Macadamia is one of the fastest growing agricultural industries in the country and is of economic importance to South Africa. The industry is however hampered by a number of pests and diseases which can cause major economic loss, both in terms of yield as well as nut quality. The industry currently relies heavily on the use of commercially available pesticides and chemicals for pest and disease control. There is, however, growing concern regarding continuous build-up of resistance, and the long-term sustainability of the industry is dependent on the use of integrated pest management. Integrated pest management systems aim to prevent or lower pest and disease incidence by employing multiple strategies. These strategies may range from the introduction of natural enemies or biological control, disruption of the pest’s reproductive systems, planting of resistant cultivars as well as timely application of chemicals or pesticides. Effective implementation of these are built on information regarding pest identity, population dynamics, disease cycle, infection biology, epidemiology and spread. Such information, however, is often lacking or not well understood. The current research focus areas of the MPP will aim to fill these knowledge gaps.
Collaborations
- Avocado Research Programme (ARP)
- Tree Protection Co-operative Programme (TPCP)
- Centre of Excellence in Tree Health Biotechnology (CTHB)
Contact us
| Telephone | +27 (12) 420-3854 |
| FAX | +27 (12) 420-3960 |
| This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | |
| Postal Address |
Dr Gerda Fourie 74 Lunnon Street,University of Pretoria PRETORIA 0002 |
Funding
