Practical apple grower guidance following canker research

The research, funded by Growing Kent & Medway and supported by Agrovista, AM Fresh, British Apples and Pears Ltd and The East Malling Trust, demonstrated this reduction in canker in newly planted orchards after amending soil in the tree planting holes with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and Trichderma-based biocontrol products.

Further work showed how levels of soil colonising AMF in mature apple orchards could be increased in the tree alleys by sowing a wildflower mix and applying additional AMF inoculum.

The new factsheets – Reducing apple canker with soil amendments at planting and Establishing wildflowers in mature apple orchards to enhance canker control - are available to download for free.

The first factsheet outlines the results of the soil amendment work in newly planted Gala trees and provides technical details of exactly how Niab treated the trees during planting. The second provides details of how the soil in the alleys was prepared, the composition of the wildflower seed mix, and the seed sowing rate used.

Commenting on the factsheets, Niab Knowledge Exchange Manager Scott Raffle explained: “Growers have been made aware of the exciting results of this work through Niab publications, industry events and communication from industry partners who took an active role in the work. Many have approached us requesting more detailed information on the procedures that Niab followed in the trials.”

Nigel Jenner, Head of Agronomy for AM Fresh UK, led the project and helped to guide the research on behalf of the industry. “This work has delivered some of the most useful results on apple canker for a generation. The impact of these treatments was so noticeable that growers should adopt the authorised amendments as standard practice when establishing new orchards.”

In a new Innovate UK project being led by AC Hulme and Sons and supported by British Apples and Pears Ltd, Ian Overy Farms and Skylark Carbon Ltd, Niab is further investigating the amendment of soil with biochar, AMF and Trichoderma-based biocontrol products to hasten apple tree establishment and production, whilst improving orchard sustainability and reducing the carbon footprint of orchards.

Download the factsheets today:

Reducing apple canker with soil amendments at planting

Establishing wildflowers in mature apple orchards to enhance canker control

Scott Raffle

Senior Knowledge Exchange Manager - East Malling