Life Sciences Commons^™

Innovation, Research And Development, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Western Australia

All other publications

The Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia proudly plays a vital role In lhe strategic planning, production and marketing of the State's food and fibre industries. via three main criteria.

Innovation

Research

Development

The following are some recent examples of the department's many innovative R&D programs that are showcasing our scientific and technological breakthroughs on the world stage.

Returns To R&D Investment Of Dafwa: Benefit Cost Analysis, 2005-2006, Nazrul Islam

Bulletins 4000 -

The primary outcome or objective of the projects that are assessed, is to increase the market competitiveness and profitability of agri-industry.

Environmental Impacts And Production Effects Of Subsurface Drainage At An Intensive Apple Orchard Near Donnybrook, Wa, D L. Bennett, Richard J. George Dr

Resource management technical reports

This report documents results of research carried out within the Donnybrook area, Western Australia, to determine appropriate management for shallow groundwater system responsible for waterlogging of horticultural crops. On one irrigated and previously waterlogged orchard block an assessment is made of the role that subsurface water control had on fruit production and soil water conditions. The report focuses on environmental aspects.

Weevil Management In Orchards And Vineyards Looks Promising, Stewart Learmonth

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Research and monitoring undertaken by Agriculture Western Australia is showing that the management of weevils in Western Australia's orchard crops and vineyards is improving. A number of alternative management strategies are being implemented, and future research will assess the effectiveness of non-chemical approaches to weevil management.

Pink Lady & Sundowner Apples, A. G. Mackay, G. L. Godley, J E L Cripps, Eleanor Melvin-Carter, J G. Paterson, P. Wood

Bulletins 4000 -

This bulletin summaries for all Australian growers the present technical information concerning Pink Lady and Sundowner

Apple Harvest Maturity Indices Of Retail Quality, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Western Australia

Bulletins 4000 -

No abstract provided.

Eradication Of Apple Scab, John Cripps, Ralph Doepel

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The detection of apple scab in two orchards at Pemberton and New/ands in December 1989 ended Western Australia's 41-year, scab-free span for apple growers .

Without eradication orchardists would have had to apply up to 20 fungicidal sprays a year, at an annual cost of $1-2 million, to be able to market a high proportion of scab-free fruit. The industry chose eradication as the cheaper alternative, but the location of infected orchards at Pemberton in particular, with its high rainfall, suggested that it would be difficult .

Scab, or black spot, is the most serious fungal disease of apples in …

A Tale Of Two Ladies : Pink Lady And Sundowner, John Cripps, Eleanor Melvin-Carter

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

It is five years since the first Western Australianbred Pink Lady and Sundowner apples were sold on the local market. In that time, these crisp, sweet flavoursome apples have become top-selling, premium fruit.

The story is no different overseas. Trial shipments to London, Taiwan and Singapore have indicated a big demand for the unique Pink Lady apple - far more than Western Australia can presently supply.

One million fruiting Pink Lady apple trees are needed to meet anticipated export sales. Today, there are only 100,000 trees in the ground, of which about half are bearing fruit.

New high quality apple …

Control Of Peach Leaf Curl, P Mcr Wood, W Pickkering

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

87S2, 87MC39, 87BY35, 87AL42, 87MC38, 87SW1.

Peach leaf curl , Apple mildew, Rot in Pears

Bitter Pit Control Could Save Export Granny Smiths, S E. Hardisty

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Western Australian exports of Granny Smith apples are threatened by the incidence of bitter pit. Fortunately treatments which can control this storage disorder, have become available.

Apple Orchards To Take A New Look, J E L Cripps

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Results of experiments by the Department of agriculture could completely change the appearance of the apple orchard in the next decade.

The normal orchard scene will become hedgerows of chemically-thinned, irrigated, red varieties on dwarfing or semi-dwarfing rootstocks receiving just the right amount of fertiliser, and areas between rows will be mown, or sprayed with herbicide. The clean cultivated, square-planted, vase-shaped tree will slowly disappear.

Pit And Scald Of Granny Smiths, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Trials investigating storage and shipping disorders of fruit, mainly apples and pears, are conducted annually in cool rooms made available to the Department by the W.A. Meat Export Works.

Powdery Mildew Of Apples, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Powdery mildew (Podosphaera leucotricha) markedly affects the growth and vigour of susceptible apple varieties, particularly Jonathan and Cleopatra.

The fungus survives the winter as mycelial threads in dormant buds on spurs and laterals infected the previous season. At bud-burst the mycelium grows onto the developing leaves and blossom clusters to form white patches.

Spores produced on these patches are spread by the wind onto the healthy growth.

The Value Of Alar Sprays For Apples, N H. Shorter, J. Cripps

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

ALAR* is a growth retardant which has been die subject of intensive research in other countries. It tends to slow both fruit growth and ripening and to reduce shoot extension.

Overseas and local investigations with apples have shown that Alar will reduce preharvest drop, restrict shoot growth and increase flower bud formation for the following season.

Control Of Bitter Pit On Granny Smith Apples, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

BITTER PIT is a serious threat to Western Australia's apple export markets and effective control is essential.

The following programme of calcium nitrate sprays, starting in mid-December, will prevent development of the disorder.

Chemical Thinning Controls Biennial Bearing In Apples, J E L Cripps

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Department of Agriculture experiments have shown that biennial bearing of apples can be controlled by chemical thinning, but both winter and spring weather conditions must be taken into account when the need for spraying is assessed.

BIENNIAL BEARING is a regular cycle in which each heavy crop of fruit is followed by a light crop, or, in extreme cases, no crop at all.

Better Rootstocks For Apple Trees, Frank Melville, J. E. L. Cripps

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Mailing Merton rootstocks have given the best results in ten years' trials with apple rootstocks on Stoneville Research Station and on growers' properties.

THE type of rootstock used imparts important characteristics to an apple tree. Tree size and stability, cropping characteristics, susceptibility to soil-borne pests and diseases and, to some extent, fruit quality are all affected by the choice of rootstock.

Growing And Marketing Yates For Profit, Frank Melville

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THE YATES APPLE is a late maturing red variety which because of its good storage qualities enjoyed a prominent place on the late market for many years.

The trees grow and crop well, the only disabilities are insufficient colour under some circumstances, small size fruit and a tendency to shrivel.

All these troubles can be successfully overcome by appropriate management.

The Vital Role Of Bees In Apple Pollination, N H. Shorter

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THE vital role the honey bee plays in pollinating apples is often overlooked.

Bees are the most important agents for cross pollination in apples and other fruit trees.

Future Trends In Apple And Pear Production, Frank Melville

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Review of a recent survey of apple and pear plantings in Western Australia.

SINCE the early 1950's the area of apples in Western Australia has continually increased and this has been accompanied by an equally important change in variety emphasis.

On a lesser scale the position has been much the same with pears.

Fertiliser Recommendations For Apple Trees, N H. Shorter, J. E. L. Cripps

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THE increased use of irrigation and chemical thinning in apple orchards and the planting of trees in light soils have resulted in responses to regular fertiliser dressings.

Fertiliser Responses With Newly Planted Apple Trees, N H. Shorter

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

AN outstanding response to phosphate and a worthwhile response to nitrogen have been obtained in the Donnybrook area on a new orchard site on the property of Mr. A. Cross of Argyle.

Production Costs In The Apple Industry : Comments On A Survey, A W. Hogstrom, I. J. Moncrieff

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

IN 1964 and 1965, light and heavy bearing years respectively, apples cost $2.40 per bushel to produce in Western Australia. This figure, to be considered with many other factors, was reached in a cost-of-production survey of 45 selected growers.

Packing and labour costs, in that order, were the two biggest cost-of-production items.

Ethoxyquin For The Control Of Scald Of Granny Smith Apples, Frank Melville

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

WEST AUSTRALIAN Granny Smiths are prone to the storage disorder superficial scald, which can appear after as little as 3 1/2 months storage.

Control measures are now available, the most recent development being the use of the chemical scald inhibitors, ethoxyquin and diphenylamine.

Some Recent Developments In The Apple Industry In Western Australia, H R. Powell

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

IN 1940, the total acreage of apples in W.A. was 13,098, made up of 10,359 acres of bearing trees and 2,739 acres of non-bearing trees.

In 1959, the figures were 13,459 acres of total plantings; a bearing area of 10,926 acres and a non-bearing area of 2,533 acres.

Similar figures for 1964 show the plantings as 15,126 acres of total plantings, 10,889 acres of bearing trees and 4,237 acres of trees not yet in bearing.

Stop-Drop Sprays For Jonathan And Delicious Apples, N H. Shorter, J. Cripps

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

STOP-DROP sprays prevent excessive pre-harvest drop of Jonathan and Delicious apples.

Recent research has thrown more light on the best methods of employing these materials.

TWO CHEMICALS used as "stop-drop" sprays are available commercially in Western Australia. One of these, alpha napthalene acetic acid (NAA), is also well known as a thinning spray for apples.

Control Of Summer Weeds Around Apple Trees, N H. Shorter

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THE application of residual herbicides around the butts of irrigated apple trees early in summer has given good control of summer-growing weeds in recent experiments, as well as in a number of commercial orchards.

The Elimination Of Cultivation In Apple Orchards : A New Approach To Orchard Soil Management, S E. Hardisty

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THE idea of eliminating cultivation in orchards suggests a reversal of accepted local practice in orchard soil management—but there is plenty of evidence to show that a noncultivation system has much in its favour.

In this article the advantages and disadvantages of the three main forms of orchard soil management are discussed and experimental evidence is presented in support of noncultivation.

An alternative method, "winter sod" culture, is proposed for irrigated orchards.

Chemical Thinning Of Apples : Spray Recommendations For 1966, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

ALL indications point to a heavy crop of apples in the 1967 season.

This year gives growers an opportunity to break through the biennial bearing cycle of " o n " and " o f f" years by the thorough application of chemical thinning sprays.

Leaf Scorch Of Apple Trees, N H. Shorter

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

BEFORE the 1964-65 fruit season, sections of a number of orchards in the Donnybrook district were converted to systems of permanent overhead sprinkler irrigation.

In several cases, however, leaf scorch occurred where these overhead sprinklers were used during the day time.