Research

Science Into Practice - Key findings on role of earwigs

Earwigs play an important part in regulating populations of aphids, scale insects, codling moth and pear sucker in apple and pear orchards.

Science Into Practice - Downy mildew control in basil

PE 024 -- Basil: Improving knowledge and control of downy mildew in protected and outdoor crops.

Science into Practice - Western flower thrips control

SF 146: New predators as bio-control agents of western flower thrips on protected strawberry.

Science into Practice - Spotted wing drosophila

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

Science Into Practice - Agapanthus gall midge

Science Into Practice - Leaf and bud nematodes

CP 104: Novel approaches for the management of leaf and bud nematodes in hardy nursery stock.

Science Into Practice - Extending acorn storage

Pedunculate oaks only produce good seed crops every three-to-eight years. As oak seeds are difficult to store, the challenge for growers is balancing supply for future years.

Science Into Practice - New control for Tuta absoluta

PE 032: Tomato: Addressing important knowledge gaps in the Tuta absoluta IPM programme

Science Into Practice - Nematode management

Free-living nematodes (FLN) can cause serious damage to carrot and parsnip roots, despite not living inside a host plant, by feeding directly on the roots and root hairs.

Science Into Practice - Fruit-wall pruning study

TF 207: Optimum pruning times for fruit-wall orchard systems

Science into practice - Ornamentals disease control

Science Into Practice - Better blends of growing media

CP 138: "Transition to responsibly sourced growing-media use within horticulture"

Science Into Practice - Narcissus leaf diseases

Smoulder and white mould are the most common and damaging foliar diseases affecting commercial narcissus production in England and Scotland.

Science Into Practice - Variable-rate crop nitrogen

Precision-farming technology that uses canopy sensors to measure variability in crop growth to vary the application of nitrogen fertiliser has the potential to raise yields and improve uniformity. A crop with a well-developed thick canopy will typically have a different nitrogen requirement to one with a canopy that is less developed.

Science Into Practice - Nitrogen levels for blueberries

Larger blueberry bushes have significantly greater potential yields. Accurate nitrogen application is important to encourage growth. However, clear recommendations on the level of nitrogen required are not currently available.