hodgkiss, East Malling Research
This session will focus on the importance of insect pollination in fruit crops, particularly strawberry. The aim will be to encourage discussion on how best to harness natural pollinators in crops, including uncertainties growers may have with protecting pollinating insects and how to improve crop pollination.
Exhibits will include the identification of different pollinating insects, how fruits develop and the influence of insect behaviour on flowers.
Predatory mites in soft and cane fruit
Dr Chantelle Jay and Dr Jean Fitzgerald, East Malling Research
Projects at East Malling Research are exploring the control of western flower thrips (WFT) with the predatory mite Neoseiulus (Amblyseius) cucumeris. This includes the use of N. cucumeris in combination with bio-control agents in the substrate, the relationship between N. cucumeris and WFT numbers and developing practical assessment/sampling methods for N. cucumeris.
The effect of spray programmes on predatory mites is the focus of a raspberry experiment in a new suite of short-length polytunnels. Identifying appropriate strategies to apply essential plant protection products whilst maintaining naturally occurring and introduced predators, in a fully integrated pest and disease management (IPDM) programme, is essential for providing effective control of pests in a complex canopy.
The projects are funded by the HDC and managed by EMR (soft fruit) and ADAS (cane fruit).
WATERR project visits
Precision irrigation of substrate-grown soft fruit (10.30)
Dr Mark Else, East Malling Research
An improved ability to supply high quality fruit consistently throughout the year is vital to the future success of the UK soft fruit industry. However, restrictions on water availability for irrigation could compromise marketable yields and quality of soft fruit, so new production methods that improve on-farm water use efficiency are needed.
Mark will demonstrate some of the latest substrate moisture monitoring and precision irrigation technologies and explain how these tools are being integrated into a grower-facing decision support system. He will also summarise results from on-going experiments on commercial farms.
The WATERR project team will be on hand to discuss the findings of the Irrigation Business Reviews concerning soft fruit irrigation performance. Growers can compare their own water use efficiency and productivity with other irrigators, and understand the impact of their irrigation decision-making on financial returns.
Improving water use efficiency in intensive tree fruit production (16.00)
Dr Mark Else, East Malling Research
Irrigation of high-intensity orchards is generally needed to optimise productivity, consistency of cropping and fruit quality. However, climate change, the move to more intensive growing systems and the reform of the abstraction licensing system highlight the need for tree fruit growers to use irrigation water more efficiently.
The challenge is to put in place measures that improve irrigation water use efficiency while maintaining or improving marketable yields and consistency of fruit quality.
Mark will summarise some of the latest research and new technologies that are being developed at EMR to help inform on-farm irrigation decision-making and how these approaches are being integrated into commercial orchards.
The WATERR project team will also be on hand to discuss the findings of the Irrigation Business Reviews for the tree fruit sector and explain howthe WATERR grower support programme can help deliver water savings.
Fruit Focus takes place at East Malling Research, Kent on Wednesday 22nd July. Tickets cost £10 and are available online or on the day. Visitors can earn 4 BASIS and 2 NRoSO points for attending the event. Further information at www.fruitfocus.co.uk