On Orchard Research Projects
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Cultural scab control through precision ascospore release and sanitation – Reiny Scheper (BSI)
Determine best practice for forced ascospore release and quantify the impact on reducing inoculum load when combined with sanitation.
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Technology review and updated spray application recommendations – David Manktelow (ART)
Focused on defining and extending guidelines for application rate and volume adjustment based on target canopy size and density.
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Spray application research – Sean Gresham (AgFirst), David Manktelow (ART), JP Praat (Groundtruth), Liqi Han (University of Queensland)
The purpose of this project is to improve spray precision and efficiency through the development of a canopy-based application system and the creation of a digital model to predict spray outcomes based on different canopy forms and sprayer set ups.
In 25/26, the project will further investigate the effect of canopy architecture on deposit variability and develop safe operating parameters for common sprayer types.
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Plant protection product benchmarking – Andrew Barber (Agrilink)
Aim to improve understanding of agrichemical usage and how this could be used to drive industry change, through informing new research, reporting back to growers and tracking change over time.
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Inoculum tracking tools – Kerry Everett (BSI)
Developing methods to quantify disease inoculum to inform risk and management practices.
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Best practice bull’s eye rot control – Kerry Everett & Peter Wood (BSI)
Testing residue free options to replace captan for bull’s eye rot control and the use of the infection risk model to inform spray application timing.
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Mealybugs in Hawke's Bay & Tasman in apple orchards – Vaughn Bell (BSI)
Mealybug phenology monitoring in HB and Tasman and assessment of fruit infestation pre-harvest to improve understanding for mealybug control.
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Buprofezin application timing trial – Svetlana Drinnan & Jack Hughes (Fruition)
Trial different application timings of buprofezin to confirm efficacy and residue acceptability.
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Identification of attractive and repellent plant volatiles for future ALCM control approaches – Bethan Shaw, Tara Taylor & Andrew Twidle (BSI)
Investigating the use of plant volatiles and the role they could play in the control of ALCM. This year the project will test previously identified compounds in the field for attracting/repelling ALCM.
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A systems approach to on-orchard pathogen control: layering orchard sanitation with optimised spray application – Nari Williams (PFR) and David Manktelow (ART)
- Developing a systems approach to pathogen inoculum management
- Orchard scale trials/case studies to demonstrate the efficacy and additive contribution of sanitation treatments in a systems approach to inoculum management.
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Beneficial insects in apple orchards for improved pest control – Bethan Shaw (BSI)
Aims to provide practical examples of insect re-establishment and floral resource integration on orchard blocks with a history of low beneficial insect populations.
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Mealybug control with green lacewing – Bethan Shaw (BSI)
Evaluate the effectiveness of green lacewing releases in reducing mealybug populations.