“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.
By Hannes Bester, MC Pretorius, Wayne Mommsen, Coenraad Fraenkel, André Combrink, Natasha Jackson, Jan Landman, Rudolph Strydom, Irma Raspel, and Vernon Jacobs (Citrus Research International) Integrated pest management False codling moth (S.D. Moore) It is imperative that the False Codling…
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…
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.
Orchard profitability starts – and sometimes ends – when a grower decides what to plant. But choosing the best option can be challenging, given the complex interactions between cultivars and climate in a world where the weather is more unpredictable than ever.
Mexican apple grower and Unifrut president Mauricio González recently visited SA to attend the Hortgro Research Showcase and accompany the APAL international tour of our orchards. His take-home message? Mexico and SA have a lot in common.