Brassica Growers Association Research and Development Strategy ( )

Transcription

1 Please Note: All prospective research contractors to speak to the nominated BGA co-ordinator before submitting any concepts/proposals - Contact details for BGA co-ordinators at the end of the document. Top BGA priority issues: Aphids, Cabbage Root Fly, Club root, Whitefly, Weed control, Pigeons, Storage & continuity with Priority topics in Bold. Peach potato aphid (Myzus persicae) Cabbage aphid (Brevicoryne Brassicae) Vertebrate pests Woodpigeon Slugs Cabbage root fly (CRF) (Delia radicum) Suggested research areas : New active ingredients for control. Novel methods of control. Predicting the aphid crash. Reducing virus transmission. Woodpigeons are the biggest cause of economic loss in Brassica growing: Novel methods/techniques for control. Slugs remain a significant pest particularly of Brussels sprout and storage cabbage crops. Current control is achieved largely by treatments with either metaldehyde or carbamate based pellets. Need: New active ingredients for slug control. Optimising slug trapping/timing of pellet treatments. Novel methods of control. 1 st & 2 nd generations of CRF generally well controlled by either Gigant seed treatment or module drenches. Control of the 3 rd generation affecting winter cauliflower/cabbage in Kent/Cornwall and may affect marketable parts of the plant i.e. sprout buttons/broccoli heads is more problematic. Need: New active ingredients for control part including economical control after Dursban Novel methods of control. Egg laying through fleece, increasing problem, crf FV 160b (managing virus disorders in cabbage) FV 221 (entomopathogenic fungi in field margins) FV 250 (aphid project on Brassicas and salads current) FV 231 (3D farming field margins to promote biodiversity & aphid control) FV 328 series (Brassica pests) FV 334: perennial margins for ecological benefit to veg rotations FV 344 & 344a (sustaining effectiveness of aphicides) FV 389 (combining bio-pesticides) FV 365 & 365a (Turnip yellows virus in Brassica) HDC factsheet FV 225 (LINK project, including deterrents and risk assessment) Also work by Albert Esther (NL) and Aberdeen University (nematodes). Current SALINK project developing novel control products (HGCA). FV 251 (companion planting for CRF control in transplanted crops) FV 242d (leafy Brassicas & radish) FV 328 & FV 328a (Brassica pest control) FV 364: Cabbage root fly studentship (esp.for drilled crops) 1

2 have adapted egg size to penetrate fleece. Thrips (Thrips tabaci) Thrips problematic in hot, dry years causing severe quality issues (oedema) in both sprout and white cabbage crops. Current control is achieved using pyrethroids and spinosad. Defra leek project (current) FV 296 (Thrips behaviour/spray timing on leeks). FV 339 new active ingredients - leeks. Caterpillars Diamondback Moth Small White Flea Beetle White fly Caterpillar control is achieved predominantly by the use of broad spectrum pyrethroid insecticides. Need: Novel techniques for control. Applicability of pheromone mating disruption techniques. Flea beetles are generally most problematic in drilled Brassica crops (greens and sprouts) with transplanted crops rarely troubled. Control is currently generally achieved using pyrethroid insecticides. Research proposals should focus on alternative methods of control which avoid the use of these broad spectrum insecticides. Particularly problematic on kale and Brussels sprouts FV 222: biology and control of Brassica flea beetles by integrating trap crops with insecticide use. FV 301: Management and biology of flea beetle species and other key pests of leafy Brassica crops. PC 210 (herbs) PC 240 (organic tomatoes) PC 254 (insecticides) FV 328 series FV 399 (Brassicas, improving whitefly control) Low on Kale Pollen beetle Requires update Low Wireworm Particularly problematic on root Brassicas LINK project with ADAS (BPC) Low Swede midge Requires update Low Nematodes Free living Brassica cyst Clubroot (Plasmodiophora Brassicae) Very rarely cause issues in Brassica crops. Therefore: Novel methods/techniques for control, which would also be applicable to other crops, would be considered. Clubroot is the most significant soil borne disease of Brassica crops. Need: New active ingredients for control. FV 273 biofumigant crops Low Defra project recent FV 259 (antibody & molecular diagnostics) in collaboration with Australia Alistair Ewan 2

3 Black rot (Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris) Powdery Mildew (PM) Light Leaf Spot (LLS) Downy mildew & Rhizoctonia sp. Spear Rot (Pseudomonas sp.) Novel strategies for control ie. soil sterilisation, composted waste. Genetics - could there be a better understanding of the genotypes of clubroot. If we could go to the basics of how club root works we could work with the breeding companies to develop multigene resistance to this to ensure long term stability of Brassica production Xanthomonas is the most significant foliar disease of Brassica crops with savoy x white cabbage and winter cauliflower particularly badly affected. Research proposals should focus on: Significance and control of seed borne infections. Preventing/reducing spread during propagation. ELISA test. Significance and control of field infections. PM and LLS problematic in sprout/kale crops particularly in wetter areas of UK. Current control relies on triazole fungicides (LLS) or potassium bicarbonate (PM). Need: New actives/techniques for disease management. Both DM and Rhizoctonia sp. can be problematic during plant raising/propagation. Need: New active ingredients for control (new products available from Syngenta, Certis and Bayer). Novel techniques for control polythene films, use of alternative products. Spear rot - most economically damaging disease of broccoli crops. New actives for control. New techniques for control. Forecasting disease. CP45 (PhD-spore viability) FV 337 Brassica & Lettuce Propagation: Identifying means of killing clubroot and Olpidium resting spores in trays to avoid infection of transplants FV 349 (Field tests for clubroot resting spores HGCA collab) FV 335 (Evaluation of disinfectants, biological and natural products for control of Brassica black rot (Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris) FV 378 (plant elicitors against head rot) FV 333a Brassicas - Forecasting light leaf spot and powdery mildew in vegetable Brassica crops based on in field detection of airborne spores Defra projects on downy mildew in propagation and two projects on Rhizoctonia. Big differences in varietal susceptibility. FV 104b. Work at Edinburgh University on bacteriophages. Manipulating head wax levels Sclerotinia priority on swedes FV 260 (carrots) FV 294 ( lettuce) Ongoing discussion (2009) at new Sclerotinia Forum to develop cross rotational controls and tools. FV 361 SA Link Sclerotinia on arable rotations, veg and but in N.England & Scotland DM Rhizoc. - Low but on swedes Ellis Luckhurst Simon Jackson Alistair Ewan 3

4 land use. Ringspot Dark Leaf Spot White Blister Current control methods (triazoles, strobilurins and metalaxyl-m) are largely effective in controlling these diseases particularly in combination with disease forecasting. FV 233a (antibody based kits for Alternaria and ringspot spores), FV 313 (ringspot, Alternaria) FV 305, FV 53e (white blister) Phoma On Swedes and Brussels sprouts Weed Control Weed control in drilled & transplanted crops Ellis including Charlock control Luckhurst FV 256b (herbicide screen) FV 266 (mechanical within row weeder) FV 270 (herbicides in Brassicas) Objective 2. Increase returns on investment through efficient use of resources. Soils Measure and use of microflora within the soil to improve fertiliser utilisation thereby reducing fertiliser use Root development and links to climate control Nutrition Standard recommendations for N,P & K in RB209 are largely from research undertaken in the 1960 s & 70 s. Since then production techniques and varieties used have changed. EA assessing growers in NSA/NVZ s are using RB209 and may penalise growers not adhering to the guidelines. The effectiveness of foliar products against their claims i.e. calcium mobility, nutrient availability, etc. WELL-N FV 217 N in winter cauliflower Low Mechanisation Transplanting & harvesting Brassica crops is still undertaken by hand and is a significant production cost. Mechanisation of planting & harvesting equipment would have the potential to make significant savings to the industry. Crop storage Crop storage is currently utilised but only to a limited extent to iron out peaks or troughs in production. Extending storage life whilst maintaining product quality is a targeted aim. Water management Is it possible to understand how to grow with FV 224 (Caulicut project) Current (2009) proposal Desk study on Brassica harvesting FV 285 (MAP storage review) FV 395 (Broccoli storage) Phillip Phillip 4

5 Objective 2. Increase returns on investment through efficient use of resources. drought or moisture tolerance - microbes in the soil or nutrition? Water availability appears to be becoming more haphazard and if we can grow tolerance to dry and wet we will have consistent in production Technology Ensuring Brassica growing is maintaining pace with IT / GPS / Robotics developments Objective 3: To supply consistent quality product and continuity and to achieve customer satisfaction Production continuity The balance of supply and demand is crucial to determining market price. The nature of Brassica production in a maritime climate produces peaks and troughs in supply. Research needs : Forecasting supply and demand. Techniques to alter crop maturity i.e. delay or bring forward harvest. Techniques to forecast storage life of product prior to harvest. Improved storage techniques. Need to increase or delay initiation, particularly of flowering crops. FV 212 / 212a Winter cauliflower maturity prediction software FV 285 desk study investigating MAP Phillip Encouraging Consumption Consumption of fresh Brassicas in the UK has fallen significantly over the past 10 years. Needs: Review of health benefits of Brassica vegetables to be used to promote consumption. Collaborative approaches to Brassica/vegetable promotion. Council-funded promotion to encourage consumption of seasonal British produce Objective 4: To provide information which can be used to promote the consumption vegetables Target Initiative Previous or current work Priority BGA Coordinator & Phillip 5

6 : Mb Alistair Ewan Mb Ellis Luckhurst Mb Simon Jackson Mb Mb Phillip Mb