Plant 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.

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.

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 …

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Early Hail Marks On Apples Do Not Grow Out, N H. Shorter, J. C. Rowbotham

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

ALTHOUGH the 1964/65 season brought a record crop with a good proportion of high quality fruit, the year was marred by several violent hailstorms in separate parts of the South-West.

Don't Neglect Bitter Pit Sprays, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

BITTER pit is a serious fault in export apples and each year considerable quantities of f r u i t are rejected for export on this account.

Now that control measures are available, it is most important that they be applied.

Root Growth Of Apple Trees, J E L Cripps

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

IT will surprise even experienced growers to know that an apple tree in W.A. needs twice the quantity of roots the same tree would need in a more temperate climate such as England's.

Carton Packs For Granny Smith Apples, J S. Bloomfield

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

THE demand for bruise-free apples by overseas buyers has been mainly responsible for the development of fibre board cartons as export apple containers.

Apple And Pear Growing In Western Australia : A Survey Of Trends In Planting, Frank Melville

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

APPLE growing is the major f r u i t growing activity in Western Australia.

The highest production recorded was 2,052,600 bushels in the peak year of 1960-61; of this 1,326,157 bushels were exported.

Western Australia is second only to Tasmania in the quantity exported and at present relies on overseas markets to absorb about two-thirds of the crop.

In 1962 there were 1,304,455 apple trees in this State and the average annual production over the previous five years was 1,449,962 bushels. *

Storage Of Yates Apples In Polythene Lined Boxes, Frank Melville

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

Yates apples are subject to shrivelling and must be carefully stored to prevent undue loss of moisture.

Trials conducted in 1955 demonstrated that wilting can be prevented by cold storage in polythene lined boxes and this is now common practice in this State.

Cross Pollination In Apple Orchards, N H. Shorter

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

ONE of the main aims of the successful apple grower is to reduce seasonal variations in cropping.

With this in view it has become apparent that provision for adequate cross pollination can be important in certain seasons, especially with Granny Smiths, if full advantage is to be taken of chemical thinning and other improved methods of orchard management.

Delayed Foliation In Apple Trees, J E L Cripps

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

DELAYED foliation refers to the late leafing out and production of small leaves by fruit trees.

However, the weak and protracted blossoming which precedes the appearance of the leaves has more serious consequences for it may lead to a reduced set of fruit.

The Fruit Industry In Other Lands. 3. The United States Of America, Frank Melville

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

MY visit to the United States extended over a period of ten weeks and in this time fruit areas in New York State, Washington State and California were seen.

In addition, certain other activities were covered in other centres. Contact with Research and Extension personnel was made.

Chemical Thinning Of Apples, S E. Hardisty, N. H. Shorter

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

TWO important related problems of apple-growing in this State are biennial bearing and poor fruit size.

Early thinning by chemical means, is providing a valuable and practical means of tackling these problems.

With every prospect of heavy crops in most districts this year, many growers will be interested in the possibility of spray thinning.

Bitter Pit : A Progress Report On The Use Of Calcium Nitrate Sprays For Its Control, Frank Melville, S. E. Hardisty

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

FREEDOM from serious pests and diseases such as Black Spot and Codling Moth and relative immunity from storage rots has greatly simplified apple growing in Western Australia.

However, what has been gained in this respect is often countered by pre-harvest and post-harvest physiological troubles which are rather common to apple growing in this State.