Soft fruit IPM Toolbox

1

Breeding resistant cultivars

  • The James Hutton Institute has been breeding aphid-resistant varieties using different genes for > 40 years.
  • Resistance to the main virus vector is now breaking down, therefore novel IPM tools must be developed.  Read more...
2

Alternative control methods

  • The Raspberry beetle is a major pest in raspberry cultivation, with females laying eggs in newly opened raspberry flowers.
  • We have designed, tested and produced a trap with Sentomol Ltd, which mimics the smell and colour of a giant raspberry flower.  Read more...
3

Biocontrol

  • Working with Koppert Ltd we have tested several parasitoid wasps in combination. These parasitise two aphid pest species, with 40% success in polytunnels and 80% success in glasshouses.  Read more...
4

Biopesticides

  • In HortLINK SCEPTRE project we have tested a range of cooled biopesticides with industry partners. These products are safer for the environment but need greater expertise to use in IPM compared to the currently used insecticides.
5

Pollinators and biocontrol

  • In RESAS funded research we have adapted a technique from New Zealand’s vineyards; using flowering buckwheat to attract and retains key predators (hoverflies) in polytunnels.
  •  Hoverflies have the added benefit of also acting as pollinators.
6

Raspberry IPM

  • Once several IPM tools are identified they are tested on-farm to optimise their efficacy when used in combination.
  • Overall, the Hutton Soft Fruit IPM toolbox has reduced pesticide reliance by > 40% for key pests: aphids, raspberry beetle.
  • New pests like spotted wing Drosophila threaten existing IPM systems, so the toolbox must continuously adapt to changing threats, climate and agronomy.
Crop toolboxes