Industry Development Through Research & Development - 2003-2004

Background

r_dMost of PIRSA horticultural research and development is undertaken by SARDI and details can be found on the SARDI website.  PIRSA has also partnered with industry groups in two additional development projects – Economic evaluation of high-density apple orchards under Australian conditions and technical support and supervision of the SA component of the national strawberry breeding program.

Objectives

Development of high-density apple orchards through the evaluation of variety x rootstock x spatial arrangements to achieve improved yield, quality, efficiency and overall orchard profitability. The program also provided a series of training events to up skill orchardists technical skills and use of improved planting systems.

With industry involvement short-day and day-neutral strawberry genotypes derived from the National and overseas programs were selected for local performance and commercialisation.

Agronomic practices to maximize production from the new varieties were also developed.

Key Achievements

Apple high-density orchard systems

  • The trial has been used to demonstrate new practical skills to a large number of local and interstate growers and has attracted overseas interest.
  • Integrated Fruit Production management practices are being utilized in the ongoing management of trial.
  • An economic comparison of establishment costs for each system has been completed and labour costs, productivity and profitability analyses are being developed.
  • This trial has been identified as one of the national apple industries top priorities for further R&D.

Strawberries

  • New varieties have been selected that offer superior performance under SA conditions.
  • The Berry Growers of SA, in conjunction with Adelaide University obtained a ARC Grant for a PhD student to conduct research on the interaction of nutrition and disease within advanced selections of the breeding program. The work is being conducted by a PHD student and involves 4 specific components of research.

    Project Leader:  Paul James