Applied plant research unit Fruit

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Applied plant research - unit Fruit
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Fruit research in the Netherlands
Research station for fruit growing Wilhelminadorp
Applied Plant Research Fruit Randwijk
1996
2001
Applied plant research Unit Fruit, Randwijk
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Topics of research in Randwijk

• Pomology
• Fruit cultivar evaluation
• System innovation
• Soil science and plant nutrition
• Crop protection
• Economics
• Post harvest and product quality
• Small fruit

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Research on System innovation Fertilisation
Irrigation at PPO/Randwijk

• Rien van der Maas and
• Marc op t Hof

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System innovation
Integrated and biological production
Production system and chain development Three
phases - orientation on innovations -
innovation development - implementation of
innovations
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System innovation
Example 1 biological production innovation
Biological production of Santana and
Topaz scab-resistance management only sulphur,
1/3 amount no scab high production of good
quality
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System innovation
Example 2 chain development for integrated
production chain development of Santana
mini-chain research (test of protocol) 18 ton
7 selling points 4 - 5 months delivery of high
quality
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Irrigation
Requirements for irrigation of Conference
Introduction of IRRY to fruit growersIRRY
advisory system for water application
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Pomology by Frank Maas

• Rootstock interstem evaluation trials
• Thinning of apple
• chemical thinning
• non-chemical thinning methods
• Growth regulation
• chemical growth retardents (e.g. Regalis)
• non chemical growth control (root pruning,
• limited water supply)
• Evaluation of planting systems
• Control of fruit russeting
• Monitoring of CCC-residue levels in pear

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Aims in rootstock research
- Low vigour - Compatibility - Precociousness -
Good fruit size grading and quality - Frost
resistance - Disease resistance
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Thinning of apple

• Flower thinning agents ethephon, ATS,
  lime-sulfur
• Fruit thinning agents BA, BANAA
• Combinations of flower and fruit thinning agents
  e.g. ethephon at 20 open flower and BA at 10 mm
  fruit size
• Increase of fruit abortion by end-of-day far-red
  light treatment

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Crop health research
crop protection natural environment
Bart Heijne Peter Frans de Jong Marcel
Wenneker Paul Geurts Herman Helsen
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Research topics

• Phytopathology
• Entomology
• Weed technology
• Drift reduction
• Natural environment

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Phytopathology
Venturia spp. (scab) organic scab
control antagonists leaf degradation integration
of measurements against different diseases
Nectria galligena (European canker) organic
canker control antagonists integration
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Phytopathology
Stemphylium vesicarium (brown spot) life
cycle warning system efficacy fungicides Dead
buds what is the reason? Pseudomonas syringae
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Entomology
Dysaphis plantaginea (rosy apple aphid) autumn
control efficacy of semiochemicals natural
contol Anthonomus pomorum (apple blossom
weevil) natural control
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drift reduction

• natural reet vegetation
• windbreaks
• artificial netting
• sensor sprayer
• venturi nozzle

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Natural environment
natural elements surrounding orchards water
holding capacity
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Fruit Quality and Postharvest
Projects by - Anton de Jager - Frank Schoorl -
Kees Westerweele
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Research topics

• Kwalicon water loss in Conference (shrivel)
• Long storage increased risk of water loss and
  shriveling
• Skin spots in Elstar
• Quality and storage losses of organic Elstar
• New varieties storage conditions (standard
  scenarios)
• mini chains response of retailers and
  consumers
• Santana and Concorde
• Unripe fruit identification (early season)
  Delcorf