28 January 2005

EAST MALLING WATER CENTRE PLANS TO BE UNVEILED AT THE GAN SHOW 2005

The new East Malling Water Centre (EMWC) aims to demonstrate and promote efficient and sustainable irrigation management practices for the hardy nursery stock industry. Plans will be outlined at the East Malling Research (EMR) stand (no. 13, Hall A) at the GAN Trade Show, where Dr Chris Atkinson, the Centre Co-ordinator, will be available to discuss the project.

The Centre is part of an EMR project funded by industry through the HDC and takes the form of an HNS demonstration site which will show and evaluate a range of irrigation systems and recent R&D advances. Phase 1 of the initiative will specifically:

·         Demonstrate the current and varied range of industry irrigation practices

·         Evaluate nursery water use in different geographical regions of the UK

·         Evaluate irrigation application efficiency

·         Evaluate and develop novel irrigation technology

·         Demonstrate best irrigation practice

The research will be conducted by EMR in collaboration with nurseries who will provide water use and efficiency data. Information generated will be transferred to industry via workshops, seminars and a series of technical leaflets.

As well as the EMWC, the East Malling Research stand will also contain information on the new Unigro designed and constructed GroDome now based at the EMR site and available for research projects.

***ENDS***

Notes for Editors:

1. East Malling Research (EMR) is an independent provider of research and consultancy serving the perennial horticulture industry. EMR builds on 90 years of experience of successfully transferring information that has transformed horticulture. www.eastmallingresearch.com

2. The GAN Show takes place on Wednesday 9^th February at Golden Acres Nursery, nr Bournemouth, Dorset. www.ganshow.com

For further information please contact:

Dr Chris Atkinson
Tel: 01732 523729
Fax: 01732 849067
Email: chris.atkinson@emr.ac.uk

Dr Ursula Twomey
Tel: 01732 523723
Fax: 01732 849067
Email: ursula.twomey@emr.ac.uk

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7 March 2005

 "THERE'S MORE TO SCIENCE AT MALLING"
AN EVENT FOR LOCAL SCHOOL CHILDREN
AT EAST MALLING RESEARCH ON 17 AND 18 MARCH 2005

East Malling Research (EMR) is holding an interactive Science Fair for local primary schools on Thursday 17 and Friday 18 March.  This year, Shadow Sports Minister Hugh Robertson MP, Secretary of the Parliamentary British Fruit Industry Group, the Mayor of Tonbridge and Malling and the Mayor of Maidstone will also visit, to see our scientists bring science to life for a young audience and to meet children who may well include scientists of the future.

Over 250 pupils from 5 primary schools will take part in this free interactive science fair sponsored by the BBSRC, MRC and NERC as part of National Science Week.  Their activities will include:

·                 Unravelling the mysteries of DNA

·                 Using basic biochemistry to learn about ethylene and fruit ripening

·                 Find out why a "bug is not a slug"

·                 Learn about food chains

·                 Discover about root-shoot signalling and how plants can adapt to climate change

·                 Get interactive on the IT stand 

·                 Learn about strawberry tissue culture

·                 Examine plant pests and diseases

The Mayor of Tonbridge and Malling, Cllr Peter Homewood and his wife Evelyn will join us on Thursday morning (17^th).  The Mayor of Maidstone, Cllr Peter Hooper and Hugh Robertson MP, will also come along on the morning of Friday 18^th to lend their support and perhaps join in the now traditional event of "holding the creepy crawlie".

On the evening of Thursday 17^th, EMR staff and their children, two local brownie packs, local cubs, children from the National Society for Gifted Children and pupils from College St Pierre, Essex will join in the fun, including the highly contested "Buggy Race".

Timetable:

Thursday 17 March

09:45-12:15, Ditton C of E Junior School & Mayor of Tonbridge and Malling

13:00-15:30, Millstream Junior School & Laddingford St Mary's CEP

18:00-20:30, Evening session, invited guests, brownies, cubs etc

Friday 14^th March

09:45-12:15, Allington Primary School, Hugh Roberson MP & Mayor of Maidstone

***ENDS***

Notes for Editors:

1. East Malling Research (EMR) is an independent provider of research and consultancy serving the perennial horticulture industry. EMR builds on 90 years of experience of successfully transferring information that has transformed horticulture. For more information see our website at www.eastmallingresearch.com
2. BBSRC - Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council. www.bbsrc.ac.uk

MRC - Medical Research Council. www.mrc.ac.uk

NERC - Natural Environment Research Council. www.nerc.ac.uk

3. National Science Week runs from the 11^th to 20^th March and is co-ordinated by the BA. For more information see www.the-ba.net/nsw

For further information please contact:

Ursula Twomey, PR and Marketing Manager, EMR
Tel: 01732 523723
Fax: 01732 849067
Email: ursula.twomey@emr.ac.uk

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                                                                                                                                                            24 March 2005

EAST MALLING RESEARCH SCIENTISTS BATTLE TO FIND ANSWERS TO NEW STORAGE DISORDER FOR COX APPLES

Top fruit scientists at East Malling Research (EMR) are battling to find a solution to the recently-known potentially serious storage disorder that only affects Cox apples.

Called 'Diffuse Browning Disorder' or to growers who have seen it return badly again this harvest, it is know as 'Boggy Bank'.  An update of this potentially damaging physiological disorder will be given by David Johnson, EMR's storage expert, at a technical day at the beginning of April.  Until they can find a complete answer, growers are being urged to check their stored fruit at the first detection of the symptoms of pale browning of the internal flesh.
 

He will be speaking with others at the joint East Malling Research Association Members' Day and Marden Fruit Show Society Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 5 April 2005, hosted by East Malling Research.  Dr Colin Gutteridge, head of EMR, will discuss plans for the future development of East Malling Research Association and his plans for making it the primary vehicle for stakeholder engagement and knowledge transfer for EMR.
 

Lord Mayhew, President of the Marden Fruit Show Society, who organise the annual National Fruit Show in October, will be presenting prizes for the Society's Long Term Farm-Stored top fruit classes competition to the winning growers in the morning session.  This session, which includes other topics from Dr Angela Berrie and David Johnson of EMR and Peter Newman of Bayer CropScience, will be chaired by the Society's Chairman, Robert Mitchell.

Present at the meeting will be Baroness Dean (of Thornton-Le-Fylde), the new Chairman of the Covent Garden Market Authority, who has succeeded Leif Mills CBE.  She will speak on the Authority's year as the Society's 'Bonanza' sponsors and the opportunities and challenges facing the Market's future.  The afternoon session, chaired by Dr Colin Gutteridge, will include the Boggy Bank update by David Johnson, mineral analysis of fruits and fruitlets by John Brooks (Phosyn) and the latest work on Smartfresh^TM by Mark Tully, Landseer Ltd.

***ENDS***

Notes for editors

1.            East Malling Research (EMR) is an independent provider of research and consultancy serving the perennial horticulture industry.  EMR builds on 90 years of experience of successfully transferring information that has transformed horticulture.  EMR was established on 1 April 2004 after the break-up of Horticulture Research International.  For more information, please see www.eastmallingresearch.com.

2.            The National Fruit Show will be held on Wednesday and Thursday 19 and 20 October 2005 on the Kent County Showground, Detling, near Maidstone.  For more information, please see www.nationalfruitshow.org.uk.

3.             Projects under discussion include research funded by Defra, the HDC or commercial companies.

For further information please contact:

Press enquiries:             Ray Vale           01622 812700    Mobile 07990 590034

 General enquiries:          Carole Quinlan, Marden Fruit Show Society          01732 874 564
                                    Email: national.fruitshow@virgin.net

                                     Ursula Twomey, EMR                                         01732 843 833
                                    Email: ursula.twomey@emr.ac.uk

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15 June 2005

"THE MOST EXPENSIVE STRAWBERRY IN SHOW?"

East Malling Research stand at BBC Gardeners' World Live 2005

The strawberry variety 'Florence' was bred at East Malling Research (EMR) at an estimated cost of œ1.5M. The EMR stand (F2, Hall 6) at the BBC Gardeners' World Live 2005 show, describes the strawberry breeding procedure through "scenes" each outlining different stages of the process.

To reiterate the quality of the plant, the "most expensive pot in show?" will contain examples of 'Florence' "the most expensive strawberry in show?"

'Florence' is a late season variety which was launched to the commercial strawberry industry in 1997.  Approximately 44 million plants were sold up to 2004 and the variety has been available to amateur gardeners since 2000.

The characteristics of the variety include:

•         Crops from mid June to mid July, when fruit is available from UK supermarkets

•         Plants are productive and the berries are large with a deep red colour sweet flavour and juicy texture

•         The variety is a strong grower and performs well in different soil types, showing good tolerance to stress, such as periods of dry weather

•         Has resistance to mildew and Verticillium wilt, the two most common problems encountered when growing strawberries in the garden

•         Has become a variety of choice for organic growers in Britain, Germany and Scandinavia, due to good disease resistance and all‑round robustness of the plants

•         Due to the large fruit and erect plant habit the berries can be harvested very rapidly

The cross that produced Florence was made in 1987. It is a hybrid between two parental lines that had been developed over the previous 10 years to combine good fruit quality with resistance to diseases. The first fruiting plant was seen in 1988 and there followed 10 years of trialling and testing before 'Florence' was named and released to the British strawberry growers. It quickly became a very popular variety.

Strawberry variety development at East Malling Research is paid for by the commercial strawberry growers and propagators in the UK via Meiosis Ltd who commercialise all EMR varieties and issue licences to propagators. Variety trialling is funded through the Horticultural Development Council and disease testing by the East Malling Trust for Horticultural Research.  Underpinning strategic research is funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Each variety takes around 10 years to develop, as was the case with 'Florence'.  Varieties normally become available to amateur gardeners one or two years after launching to commercial growers.

The strawberry breeding programme has been at East Malling Research for 21 years and 16 varieties have been released including two amateur exclusives, with a further variety due to be released later this year. 'Florence' has been the most successful so far. The aim of the breeding programme is to produce a range of varieties with different cropping seasons that have good eating quality and resistance to diseases.

***ENDS***

Notes for Editors:

1. East Malling Research (EMR) is an independent provider of research and consultancy serving the perennial horticulture industry. EMR builds on 90 years of experience of successfully transferring information that has transformed horticulture. www.eastmallingresearch.com
2. Meiosis Ltd www.meiosis.co.uk
3. HDC www.hdc.org.uk
4. Defra www.defra.gov.uk

For further information please contact:

Dr David Simpson,                                           Dr Ursula Twomey
Strawberry Breeder                                         PR and Marketing Manager
Tel: 01732 523744 (DD)                                   Tel: 01732 523723 (DD)
E-mail: david.simpson@emr.ac.uk                 ursula.twomey@emr.ac.uk

East Malling Research
New Road
East Malling
Kent ME19 6BJ
Tel: 01732 843833
Fax: 01732 849067

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20/06/05

ECONOMIC ORCHARDS THROUGH INNOVATION

CJ Atkinson
East Malling Research

Profitability of fruit tree production in the UK has declined markedly over recent years, in part due to increased production costs. It is therefore of little surprise that UK top fruit acreage has declined by over 40% between 1993 and 2003 (Defra, Horticultural Statistics, 2003). High production costs are particularly apparent in the UK when a limited, expensive, skilled labour resource is combined with a yield productivity which is frequently lower than competing imports. One solution to alleviate the problem is to reduce the costs of orchard labour. The most significant proportion of these costs is associated with the requirements for flower and fruitlet thinning, vegetative pruning (and tree training) and fruit harvesting. Labour costs associated with apple pruning and training are estimated to be in the range of 30-40% of the total annual production costs.

At East Malling Research (EMR) we believe that the potential to utilise emerging technology will enable significant developments to be achieved in the areas of growing systems, tree training and pruning along with flower and fruitlet thinning. Although technology to enable dessert tree fruit to be harvested mechanically may not yet be achievable, the types of sustainable growing systems we need to develop will provide fruit that can be manually picked more easily, will mature more uniformly and therefore be of improved quality. These new growing systems, for tree fruit, will also show significant and additional benefits through reductions in the need for chemical inputs and the likelihood of environmental contamination.

Optimising cropping in relation to vegetative growth will remain a dominant factor in achieving acceptable yields of high quality fruit.  Yield efficiency is closely linked to leaf canopy light interception and low light levels are often cited as responsible for poor UK yields. This may be exacerbated by the possible impacts of climate change leading to increased fruit set and the need to thin to maximise fruit quality and storage potential. Warmer, longer UK summers are also likely to stimulate unwanted vegetative growth and reduced light penetration into the leaf canopy. To ensure the optimal balance between crop load and tree canopy size may require more pruning, particularly in late summer, and this will incur added labour costs. To radically change the way tree fruits are grown will require developing an understanding of how tree and fruit demands for resources change both seasonally and as the growing system reaches cropping maturity. The development and building of a new, reduced- labour growing system must be achieved alongside effective and economic use of valuable resources (particularly water and nutrients) to ensure efficiency of use, optimal fruit quality and the minimisation of waste and environmental contamination. 

Recent support from Defra has enabled this work to begin with the development of ideas about novel ways to grow apples. The aims of EMR scientists are to test and evaluate a series of relatively mid-term strategies to reduce the labour cost associated with fruit thinning, branch training and vegetative pruning. This will be achieved by looking at radical ways to control tree and branch architecture and changing the current practices by which most UK tree fruit is traditionally grown. The most appropriate strategy to do this is by developing a novel growing approach which minimises the need for extensive dormant season pruning, creating a tree that facilitates minimal waste of resources, while maintaining high consumer standards of fruit quality along with effective fruit storage potential. 

We propose to develop this idea by the creation of a 'fruit wall' on a 'hedgerow growing system'. The concept of a hedgerow orchard is not in itself novel and very effective high density walls have been created through extensive branch training and pruning. These systems achieve high yields per unit land area, but are very labour intensive and therefore of limited commercial value.

Our intentions are to explore ways to create a hedgerow growing system, using appropriate conventional commercial cultivars, subjected to mechanical methods to achieve the appropriate tree shape and control of vegetative growth, and secondly, through utilising the natural genetic potential of the columnar tree habit. The hedgerow orchard growing systems will exploit the existing genetic resources at EMR and other columnar scions and develop orchard practices that use mechanical pruning to create the desired architectural features in non-columnar types. The latter will be achieved by tractor-driven tools that are able to sense and quantify canopy architecture; it is however likely that columnar trees may also require some less frequent mechanical manipulation, particularly if multi-stem columnars are used. These two approaches will be compared and contrasted, throughout their development, with a more conventional, but modern pruning/training system, such as the 'super spindle'.

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15 July 2005

EMRA PLUM WALK
EAST MALLING RESEARCH
4 AUGUST 2005

 Scientists from East Malling Research will discuss the results of their latest research on plum breeding, variety trialling and storage at an East Malling Research Association (EMRA) Plum Walk on 4 August.  Interested Members and non-Members of EMRA and the press are welcome to attend.

Topics:

HDC-funded stone fruit research                                         Andrew Tinsley, HDC
Extending storage in plums using SmartFreshT                 David Johnson, EMR
EMR plum breeding programme                                          Ken Tobutt, EMR
Plum variety trials                                                                  Jane Spencer, EMR

The programme starts at 5pm and the event costs œ5 for Members of EMRA, or œ15 for non-Members. 
For more information or to book a place please contact Miss Jean Hodges, Tel: 01732 523724.

***ENDS***

Notes for Editors:

1. East Malling Research (EMR) is an independent provider of research and consultancy serving the perennial horticulture industry. EMR builds on 90 years experience of successfully transferring information that has transformed horticulture. For more information, please see www.eastmallingresearch.com
2. East Malling Research Association is the knowledge transfer organisation of East Malling Research. Please see www.emra.org.uk
3. Projects under discussion include research funded by Defra, the HDC and the Stone Fruit Club.

For further information please contact:

Ms Jean Hodges (until 25^th July) or Dr Ursula Twomey (after 25^th July)
Tel: 01732 843833; Fax: 01732 849067; Email: ursula.twomey@emr.ac.uk

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8 September 2005

INAUGURAL EAST MALLING RESEARCH TRADE OPEN DAY

Thursday 22 September

10.00am - 4.00pm

For the first time since its privatisation in 2004, East Malling Research (EMR) is inviting the UK horticulture industry to view its research facilities, meet its world-class scientists and discuss the current research programme. The Open Day will be an opportunity to facilitate knowledge transfer to the industry and identify new research needs.

Garden writer, Peter Seabrook will deliver the 54^th Amos Memorial Lecture at 11.00am, on the impact of science on horticulture and our needs for the future.

A self-guided walk will take visitors to a choice of over 20 displays including laboratory, plot and glasshouse exhibits with a chance to experience first-hand, the extent of EMR's capabilities and facilities in research and technology development:

Dr Colin Gutteridge, CEO of EMR said "This is our first Open Day since we became an independent Research and Technology Organisation and a great opportunity for us to meet with industry leaders and show them what our current research programme is delivering. I hope we will also get discussion and foresight of the industry's future R&D requirements".

Entry is free and the event is open to everyone from the horticulture trade and from horticultural learning establishments.  Doors open at 10.00am and close at 4.00pm.

For more information please contact Ursula Twomey, Tel: 01732 523723; Fax: 01732 849067; E-mail: ursula.twomey@emr.ac.uk.

***ENDS***

Notes for Editors:

East Malling Research (EMR) is an independent provider of research and consultancy serving the perennial horticulture industry. EMR builds on 90 years of experience of successfully delivering information that has transformed horticulture. www.eastmallingresearch.com

For further information please contact:

Neil Hipps, Business Development Manager
Tel: 01732 523728
E-mail: neil.hipps@emr.ac.uk

Ursula Twomey, PR and Marketing Manager (from 14^th September)
Tel: 01732 523723
Email: ursula.twomey@emr.ac.uk
Fax: 01732 849067
www.eastmallingresearch.com

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24 Nov 2005

MOTION IN THE MALL

This Saturday, scientists from East Malling Research in Kent will be running a giant experiment in the Mall, Chequers, to celebrate Einstein Year.
The whole family can take part because all you have to do is carry a balloon around the Mall as you shop. You can even take the balloon home with you!

 Project co-ordinator Dr Chantelle Jay says "We'll be giving out balloons to explain some physics, so come along to pick up your balloon and see how the colours mix in the Mall".

Find out more about Einstein Year at the main stand (located on the upper floor opposite to Santa's Grotto). You can also discover how gas molecules move, how animals detect smells and how we use this information in research. There's even a chance to win a balloon cake.

Suzie Brindle, the Mall - Chequers Centre Marketing Manager says "This is an exciting opportunity and will bring a different element to the Christmas shopping experience".

***ENDS***

Contact
Dr Chantelle Jay
chantelle.jay@emr.ac.uk
Tel: 01732 843833    Mobile: 07759 407 552

Notes for Editors:

1. This event is funded through an Einstein Year Award from the Institute of Physics.

2.  Einstein Year
http://www.einsteinyear.org
In 1905 Albert Einstein changed physics and the way we understand our world. One hundred years on Einstein Year is celebrating the excitement and diversity of physics today. A range of events and activities will bring the fascination of physics to audiences of all ages, throughout the UK and Ireland during 2005.

3.  Einstein Year is all about getting young people excited about physics, exploding the myth that physicists are white, middle-aged men with mad hair, and highlighting the huge contribution of contemporary physics to society.

4.  News about science and Einstein Year
Einstein Year is being coordinated by the Institute of Physics. For general media enquiries please contact the Einstein Year team, email: einsteinyear@iop.org, tel: 020 7470 4800, fax: 020 7470 4991.

5.  East Malling Research
http://www.eastmallingresearch.com
East Malling Research (EMR) is the principal UK provider of top-class basic, strategic and applied horticultural research and development for the perennial crops sector. Launched in 2004, EMR builds on a 90-year history and world-class reputation for revolutionary research in this field.

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1 December 2005

SUCCESSFUL FIRST YEAR OF TRADING FOR
EAST MALLING RESEARCH

The recently published accounts for East Malling Research's (EMR) first year of trading since privatisation show that the Company made a modest surplus on unrestricted funds of œ94K on a turnover of just under œ6M.

This is a very satisfactory performance given that the newly constructed company had no history of trading as a separate entity and a reversal of the net loss made by the site in previous years when part of Horticulture Research International.

In addition to the challenges faced in moving into the Private sector, EMR has increased investment in its research capability in its first year, with the construction of a new Water Centre which will enable research in water efficiency and encourage training of best practices in the Hardy Nursery Stock Sector.

EMR's non-science business based around the East Malling Conference and Enterprise Centres also showed strong growth during the year and contributed to keeping the cost base under control.

During 2004/5 EMR continued to deliver leading edge horticultural research in support of Defra's policy objectives and the UK soft fruit and tree fruit industries. Seven key scientific achievements illustrate the range and quality of the research conducted:

1. A study lead by EMR revealed the implications for UK horticulture if some crops receive insufficient winter chill as a result of climate change.

2. Research on partial root drying has shown that drought induced root signals can be used to influence growth forms in hardy nursery stock. In strawberry, it could lead to a 60% water saving without reducing crop yields.

3. Research on the genetic basis of self-incompatibility in Prunus has identified a key gene which needs to be defective.

4. EMR has published the world's first genetic reference map for the wild strawberry (Fragaria vesca).

5. Joint research with the Natural Resources Institute has discovered the pheromone of the apple leaf midge. The pheromone is a newly identified class and the work is being extended to other midge species.

6. Joint research with Rothamsted Research has characterised the sex pheromone of the rosy apple aphid.

7. Research on mycotoxin production in Fusarium ear blight (wheat) has shown that it is dependent on the temperature during the initial incubation period. This is a new finding with major implications for food safety.

Dr Colin Gutteridge (Chief Executive) commented that "we're very pleased with our successful first year of trading. Despite the disruption caused by our privatisation we have delivered some outstanding science to our customers and stakeholders during our first year of independence.

Looking to the future the biggest issue that we face is the lack of opportunities for new research funding in horticulture. We are putting huge emphasis within EMR on finding new sources of funding. In the meantime we are anxiously waiting to see what impact the current reorganisation of science within Defra will have on competitive research funding".

 ***ENDS***

Notes for Editors:

East Malling Research (EMR) is an independent provider of research and consultancy serving the perennial horticulture industry. EMR builds on 90 years of experience of successfully transferring information that has transformed horticulture. www.eastmallingresearch.com

For further information please contact:

Dr Colin Gutteridge, CEO
Tel: 01732 843833
Fax: 01732 849067
Email: colin.gutteridge@emr.ac.uk

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