Public Funding for East Malling Services LTD.

The realisation of optimal yield and quality from a crop is often dependent upon a complex interaction between the environment and the plant genotype. In the UK and across Europe growers are increasingly producing fruit crops such as strawberries in substrates, rather than in soil and in glasshouses and polytunnels rather than the open field. Despite this opportunitity for cultivars tailored to this more controlled environment many breeding programmes still select and trial new varieties in the open field in soil. In this project the basis of key traits for optimate soil-less production will be investigated along with those yielding maximum fruit quality in this more controlled environment. Genetic markers will be developed for exploitaion by breeders and by working with agronomists, substrate producers and supermarkets valuable knowledge and practical techniques for optimum production of new cultivars will be gathered to benefit UK growers of stawberries under protection.

The realisation of optimal yield and quality from a crop is often dependent upon a complex interaction between the environment and the plant genotype. In the UK and across Europe growers are increasingly producing fruit crops such as strawberries in substrates, rather than in soil and in glasshouses and polytunnels rather than the open field. Despite this opportunitity for cultivars tailored to this more controlled environment many breeding programmes still select and trial new varieties in the open field in soil. In this project the basis of key traits for optimate soil-less production will be investigated along with those yielding maximum fruit quality in this more controlled environment. Genetic markers will be developed for exploitaion by breeders and by working with agronomists, substrate producers and supermarkets valuable knowledge and practical techniques for optimum production of new cultivars will be gathered to benefit UK growers of stawberries under protection.

The realisation of optimal yield and quality from a crop is often dependent upon a complex interaction between the environment and the plant genotype. In the UK and across Europe growers are increasingly producing fruit crops such as strawberries in substrates, rather than in soil and in glasshouses and polytunnels rather than the open field. Despite this opportunitity for cultivars tailored to this more controlled environment many breeding programmes still select and trial new varieties in the open field in soil. In this project the basis of key traits for optimate soil-less production will be investigated along with those yielding maximum fruit quality in this more controlled environment. Genetic markers will be developed for exploitaion by breeders and by working with agronomists, substrate producers and supermarkets valuable knowledge and practical techniques for optimum production of new cultivars will be gathered to benefit UK growers of stawberries under protection.

The realisation of optimal yield and quality from a crop is often dependent upon a complex interaction between the environment and the plant genotype. In the UK and across Europe growers are increasingly producing fruit crops such as strawberries in substrates, rather than in soil and in glasshouses and polytunnels rather than the open field. Despite this opportunitity for cultivars tailored to this more controlled environment many breeding programmes still select and trial new varieties in the open field in soil. In this project the basis of key traits for optimate soil-less production will be investigated along with those yielding maximum fruit quality in this more controlled environment. Genetic markers will be developed for exploitaion by breeders and by working with agronomists, substrate producers and supermarkets valuable knowledge and practical techniques for optimum production of new cultivars will be gathered to benefit UK growers of stawberries under protection.

The realisation of optimal yield and quality from a crop is often dependent upon a complex interaction between the environment and the plant genotype. In the UK and across Europe growers are increasingly producing fruit crops such as strawberries in substrates, rather than in soil and in glasshouses and polytunnels rather than the open field. Despite this opportunitity for cultivars tailored to this more controlled environment many breeding programmes still select and trial new varieties in the open field in soil. In this project the basis of key traits for optimate soil-less production will be investigated along with those yielding maximum fruit quality in this more controlled environment. Genetic markers will be developed for exploitaion by breeders and by working with agronomists, substrate producers and supermarkets valuable knowledge and practical techniques for optimum production of new cultivars will be gathered to benefit UK growers of stawberries under protection.

The realisation of optimal yield and quality from a crop is often dependent upon a complex interaction between the environment and the plant genotype. In the UK and across Europe growers are increasingly producing fruit crops such as strawberries in substrates, rather than in soil and in glasshouses and polytunnels rather than the open field. Despite this opportunitity for cultivars tailored to this more controlled environment many breeding programmes still select and trial new varieties in the open field in soil. In this project the basis of key traits for optimate soil-less production will be investigated along with those yielding maximum fruit quality in this more controlled environment. Genetic markers will be developed for exploitaion by breeders and by working with agronomists, substrate producers and supermarkets valuable knowledge and practical techniques for optimum production of new cultivars will be gathered to benefit UK growers of stawberries under protection.

The realisation of optimal yield and quality from a crop is often dependent upon a complex interaction between the environment and the plant genotype. In the UK and across Europe growers are increasingly producing fruit crops such as strawberries in substrates, rather than in soil and in glasshouses and polytunnels rather than the open field. Despite this opportunitity for cultivars tailored to this more controlled environment many breeding programmes still select and trial new varieties in the open field in soil. In this project the basis of key traits for optimate soil-less production will be investigated along with those yielding maximum fruit quality in this more controlled environment. Genetic markers will be developed for exploitaion by breeders and by working with agronomists, substrate producers and supermarkets valuable knowledge and practical techniques for optimum production of new cultivars will be gathered to benefit UK growers of stawberries under protection.

The realisation of optimal yield and quality from a crop is often dependent upon a complex interaction between the environment and the plant genotype. In the UK and across Europe growers are increasingly producing fruit crops such as strawberries in substrates, rather than in soil and in glasshouses and polytunnels rather than the open field. Despite this opportunitity for cultivars tailored to this more controlled environment many breeding programmes still select and trial new varieties in the open field in soil. In this project the basis of key traits for optimate soil-less production will be investigated along with those yielding maximum fruit quality in this more controlled environment. Genetic markers will be developed for exploitaion by breeders and by working with agronomists, substrate producers and supermarkets valuable knowledge and practical techniques for optimum production of new cultivars will be gathered to benefit UK growers of stawberries under protection.

The realisation of optimal yield and quality from a crop is often dependent upon a complex interaction between the environment and the plant genotype. In the UK and across Europe growers are increasingly producing fruit crops such as strawberries in substrates, rather than in soil and in glasshouses and polytunnels rather than the open field. Despite this opportunitity for cultivars tailored to this more controlled environment many breeding programmes still select and trial new varieties in the open field in soil. In this project the basis of key traits for optimate soil-less production will be investigated along with those yielding maximum fruit quality in this more controlled environment. Genetic markers will be developed for exploitaion by breeders and by working with agronomists, substrate producers and supermarkets valuable knowledge and practical techniques for optimum production of new cultivars will be gathered to benefit UK growers of stawberries under protection.

The realisation of optimal yield and quality from a crop is often dependent upon a complex interaction between the environment and the plant genotype. In the UK and across Europe growers are increasingly producing fruit crops such as strawberries in substrates, rather than in soil and in glasshouses and polytunnels rather than the open field. Despite this opportunitity for cultivars tailored to this more controlled environment many breeding programmes still select and trial new varieties in the open field in soil. In this project the basis of key traits for optimate soil-less production will be investigated along with those yielding maximum fruit quality in this more controlled environment. Genetic markers will be developed for exploitaion by breeders and by working with agronomists, substrate producers and supermarkets valuable knowledge and practical techniques for optimum production of new cultivars will be gathered to benefit UK growers of stawberries under protection.

The realisation of optimal yield and quality from a crop is often dependent upon a complex interaction between the environment and the plant genotype. In the UK and across Europe growers are increasingly producing fruit crops such as strawberries in substrates, rather than in soil and in glasshouses and polytunnels rather than the open field. Despite this opportunitity for cultivars tailored to this more controlled environment many breeding programmes still select and trial new varieties in the open field in soil. In this project the basis of key traits for optimate soil-less production will be investigated along with those yielding maximum fruit quality in this more controlled environment. Genetic markers will be developed for exploitaion by breeders and by working with agronomists, substrate producers and supermarkets valuable knowledge and practical techniques for optimum production of new cultivars will be gathered to benefit UK growers of stawberries under protection.

The realisation of optimal yield and quality from a crop is often dependent upon a complex interaction between the environment and the plant genotype. In the UK and across Europe growers are increasingly producing fruit crops such as strawberries in substrates, rather than in soil and in glasshouses and polytunnels rather than the open field. Despite this opportunitity for cultivars tailored to this more controlled environment many breeding programmes still select and trial new varieties in the open field in soil. In this project the basis of key traits for optimate soil-less production will be investigated along with those yielding maximum fruit quality in this more controlled environment. Genetic markers will be developed for exploitaion by breeders and by working with agronomists, substrate producers and supermarkets valuable knowledge and practical techniques for optimum production of new cultivars will be gathered to benefit UK growers of stawberries under protection.

The realisation of optimal yield and quality from a crop is often dependent upon a complex interaction between the environment and the plant genotype. In the UK and across Europe growers are increasingly producing fruit crops such as strawberries in substrates, rather than in soil and in glasshouses and polytunnels rather than the open field. Despite this opportunitity for cultivars tailored to this more controlled environment many breeding programmes still select and trial new varieties in the open field in soil. In this project the basis of key traits for optimate soil-less production will be investigated along with those yielding maximum fruit quality in this more controlled environment. Genetic markers will be developed for exploitaion by breeders and by working with agronomists, substrate producers and supermarkets valuable knowledge and practical techniques for optimum production of new cultivars will be gathered to benefit UK growers of stawberries under protection.

The realisation of optimal yield and quality from a crop is often dependent upon a complex interaction between the environment and the plant genotype. In the UK and across Europe growers are increasingly producing fruit crops such as strawberries in substrates, rather than in soil and in glasshouses and polytunnels rather than the open field. Despite this opportunitity for cultivars tailored to this more controlled environment many breeding programmes still select and trial new varieties in the open field in soil. In this project the basis of key traits for optimate soil-less production will be investigated along with those yielding maximum fruit quality in this more controlled environment. Genetic markers will be developed for exploitaion by breeders and by working with agronomists, substrate producers and supermarkets valuable knowledge and practical techniques for optimum production of new cultivars will be gathered to benefit UK growers of stawberries under protection.

The realisation of optimal yield and quality from a crop is often dependent upon a complex interaction between the environment and the plant genotype. In the UK and across Europe growers are increasingly producing fruit crops such as strawberries in substrates, rather than in soil and in glasshouses and polytunnels rather than the open field. Despite this opportunitity for cultivars tailored to this more controlled environment many breeding programmes still select and trial new varieties in the open field in soil. In this project the basis of key traits for optimate soil-less production will be investigated along with those yielding maximum fruit quality in this more controlled environment. Genetic markers will be developed for exploitaion by breeders and by working with agronomists, substrate producers and supermarkets valuable knowledge and practical techniques for optimum production of new cultivars will be gathered to benefit UK growers of stawberries under protection.

The realisation of optimal yield and quality from a crop is often dependent upon a complex interaction between the environment and the plant genotype. In the UK and across Europe growers are increasingly producing fruit crops such as strawberries in substrates, rather than in soil and in glasshouses and polytunnels rather than the open field. Despite this opportunitity for cultivars tailored to this more controlled environment many breeding programmes still select and trial new varieties in the open field in soil. In this project the basis of key traits for optimate soil-less production will be investigated along with those yielding maximum fruit quality in this more controlled environment. Genetic markers will be developed for exploitaion by breeders and by working with agronomists, substrate producers and supermarkets valuable knowledge and practical techniques for optimum production of new cultivars will be gathered to benefit UK growers of stawberries under protection.

The food retail industry is experiencing increasing demand from consumers for UK grown fresh produce and would like to substitute imports with home produce. The demand for home grown plums cannot currently be met due to unreliable and inefficient cropping systems. This collaborative project will develop integrated new technologies that will address the major existing production problems and limitations for fresh plums. The sustainable intensification of this horticultural crop will be achieved through integration of a high-density growing system with new rootstocks, varieties and manipulation of tree architecture for increased yield, coupled with protected cropping regimes and component technologies that will regulate crop load, fruit ripening and give significant season extension. This intensive and profitable growing system will enable UK growers to confidently invest in plum production, delivering substantial economic impact (>£10 m/yr) to the UK horticulture industry.

A hand held device that measures spray deposits on crops so that they can be rapidly quantified by spray operators in the field will be developed. This will enable spray operators to determine and optimise sprayer performance e.g. according to crop structure, growth and weather conditions, as well as quality assure spray applications and check for off-target contamination. Spray deposits from best practice spray applications will be benchmarked in a wide range of UK horticultural crops at different growth stages. Business opportunities are 1) sales of the device to the mass market of spray operators, consultants and researchers in the UK then worldwide 2) improving sprayer performance for the UK producer and marketing organisation partners in the project and whose grower members are leading UK horticultural producers. They will set new standards of best practice for spraying UK horticultural crops, and this new technology will readily transfer throughout agriculture and horticulture.

A hand held device that measures spray deposits on crops so that they can be rapidly quantified by spray operators in the field will be developed. This will enable spray operators to determine and optimise sprayer performance e.g. according to crop structure, growth and weather conditions, as well as quality assure spray applications and check for off-target contamination. Spray deposits from best practice spray applications will be benchmarked in a wide range of UK horticultural crops at different growth stages. Business opportunities are 1) sales of the device to the mass market of spray operators, consultants and researchers in the UK then worldwide 2) improving sprayer performance for the UK producer and marketing organisation partners in the project and whose grower members are leading UK horticultural producers. They will set new standards of best practice for spraying UK horticultural crops, and this new technology will readily transfer throughout agriculture and horticulture.

A hand held device that measures spray deposits on crops so that they can be rapidly quantified by spray operators in the field will be developed. This will enable spray operators to determine and optimise sprayer performance e.g. according to crop structure, growth and weather conditions, as well as quality assure spray applications and check for off-target contamination. Spray deposits from best practice spray applications will be benchmarked in a wide range of UK horticultural crops at different growth stages. Business opportunities are 1) sales of the device to the mass market of spray operators, consultants and researchers in the UK then worldwide 2) improving sprayer performance for the UK producer and marketing organisation partners in the project and whose grower members are leading UK horticultural producers. They will set new standards of best practice for spraying UK horticultural crops, and this new technology will readily transfer throughout agriculture and horticulture.

A hand held device that measures spray deposits on crops so that they can be rapidly quantified by spray operators in the field will be developed. This will enable spray operators to determine and optimise sprayer performance e.g. according to crop structure, growth and weather conditions, as well as quality assure spray applications and check for off-target contamination. Spray deposits from best practice spray applications will be benchmarked in a wide range of UK horticultural crops at different growth stages. Business opportunities are 1) sales of the device to the mass market of spray operators, consultants and researchers in the UK then worldwide 2) improving sprayer performance for the UK producer and marketing organisation partners in the project and whose grower members are leading UK horticultural producers. They will set new standards of best practice for spraying UK horticultural crops, and this new technology will readily transfer throughout agriculture and horticulture.

A hand held device that measures spray deposits on crops so that they can be rapidly quantified by spray operators in the field will be developed. This will enable spray operators to determine and optimise sprayer performance e.g. according to crop structure, growth and weather conditions, as well as quality assure spray applications and check for off-target contamination. Spray deposits from best practice spray applications will be benchmarked in a wide range of UK horticultural crops at different growth stages. Business opportunities are 1) sales of the device to the mass market of spray operators, consultants and researchers in the UK then worldwide 2) improving sprayer performance for the UK producer and marketing organisation partners in the project and whose grower members are leading UK horticultural producers. They will set new standards of best practice for spraying UK horticultural crops, and this new technology will readily transfer throughout agriculture and horticulture.

A hand held device that measures spray deposits on crops so that they can be rapidly quantified by spray operators in the field will be developed. This will enable spray operators to determine and optimise sprayer performance e.g. according to crop structure, growth and weather conditions, as well as quality assure spray applications and check for off-target contamination. Spray deposits from best practice spray applications will be benchmarked in a wide range of UK horticultural crops at different growth stages. Business opportunities are 1) sales of the device to the mass market of spray operators, consultants and researchers in the UK then worldwide 2) improving sprayer performance for the UK producer and marketing organisation partners in the project and whose grower members are leading UK horticultural producers. They will set new standards of best practice for spraying UK horticultural crops, and this new technology will readily transfer throughout agriculture and horticulture.

A hand held device that measures spray deposits on crops so that they can be rapidly quantified by spray operators in the field will be developed. This will enable spray operators to determine and optimise sprayer performance e.g. according to crop structure, growth and weather conditions, as well as quality assure spray applications and check for off-target contamination. Spray deposits from best practice spray applications will be benchmarked in a wide range of UK horticultural crops at different growth stages. Business opportunities are 1) sales of the device to the mass market of spray operators, consultants and researchers in the UK then worldwide 2) improving sprayer performance for the UK producer and marketing organisation partners in the project and whose grower members are leading UK horticultural producers. They will set new standards of best practice for spraying UK horticultural crops, and this new technology will readily transfer throughout agriculture and horticulture.

A hand held device that measures spray deposits on crops so that they can be rapidly quantified by spray operators in the field will be developed. This will enable spray operators to determine and optimise sprayer performance e.g. according to crop structure, growth and weather conditions, as well as quality assure spray applications and check for off-target contamination. Spray deposits from best practice spray applications will be benchmarked in a wide range of UK horticultural crops at different growth stages. Business opportunities are 1) sales of the device to the mass market of spray operators, consultants and researchers in the UK then worldwide 2) improving sprayer performance for the UK producer and marketing organisation partners in the project and whose grower members are leading UK horticultural producers. They will set new standards of best practice for spraying UK horticultural crops, and this new technology will readily transfer throughout agriculture and horticulture.

A hand held device that measures spray deposits on crops so that they can be rapidly quantified by spray operators in the field will be developed. This will enable spray operators to determine and optimise sprayer performance e.g. according to crop structure, growth and weather conditions, as well as quality assure spray applications and check for off-target contamination. Spray deposits from best practice spray applications will be benchmarked in a wide range of UK horticultural crops at different growth stages. Business opportunities are 1) sales of the device to the mass market of spray operators, consultants and researchers in the UK then worldwide 2) improving sprayer performance for the UK producer and marketing organisation partners in the project and whose grower members are leading UK horticultural producers. They will set new standards of best practice for spraying UK horticultural crops, and this new technology will readily transfer throughout agriculture and horticulture.

A hand held device that measures spray deposits on crops so that they can be rapidly quantified by spray operators in the field will be developed. This will enable spray operators to determine and optimise sprayer performance e.g. according to crop structure, growth and weather conditions, as well as quality assure spray applications and check for off-target contamination. Spray deposits from best practice spray applications will be benchmarked in a wide range of UK horticultural crops at different growth stages. Business opportunities are 1) sales of the device to the mass market of spray operators, consultants and researchers in the UK then worldwide 2) improving sprayer performance for the UK producer and marketing organisation partners in the project and whose grower members are leading UK horticultural producers. They will set new standards of best practice for spraying UK horticultural crops, and this new technology will readily transfer throughout agriculture and horticulture.

A hand held device that measures spray deposits on crops so that they can be rapidly quantified by spray operators in the field will be developed. This will enable spray operators to determine and optimise sprayer performance e.g. according to crop structure, growth and weather conditions, as well as quality assure spray applications and check for off-target contamination. Spray deposits from best practice spray applications will be benchmarked in a wide range of UK horticultural crops at different growth stages. Business opportunities are 1) sales of the device to the mass market of spray operators, consultants and researchers in the UK then worldwide 2) improving sprayer performance for the UK producer and marketing organisation partners in the project and whose grower members are leading UK horticultural producers. They will set new standards of best practice for spraying UK horticultural crops, and this new technology will readily transfer throughout agriculture and horticulture.

A hand held device that measures spray deposits on crops so that they can be rapidly quantified by spray operators in the field will be developed. This will enable spray operators to determine and optimise sprayer performance e.g. according to crop structure, growth and weather conditions, as well as quality assure spray applications and check for off-target contamination. Spray deposits from best practice spray applications will be benchmarked in a wide range of UK horticultural crops at different growth stages. Business opportunities are 1) sales of the device to the mass market of spray operators, consultants and researchers in the UK then worldwide 2) improving sprayer performance for the UK producer and marketing organisation partners in the project and whose grower members are leading UK horticultural producers. They will set new standards of best practice for spraying UK horticultural crops, and this new technology will readily transfer throughout agriculture and horticulture.

A hand held device that measures spray deposits on crops so that they can be rapidly quantified by spray operators in the field will be developed. This will enable spray operators to determine and optimise sprayer performance e.g. according to crop structure, growth and weather conditions, as well as quality assure spray applications and check for off-target contamination. Spray deposits from best practice spray applications will be benchmarked in a wide range of UK horticultural crops at different growth stages. Business opportunities are 1) sales of the device to the mass market of spray operators, consultants and researchers in the UK then worldwide 2) improving sprayer performance for the UK producer and marketing organisation partners in the project and whose grower members are leading UK horticultural producers. They will set new standards of best practice for spraying UK horticultural crops, and this new technology will readily transfer throughout agriculture and horticulture.

A hand held device that measures spray deposits on crops so that they can be rapidly quantified by spray operators in the field will be developed. This will enable spray operators to determine and optimise sprayer performance e.g. according to crop structure, growth and weather conditions, as well as quality assure spray applications and check for off-target contamination. Spray deposits from best practice spray applications will be benchmarked in a wide range of UK horticultural crops at different growth stages. Business opportunities are 1) sales of the device to the mass market of spray operators, consultants and researchers in the UK then worldwide 2) improving sprayer performance for the UK producer and marketing organisation partners in the project and whose grower members are leading UK horticultural producers. They will set new standards of best practice for spraying UK horticultural crops, and this new technology will readily transfer throughout agriculture and horticulture.

A hand held device that measures spray deposits on crops so that they can be rapidly quantified by spray operators in the field will be developed. This will enable spray operators to determine and optimise sprayer performance e.g. according to crop structure, growth and weather conditions, as well as quality assure spray applications and check for off-target contamination. Spray deposits from best practice spray applications will be benchmarked in a wide range of UK horticultural crops at different growth stages. Business opportunities are 1) sales of the device to the mass market of spray operators, consultants and researchers in the UK then worldwide 2) improving sprayer performance for the UK producer and marketing organisation partners in the project and whose grower members are leading UK horticultural producers. They will set new standards of best practice for spraying UK horticultural crops, and this new technology will readily transfer throughout agriculture and horticulture.

A hand held device that measures spray deposits on crops so that they can be rapidly quantified by spray operators in the field will be developed. This will enable spray operators to determine and optimise sprayer performance e.g. according to crop structure, growth and weather conditions, as well as quality assure spray applications and check for off-target contamination. Spray deposits from best practice spray applications will be benchmarked in a wide range of UK horticultural crops at different growth stages. Business opportunities are 1) sales of the device to the mass market of spray operators, consultants and researchers in the UK then worldwide 2) improving sprayer performance for the UK producer and marketing organisation partners in the project and whose grower members are leading UK horticultural producers. They will set new standards of best practice for spraying UK horticultural crops, and this new technology will readily transfer throughout agriculture and horticulture.

Strawberries contribute to a nutritious and healthy diet and are an important UK crop. Increasing restrictions in the type and frequency of chemical controls mean that existing varieties will soon be unsuitable for sustainable production in the soil. This project will develop technologies to aid the measurement of below-ground traits controlling natural plant resistance to nematodes, which in combination with a fungal pathogen called Verticillium dahliae (the causative agent of a wilting disease) cause major crop losses. Novel measurement techniques will be developed, which will allow the identification of wilt and nematode resistance genes that UK breeding programmes can harness to improve new varieties. Furthermore, this novel trait measurement system can be applied to other crop breeding programmes (along with other applications) to enhance the efficiency of trait meaurement on large plant populations.