• Natutec Drive takes centre stage

  January 6, 2021

  Natutec Drive takes centre stage Koppert have again demonstrated an outstanding level of innovation and prowess in the development of its latest offering to [...] name and the rate of application required. “This is a first-class piece of machinery which exemplifies our superiority in the field of biocontrol-related [...] to the strawberry sector, in the form of the Natutec Drive . This is unquestionably one of Koppert’s most advanced and sophisticated mechanical application

• A life-long passion for predatory mites

  September 30, 2024

  packaging and transportation of this increasingly effective solution for biocontrol of specific pest infestations. In recent years, one of the most successful [...] biology and living creatures all my life. As a child I would lie on the grass and watch ants and spiders at work. At one stage I even kept snakes and poison [...] reproduction of the mites. We are now looking at adapting the sachet for different climates and different locations.’ Collaboration is key Staying ahead of the

• A life-long commitment to help growers thrive with sustainable growing practice

  December 10, 2024

  rest of her life. Growing up in a farming family, Rianne's father was a pioneer in using biological solutions for his crops. He also devoted half of his [...] future holds many challenges and one of them is the severe reduction in the use of chemical agents. In fact, a lot of them are going to disappear over the [...] the impact of beneficial insects and predatory mites in action, many exclaimed, "We’ll never go back! This was the most rewarding response of growers you

• Foot rot of cereals

  the point of infection around the milky ripe stage (GS 75). Later infections may result in infection of the grain without obvious bleaching of the ears [...] pink appearance, although this is not always the case. Life cycle and appearance of Foot rot of cereals Microdochium nivale , a fungal pathogen responsible [...] dark lesions and rotting of roots and stems. These visible signs serve as key diagnostic features for identifying the presence of the pathogen in affected

• Pierce's disease of grapevine

  in olive. Damage symptoms Grapevines: Primary infection of leaves results in leaf scorch. Part of a green leaf suddenly dies and turns brown with adjacent [...] occur on the underside of the leaves. These lesions start out in a light-brown colour, turning to dark-brown or necrosis. Fruits of infected trees are much [...] foliage becomes thinner, but the trees don’t die of the disease. Olives: Scorch symptoms and desiccation of twigs and small branches occur on infected leaves

• Black root rot of cucurbits

  exudations of spores. In the early stages of wilting it is hard to distinguish from other wilt diseases. The fungus can also cause black fruit rot. Life cycle [...] disease is usually restricted to a few of the roots but in severe cases all roots may be infected. At the final stage of the disease, only vascular tissue remains [...] in the early stages of the crop results in stunted growth and smaller leaves with an intense green colour. Severe infection in this stage may kill the

• Loose smut of barley

  first sign of infection is the appearance of a smutted ear. Instead of normal tissue, the ear contains a mass of olive-brown smut spores. Life cycle and [...] and appearance of Loose smut of barley The seeds are infected during flowering and the infected seeds are the primary source of inoculum in the next crop [...] affects barley and can destroy a large proportion of the crop. It is also known as barley smut, or loose smut of barley. Damage symptoms Infection by Ustilago

• Loose smut of wheat

  appearance of a smutted ear. Instead of normal tissue, the ear contains a mass of olive-brown smut spores. Life cycle and appearance of Loose smut of wheat [...] or loose smut of wheat. Damage symptoms Infection by Ustilago nuda f.sp. tritici remains invisible until head emergence. The first sign of infection is [...] the primary source of inoculum in the next crop. The fungus survives inside the seed and when the seed germinates, the mycelium of the fungus grows upwards

• Downy mildew of Cucurbits

  On the underside of the leave fluffy growth appears which is first white and later turns grey-brown. This is actually the sporulation of the pathogens extruding [...] extruding from the stomata. Life cycle and appearance of Downy mildew Pathogens causing downy mildew are not fungi but Oomycetes and related to Pythium [...] protruding from the stomata. Because there are more stomata on the underside of the leaf, this is where most fluffy symptoms are found. How to prevent Downey

• Bacterial canker of tomato

  only occurs in the second half of the season. The first symptoms are wilting of the lower leaves and subsequent expansion of the wilt upwards. Cutting the [...] discolouration of the vessel tissue appears, especially when cutting the tubers. This discolouration is round, hence the name ring rot. Life cycle and appearance [...] appearance of Bacterial canker of tomato Clavibacter is seed-borne and tuber-borne and primary infection is mostly from infected propagation material. It