EMR Association and AHDB Horticulture are hosting a technical up-date for the soft fruit industry on Wednesday 25th November at the East Malling Conference Centre. The event aims to provide the latest research information on a number of crop protection projects which are seeking solutions to some pressing problems faced by growers.
Most notable is the progress being made in improving our understanding of biology and control of the spotted wing drosophila (SWD) in all soft fruit crops and western flower thrips (WFT) control in strawberry. In the latter, there will be up-dates on the progress being made in projects seeking to develop biocontrol of WFT.
Additional presentations will include research into midge and other pests of cane fruit and strawberries at East Malling Research, new research into red berry of blackberry and raspberry leaf blotch virus at The James Hutton Institute and use of Shark as a winter herbicide in strawberry. New research projects on soft fruit stress imaging, blueberry yields and raspberry root rot will also be presented along with the latest news on strawberry and raspberry breeding and variety development. Anyone wishing to attend the event should contact Ella Stanton at AHDB Horticulture on 0247 647 8677 (hort.events@ahdb.org.uk).