Right from project inception, industry role-players in the South African fruit industry demonstrate a collaborative approach to research and development (R&D), circumventing a universal challenge faced by researchers who often lack funding to implement their findings.
Citrus Research International (CRI) established a biosecurity division in 2016, with a mission to protect the Southern African citrus industry through timely identification of biosecurity threats; the development of preparedness; awareness, early detection, rapid response and impact mitigation plans; and ensuring effective application of the associated actions.
Pre-harvest monitoring for FCM infestation in citrus orchards is important in assessing FCM risk and the need for additional control measures. Particularly within a systems approach, it is important that such a system is reliable and accurate.
This study determined that both the originally used five-data-tree monitoring system and a newly developed system using a 100-fruit sample from sanitation fruit, are statistically reliable and accurate. The advantage of the new system is that it avoids a clash between the activities of the orchard monitoring and sanitation teams.
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To determine the percentage of infested fruit, growers should scout regularly for mealybug by inspecting underneath calyces. Where mealybug is under good biocontrol, infestation should peak during December or January in the northern production areas, and during February in the Cape production areas.
“As mens omsien na jou grond se welsyn dan is die natuurlike uitvloeisel dat die produktiwiteit van die grond sal verbeter,” het grondkundige dr. Pieter Raath by die 2025 SATI Table Talk in Paarl gesê. “En dit dra by tot ’n goeie omgewing vir ons en ons nageslag om in te lewe.”
Biological control – better known as biocontrol – leverages natural processes such as biostimulants and predation to manage pests and diseases. A recent talk by applied entomologist Dr Francois Bekker of the Department of Conservation Biology and Entomology at Stellenbosch University focused on biocontrol based on pathogens, parasitoids and predators.
Etileen is ’n planthormoon wat vrugrypwording, blomopening, en blaarval bevorder. In kern- en meeste steenvrugte dryf etileen die formasie van meer etileen. Selfs klein hoeveelhede etileen kan dus rypwording inisieer. Gevolglik is etileenonderdrukking een van die maniere waarmee naoeskwaliteit langer gehandhaaf kan word.
“Cherry production always happened in the colder areas of the world,” says Chad van Wyk. “But there are limited hectares in cold areas, and that space is full – where are we going to plant this high-value crop? For the past 20–30 years, we’ve been seeing expansion into warmer areas.”
The 15th International Symposium on Plant Bioregulators in Fruit Production was held in Chicago in June 2025. Although it featured research on a wide range of crops – from blueberries to pistachios – there was a strong focus on apples and several presentations on stone fruit.
Dit is vandag moeilik om veral kernvrugproduksie sonder plantgroeireguleerders voor te stel. Hierdie middels was egter nog in hulle kinderskoene toe em. prof. Karen Theron in die tagtigerjare haar loopbaan in die Departement Hortologie aan Universiteit Stellenbosch begin het.
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.
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…