February / March 2023
Spider Mites
Mite pests are a huge problem on many crops around the world. However, this hasn’t led to them being well-managed pests.
February / March 2023
SPILLING THE BEANS The coffee bean weevil on citrus
The coffee bean weevil was first reported to feed on citrus in 1885.
August / September 2021
Spinning a new story in Citrus – A first record of two spider species
Spiders fulfil a critical function in a variety of ecosystems.
December 2025 / January 2026
Star Ruby grapefruit on seven different rootstocks
Star Ruby is a red grapefruit cultivar that originated in Texas by irradiating Hudson grapefruit seeds. By Werner Swiegers, Paul Cronjé and Johan Joubert (Citrus Research International) In 1972, 12 seeds were imported to SA and nucellar seedlings were introduced…
December 2025 / January 2026
Stink bugs and their relatives on citrus
Stink bugs (Pentatomidae), tip wilters (Coreidae) and seed bugs (Lygaeidae) belong to the order Hemiptera or sucking bugs. They are characterised by their piercing-sucking mouthparts, nymphs that look like miniature versions of the adults, winged adults, and the ability to produce noxious smells as a defence mechanism.
August / September 2019
Studying fruit fly through machine learning
In the Western Cape, Ceratitis capitata, commonly known as the Mediterranean fruit fly or Medfly, is one of the most economically harmful pests in orchards, causing fruit damage and posing a phytosanitary risk.
February / March 2023
Sustainable agriculture needs ecological infrastructure
Ecosystem investment builds ecological infrastructure that enables sustainable agriculture.
June / July 2021
Table grape quality from vineyard to shelf – Maties researcher investigates
Grape quality from vineyard to shelf is under the spotlight in a new research project underway in the Robertson region.
October / November 2024
Table-grape breeding in the genomic era
Genome editing has the power to revolutionise cultivar development, but South African growers are at risk of being left behind. By Anna Mouton Dr Justin Lashbrooke of the Department of Genetics at Stellenbosch University calls himself a molecular physiologist. “I care…
October / November 2022
Table-grape producers become carbon savvy
Over the last decade, local table-grape producers have been working hard to mitigate their environmental impact by reducing their carbon footprint.
October / November 2025
Taking Australian orchards into the future
South Africans have a long history of visiting apple and pear growers and researchers in Australia. This year, we reciprocated by hosting a predominantly Australian group undertaking an international tour of South African orchards.
April / May 2021
Tasty is in the eye of the beholder – How different plants market their fruit to consumers
Marketers and consumers – we’re talking about humans, right? Wrong. Many plants depend on successful marketing for aspects of reproduction, including seed dispersal. And many seed-dispersing animals are discerning consumers of fruit.