East Mailing Research Articles

The potential of lentil (Lens culinaris) as a grain legume crop in the UK: an assessment based on a crop growth model

SummaryA crop growth model developed in Canterbury, New Zealand was used to assess the potential of lentil (Lens culinaris) as a grain legume crop in the UK. The model was validated using five sowing dates at Durham (54.77°N, 1.58°W) in 1999. Predicted time to flowering was within 7 days of actual time to flowering and predicted seed yields were within 9% of actual yields. Actual yields ranged from 1.40 to 1.65 t ha‐1. Seed was of high quality.The model was used to predict rate of development and yields of spring and autumn sown lentils at eight sites along a transect from NW Scotland (Stornoway, 58.22°N, 6.32°W) to SE England (East Mailing, 51.28°N, 0.45°E) chosen to encompass important environmental gradients in the UK. In general, for a 1 May sowing with 150 or 250 mm plant available water (PAW) and a 1 October sowing with 150 mm PAW, predicted mean values over the period 1987–95 for maximum crop growth rate, maximum leaf area index, radiation intercepted, total dry matter produced and seed yield were closely positively related to monthly mean values for mean daily air temperature and increased along the transect from NW to SE UK. Time to flowering generally decreased along the transect from NW to SE UK ranging from 28 June to 9 July and from 20 May to 14 June with the May and October sowings respectively.For the 1 May sowing with 250 mm PAW, predicted mean seed yield ranged from 1.00 to 1.90 t ha‐1. For all sites, yield was very stable over the 9 yr period. For the 1 May sowing with 150 mm PAW, predicted mean seed yield ranged from 0.97–1.23 t ha‐1. Yields for the four more southerly sites were more variable at the lower PAW and, in exceptionally dry years, were substantially lower than average. For these sites, autumn sowing increased seed yields in exceptionally dry years and gave similar or greater mean seed yields to spring sowing with 250 mm PAW. For East Mailing, predicted yields for autumn sowing were on average 2.78 t ha‐1. Also, for Stornoway, because of its relatively high overwinter temperatures, the model predicted substantial increases in yield with autumn sowing. It is concluded that lentil has considerable potential as a grain legume crop in the UK.

Viruses and phytoplasma in European pear trees in New Zealand and the role of these pathogens in the compatibility of pear with quince rootstocks

The history of European pear (Pyrus communis L.) cultivars, and pear and quince (Cydonia oblonga Mill.) rootstocks used in New Zealand during the present century was investigated in relation to their virus and phytoplasma disease status. Early attempts to control tree size and vigour using quince clonal rootstocks or seedlings of Oriental pear (P.pyrifolia Burm. Nak.) were unsuccessful, in part because of the presence of these diseases, and pear trees were grown for most of this century on European pear seedling rootstocks. Testing of 12 older pear cultivars commonly grown in commercial orchards at the present time showed that most were infected with several viruses, and also with the phytoplasma disease apple rubbery wood. All of the 12 cultivars were imported before, or at the beginning of this century, and were likely to have been infected in their country of origin before being introduced to New Zealand. When freed from infection by heat therapy, some were successfully grown on the virus‐free East Mailing rootstocks ‘Quince A’ and ‘C, and on the French rootstock ‘Quince BA 29’ without incompatibility problems, but others required an intermediate such as ‘Beurre Hardy’ to overcome non‐pathogen induced incompatibilities.

Localised insecticide treatment for the control of vine weevil larvae ( Otiorhynchus sulcatus) on field-grown strawberry

Three field experiments at Horticulture Research International (HRI), Efford, in 1992, 1994 and 1995, showed that the incorporation of controlled-release chlorpyrifos granules (78–208 g a.i. m −3) into the compost of the propagation modules of strawberry plants gave significant control of vine weevil larvae in the field. Better control (approximately 90%) was achieved when field planting was in early August so that the root system was small at the time of egg infestation, than following planting in mid-May (approximately 50% control) where a much larger root system had grown. Control was as good where the treated modules had a compost volume of 80 ml as where the volume was 230 ml. Better control occurred when eggs used for artificial infestation were placed close to the crown of the plant than when placed 15 cm away. In a replicated field experiment at Hinton Admiral, Hampshire, in 1994, pre-planting spot, band or whole-bed soil treatment of raised-bed, polythenemulched plants (planted as bare-root runners) with the chlorpyrifos granules (at 52 or 104 g a.i. m −3) did not reduce the numbers of larvae significantly. In a further field experiment at HRI East Mailing in 1994, treatment of a 15 cm diameter by 15 cm deep cylinder of soil round each plant (at 104 g a.i. m −3) did not significantly affect larval numbers. Pre-planting spot treatment with imidacloprid granules (125 g a.i. ha −1) or a curative drench (at the same dose) was not efficacious, though good control was achieved with a standard curative drench of chlorpyrifos (13.1 kg a.i. ha −1). The survival of vine weevil eggs and of young larvae was low (less than 9%), circumstantial evidence pointing to soil type and condition as being important determining factors. Lighter soils with a structure allowing easy movement of larvae appeared to be more favourable for the survival of the pest. Where adults were caged round strawberry plants with the surrounding surface soil replaced by sand in the field, most eggs (more than 79%) occurred in the top 0–1 cm of sand, 50% being found on or close to the surface (0 – 0.2 cm depth) in one experiment. Eggs were aggregated weakly round a single non-mulched plant, but there was little evidence of such aggregation round plants grown in polythene-mulched, raised beds. Survival to the semi-mature larval stage from eggs placed on, or 2 cm below, the soil surface 15 cm from the crown of the plant was as great as for eggs placed on, or 2 cm below, the surface adjacent to the crown. Larvae were shown to migrate towards the crown of the plant during their development. Implications for the optimum placement of insecticide granules are discussed.

Sweet cherry rootstock studies: Comparisons ofPrunus cerasusL. andPrunushybrid clones as rootstocks for Van, Merton Glory and Merpet scions

SummarySixteen Prunus species and hybrid clones were tested as potential dwarfing rootstocks for the sweet cherry scion cvs Van, Merton Glory and/or Merpet. The trials were grown without irrigation on light loam soils at Horticulture Research International, East Mailing, UK. Although several of the rootstocks produced fully dwarfed trees, only one, a clone of P. mugus, showed good nursery budtake and tree longevity. Trees on another dwarfing rootstock, Gisela 1 (Gi.172/9), grew very poorly on this site and several of the trees died before the completion of the experiment. Trees on Gi.202/2 and MxM 39 both showed poor graft compatibility. Although not fully dwarfing, several other rootstocks tested showed great promise by inducing excellent yield precocity and productivity. Amongst the most promising rootstocks were Weiroot 10, Gi.195/4 and Gisela 6 (Gi.148/1).

Antibody production and identity of MLOs associated with sugar‐cane whiteleaf disease and bermuda‐grass whiteleaf disease from Thailand

Cuttings from sugar‐cane plants with symptoms of whiteleaf disease and bermuda‐grass plants also showing whiteleaf symptoms were collected in Thailand and transferred to a glasshouse at East Mailing. Using these plants as source material, procedures were devised for the partial purification of MLO‐associated immunogens. Antisera were raised separately to the sugar‐cane whiteleaf and bermuda‐grass whiteleaf immunogens. These antisera exhibited specificity for their homologous MLO antigens in F(ab′)2 indirect enzyme immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Detection of MLO infection was possible in crude tissue extracts diluted several hundredfold. No cross‐reactions were observed in reciprocal tests between these two MLO sources and their antisera, nor were there reactions between either antiserum and extracts of other graminaceous hosts showing symptoms of natural whiteleaf infection. No cross‐reactions were obtained in reciprocal tests with Spiroplasma citri or aster yellows MLO and their homologous antibodies.

Control ofOtiorhynchus sulcatus(Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Larvae on a Range of Hardy Ornamental Nursery Stock Species Using the Entomogenous FungusMetarhizium anisopliae

The potential of the entomogenous fungus Metarhizium anisopliae as a microbial control agent for vine weevil (Otiorhynchus sulcatus) larvae was examined on a range of outdoor hardy nursery stock species. A curative application of M. anisopliae conidia (5× 108 conidia l‐1compost) reduced larval numbers by 62% on Skimmia japonica ’Rubella’ and by up to 43% on Viburnum plicatum ’Mariesii’. Four M. anisopliae isolates were examined and all reduced the larval populations on both species. However, the reductions were only significant with strains 159–83 and 100–82 on S. japonica ’Rubella’ and 100–82 on V. plicatum ’Mariesii’. Larval development on two other species (Hydrangea macrophylla ’Blue Wave’ and Thuja plicata ’Zebrina') which had been treated with 0.05% Triton X‐100 (the control treatment) was very poor and therefore it was not possible to determine whether or not the fungal drench had any effect. The experiment was repeated in the following year at two different sites, East Mailing and Littlehampton, u...

Plant hormone receptors: past, present and future.

Conference Article| February 01 1992 Plant hormone receptors: past, present and future M. A. Venis; M. A. Venis 1Horticulture Research International, East Mailing, Kent ME19 6BJ, U.K. Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar R. M. Napier R. M. Napier 1Horticulture Research International, East Mailing, Kent ME19 6BJ, U.K. Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Biochem Soc Trans (1992) 20 (1): 55–59. https://doi.org/10.1042/bst0200055 Article history Received: September 10 1991 Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Peer Review Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Cite Icon Cite Get Permissions Citation M. A. Venis, R. M. Napier; Plant hormone receptors: past, present and future. Biochem Soc Trans 1 February 1992; 20 (1): 55–59. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/bst0200055 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentAll JournalsBiochemical Society Transactions Search Advanced Search Keywords: IAA, indole-3-acetic acid, NPA, N-1-naphthylphthalmic acid, PGR, plant growth regulators, ABA, abscisic acid, ABP, auxin-binding protein, ER, endoplasmic reticulum, PKC, protein kinase C This content is only available as a PDF. © 1992 Biochemical Society1992 Article PDF first page preview Close Modal You do not currently have access to this content.

Preliminary evaluation of new quince (Cydonia oblongaMiller) hybrid rootstocks for pears

SummaryVegetatively propagated clones of open-pollinated progeny of x Pyronia veitchii cv. Lux- embergiana Guillaumin, East Mailing Quince B, Provence Quince C51, and Transcaucasian Quince C131, established as nursery hedges, were screened for ease of propagation, vigour, susceptibility to mildew, production of suckers, axillary shoots and burr knots. The performance as rootstocks for the pear scion variety Conference of six of these clones has been compared with East Mailing virus-free Quinces A and C over a period of nine years in an orchard trial. In their influence on scion vigour, two of the clones were similar to Quince A, three were intermediate between Quince A and C, and two similar to Quince C. The most promising clone, 193-16, was the most dwarfing and was similar in nursery performance, precocity and cropping efficiency to Quince C, but was outstanding for the production of large, uniformly sized fruits.

PACKAGING TO KEEP PRODUCE FRESH

After harvest or removal from controlled atmosphere storage, ripening changes, particularly yellowing of the skin and softening of the flesh, may adversely affect the quality of apples before they reach the consumer. A joint programme of work by the Institute of Food Research at Norwich and the Institute of Horticultural Research at East Mailing in collaboration with industry was begun in the 1983–84 season to investigate the feasibility of MA packaging for the major UK apple varieties.

Response of apple rootstocks to irrigation in south-east England

Growth, cropping and some aspects of the water relations of apple trees grown on contrasting rootstocks ranging from the dwarfing M.9, through M.26 and MM. 106 to the invigorating MM.lll were compared over five years in a field experiment at East Mailing, Kent. Irrigation increased growth and cropping similarly for trees on all rootstocks, with no evidence for rootstock x irrigation interactions. The rate of soil moisture depletion in the absence of irrigation increased with rootstock vigour, though that of M.9 tended to increase to the level of the intermediate rootstocks towards the end of the experiment. There was no evidence that leaf conductance to water vapour (g,) was controlled by leaf water potential in the normal summer conditions in south-east England. However, there were differences in g, between rootstocks, the highest leaf conductances being observed in more invigorating rootstocks (e.g. MM.lll being up to 19% more than the others) and with an indication that these rootstocks also had the largest stem hydraulic conductance. The results confirm suggestions that growth and development can respond sensitively to soil moisture status and that measured leaf water potential (i)),) is not a sensitive indicator of stress.

Diaporthe perniciosa associated with plum dieback

An outbreak of dieback on plum trees at the Institute of Horticultural Research, East Mailing, in the summer of 1983 resembled a disease prevalent in Britain earlier this century attributed to Diaporthe perniciosa. Numerous isolates of this fungus were obtained from diseased tissues but an attempt to reproduce the disease by inoculation was unsuccessful. Dieback appeared following exceptionally wet spring weather.

A disease of Vinca rosea caused by Rhizopus stolonifer

Plant PathologyVolume 36, Issue 4 p. 608-609 A disease of Vinca rosea caused by Rhizopus stolonifer D. C. HARRIS, D. C. HARRIS Institute of Horticultural Research, East Mailing, Maidstone, Kent MEJ9 6BJ, UKSearch for more papers by this authorD. L. DAVIES, D. L. DAVIES Institute of Horticultural Research, East Mailing, Maidstone, Kent MEJ9 6BJ, UKSearch for more papers by this author D. C. HARRIS, D. C. HARRIS Institute of Horticultural Research, East Mailing, Maidstone, Kent MEJ9 6BJ, UKSearch for more papers by this authorD. L. DAVIES, D. L. DAVIES Institute of Horticultural Research, East Mailing, Maidstone, Kent MEJ9 6BJ, UKSearch for more papers by this author First published: December 1987 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3059.1987.tb02283.xAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Volume36, Issue4December 1987Pages 608-609 RelatedInformation

Stock Plant Etiolation

Abstract The discovery and use of auxins in rooting and the development of mist propagation are unequivocal milestones in the history of propagation due to their broad applicability and effectiveness. Stock plant etiolation may prove to be in a similar class with these techniques. The practical use of stock plant etiolation to improve rooting in cuttings has largely been spurred on in the past 10 years by the successes achieved by Howard and others at the East Mailing Research Station, United Kingdom (9). For all the renewed interest, however, the practice of withholding light to improve propagation is probably an ancient one, having been employed every time a stool bed or layer was made or even a cutting inserted into opaque media.

Double‐stranded RNA in Verticillium albo‐atrum

Plant PathologyVolume 36, Issue 2 p. 229-231 Double-stranded RNA in Verticillium albo-atrum D. J. BARBARA, D. J. BARBARA Institute of Horticultural Research, East Mailing. Maidstone, Kent ME19 6BJ, UKSearch for more papers by this authorS. C. ASHBY, S. C. ASHBY Institute of Horticultural Research, East Mailing. Maidstone, Kent ME19 6BJ, UKSearch for more papers by this authorA. MORTON, A. MORTON Institute of Horticultural Research, East Mailing. Maidstone, Kent ME19 6BJ, UKSearch for more papers by this author D. J. BARBARA, D. J. BARBARA Institute of Horticultural Research, East Mailing. Maidstone, Kent ME19 6BJ, UKSearch for more papers by this authorS. C. ASHBY, S. C. ASHBY Institute of Horticultural Research, East Mailing. Maidstone, Kent ME19 6BJ, UKSearch for more papers by this authorA. MORTON, A. MORTON Institute of Horticultural Research, East Mailing. Maidstone, Kent ME19 6BJ, UKSearch for more papers by this author First published: June 1987 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3059.1987.tb02228.xCitations: 2AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Citing Literature Volume36, Issue2June 1987Pages 229-231 RelatedInformation

ACIDIC PEROXIDASES OF APPLE ROOTSTOCKS

The peroxidase activity in extracts of shoot bark from Michigan State Apple Clone (MAC) 24 and in extracts of roots of MAC 24, East Mailing Long Ashton (EMLA) 27, and Oregon Apple Rootstock (OAR) 1 were characterized as being primarily acidic by broad range sucrose gradient isoelectric focusing. Gel isoelectric focusing (GIEF) using a narrower conventional or immobilized pH gradient showed that this activity could be separated into about a dozen isoenzymes. The GIEF isoenzyme patterns of MAC 24 shoot bark extract peroxidase and root extract peroxidases of MAC 24, EMLA 27, and OAR 1 differed. Similar values were obtained for the molecular weight of the peroxidase activity of these extracts. The results indicate that the acidic isoenzymes of apple peroxidase are of similar size.Key words: Apple, rootstocks (apple), peroxidase, molecular weight, isoenzymes

Evaluation of selective media and bait methods for estimating Phytophthora cactorum in apple orchard soils

Soil plating, with a specially devised selective medium, gave estimates of Phytophthora cactorum in an East Mailing Research Station apple orchard soil up to three times those obtained by dilution and baiting with apple seedlings or cotyledons and using the most probable number analysis.When the same techniques were applied to a range of soils from apple orchards in south‐east England with a history of P. cactorum diseases the plating method failed in most instances, mainly because Pythium spp. rapidly swamped the plates. The dilution/baiting method was applicable to all soils though there was a tendency to underestimate because of anomalous results at lower soil dilutions.Oospores were the only propagules which could be confirmed as sources of P. cactorum colonies on soil isolation plates.

The occurrence and distribution of isolates of raspberry bushy dwarf virus in England

SUMMARYThe distribution of distinct isolates of raspberry bushy dwarf virus (RBDV) in Rubus in England was studied. Isolates similar in Rubus host range to the Scottish type isolate (D200) were largely confined to the old red raspberry (Rubus idaeus) cv. Norfolk Giant, but were also encountered in a single plant of an unidentified raspberry cultivar and in a clump of wild R. idaeus. Outside East Mailing Research Station (EMRS) RBDV isolates with wider Rubus host ranges than that of the type isolate were found only and exclusively in hybrid berries (Loganberry, clones LY59 and L654, and Tayberry) in which infection ranged from < 1% to 100%. The significance of these findings is discussed.

Apple rootstock trials: Golden Delicious on eight semi-dwarfing rootstocks in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand

SummaryTwo well-known East Mailing selections, M.IV and M.VII, were compared with Malling-Merton rootstocks MM. 101, 102, 104, 105, 106 and Mailing 90. After nine years’ growth on deep, fertile soil in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand, trees on MM. 106 produced the heaviest annual yield per tree, equivalent to 92 t ha−1. Trees on MM. 101 were only slightly less productive. Trees on MM. 106 and M.90 were a similar size to those on M.VII. Trees on MM.101, 104 and 105 were equivalent to those on M.IV. MM. 102 was the least vigorous rootstock. Trees on M.IV, M.VII and MM. 102 were poorly anchored, but the root systems of trees on MM. 104, 105 and 106 were firm in the ground. MM. 106 can be recommended for use in semi-intensive orchards on fertile soils in New Zealand.

Isolates of raspberry bushy dwarf virus differing in Rubus host range

SUMMARYIsolates of raspberry bushy dwarf virus (RBDV) occurring in the field at East Mailing Research Station (EMRS), and an isolate from raspberry seed imported from the USSR, were found to differ from the Scottish type isolate (D200) of RBDV in that they infected red raspberry cultivars that are resistant, possibly immune, to isolate D200. Of several red raspberry, blackberry and hybrid berry cultivars and EMRS raspberry selections graft‐inoculated with these recently discovered RBDV isolates only two raspberry cvs (Haida and Rannaya Sladkaya) and one EMRS selection did not become infected.Differences in the conclusions reached in two previous studies on the inheritance of resistance to RBDV in raspberry can be explained by the use of virus isolates that differed in Rubus host range.

Phytophthora palmivora on cultured roots of coconut

Secondary roots of coconut imported to East Mailing Research Station from Jamaica and cultured in vitro were frequently contaminated by Phytophthora palmivora . Isolates were of two forms which differed in compatibility type and in several morphological and other characters. Mycelium of P. palmivora was extensive in the cortex of roots from which the fungus had grown and was probably already established before the roots were cultured and possibly before they were excavated. The association of P. palmivora with roots indicated a significant infestation of coconut soil which may thus be a source of outbreaks of the bud rot disease caused by this pathogen.