Bush fruit resources

AHDB Horticulture funded an extensive programme of research on many aspects of commercial bush fruit production. The available reports and resources are listed below. 

PESTS OF BUSH FRUIT:

Management of Pests, including Alien Invasive Species, in Fruit Growing Regions of the Great Lakes and Pacific Northwest America and Canada


Aphids

Research Project SF 012 (GSK200): Autumn sprays for the control of aphids in blackcurrant autumn 2005

Poster: different aphid pests of strawberry, cane fruit and bush fruit



Blackcurrant leaf midge

Research project SF 012 (GSK217): Developing a sex pheromone lure and trap for blackcurrant leaf midge


Earwigs

Research project SF 168: Identification of the role of earwigs in blackcurrant plantations


Gall midges and mites

Blackcurrant gall mite emergence charts

Tool: Blackcurrant gall mite emergence tracker

Research project SF 126: Blueberry gall midge sex pheromone monitoring and control with insecticides


Mammal pests

Managing rabbit problems associated with horticulture

Rodent control on farms


Sawfly

Research Project SF 012 (GSK206): Blackcurrants: Evaluation of chemicals to control Sawfly 2006

Research project SF 147: Development of a sex pheromone monitoring trap for gooseberry sawfly

Research project SF 162: Development of a Pheromone Trap for Monitoring Blackcurrant Sawfly


Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD)

A review of fruiting plant species as potential dead-end hosts of Drosphila suzukii

Disposing of fruit waste affected by spotted wing drosophila

Managing insect pests of soft fruit crops pending spotted wing drosophila appearance

Spotted Wing Drosophila hub




DISEASES OF BUSH FRUIT:

Botrytis

Research Project SF 012 (GSK195): Blackcurrants: Evaluation of fungicides for the control of Botrytis 2004

Research Project SF 012 (GSK202): Biology, epidemiology and management of leaf spot and Botrytis on blackcurrant 2008

Research project SF 012 (GSK220): Blackcurrants - Assessment of fungicides for the control of latent botrytis in fruit

Research project SF 169: Field evaluation of natural plant elicitors with or without a reduced fungicide programme for control of botrytis in blackcurrants and effects on yield and quality parameters


Dieback

Blackcurrant dieback

Research project SF 012 (GSK223): Branch dieback in blackcurrant: identification and control of potential pathogens, including the fungus Phomopsis

Research project SF 012 (GSK226): Blackcurrants - Control of Phomopsis dead arm in flailed down plantations

Research project SF 131: Gooseberry survey to determine the incidence and cause of branch and bush dieback or death

Research project SF 132: Progressive die-back symptoms in blueberry: Identification and control

Research project SF 142: Phomopsis dieback of blackcurrants - methodology development and contro

Research project SF 150: Review of the identification and control of progressive die-back symptoms in blueberry


Leaf spot

Research project SF 012 (GSK218): Blackcurrant - Comparison of spray strategies for control of leaf spot (Drepanopezizza ribis)


Phytopthora

A review of Phytophthora root rot in blueberry




WEEDS OF BUSH FRUIT

A review of alternative and novel weed control methods in blackcurrant

Research project SF 012 (GSK229): Effects of perennial weeds on weed control and fruit quality in blackcurrant. Effects of herbicides on weed control and fruit quality in blackcurrant

Research project SF 154: Blackcurrants: Screening herbicides for safe use in recently planted cuttings

Research project SF 154a: Blackcurrants: refining herbicide screen for use in recently planted cuttings


IPM

Research Project SF 104: Biopesticide product gap analysis and evaluation to support development policy for biopesticides for use in integrated soft fruit production



OTHER TOPICS ON BUSH FRUIT:

Beneficial insects

A review: Impacts of wildflower interventions on beneficial insects in fruit crops


Bud break/initiation

Tool: Blackcurrant chilling hours tracker

A review of flower bud initiation in blueberry

Research Project SF 012 (GSK159a): Bud break consistency products in blackcurrant 2020

Research project SF 012 (GSK194): Winter chill requirements of blackcurrant

Research Project SF 012 (GSK214): Blackcurrants: Evaluation of dormancy breaking treatments & Field evaluation of Erger G for dormancy breaking (Combined project with GSK213) 2007

Research project SF 012 (GSK215): Blackcurrants: Further detailed evaluation of new cultivars from the breeding programme for evenness of bud break and development

Research project SF 012 (GSK225): Blackcurrants - Assessment and ranking of new varieties with respect to their winter chill requirement


Crop management

Gooseberries a grower guide to production, variety choice & pest & disease problems

Research Project SF 012 (GSK213): Blackcurrants: Evaluation of dormancy breaking treatments & Field evaluation of Erger G for dormancy breaking (Combined project with GSK213) 2007

Research project SF 012 (GSK228): Blackcurrants - Hot water treatment (HWT) of cuttings

Research project SF 012 (GSK201): Database and Literature search for Brix enhancement in Ribes Nigrum and similar fruit crops


Integrated pest management and biocontrol

Biocontrol in Soft Fruit Guide

Developing novel biocontrol methods for pests and disease in blackcurrant

Research project SF 012 (HH01105): Developing biocontrol methods and their integration in sustainable pest and disease management in blackcurrant production


Labour and skills

Edible horticulture skills survey

Video: Webinar - Operating in a reduced labour market

Video: Webinar - Using LEAN techniques to improve labour efficiency in horticulture

Video: Webinar - Using your time effectively


Nutrient management

A review of nutrient requirements of blackcurrant in the UK

A review of the effects of bark applied nutrient sprays used on blackcurrants in 2020

Introduction to fertigation

RB209 Section 7 Fruit, vines and hops

Research project SF 012 (GSK212): Nitrogen requirements for blackcurrant processing crops

Research project SF 012 (GSK221): Evaluation of soil nitrogen assessments and the use of controlled release nitrogen fertilisers

Research project SF 012 (GSK227): Evaluation of mulching with PAS 100 compost in establishing plantations

Research Project SF 137: Timing of nitrogen applications to optimise growth and yield without adversely affecting blueberry fruit storability and frost sensitivity


Soils

How to count earthworms

Measuring soil nutrients, pH and organic matter

Video: GREATsoils - the worm count test

Video: How to conduct a quick assessment of your soils

Video: Webinar - Soil health improvement – Cover crops and organic amendments

Video: Webinar - Soil health for horticulture


Water

Establishing a resilient water supply

Protecting the water supply for your crops




Useful links

Bush fruit crop walkers' guide

Read the soft fruit review 2018

Watch this video on SCEPTREplus research on Blackcurrant

×