Developing systems for organic and low input apple production

Abstract

The Australian apple industry has worked hard in recent decades to reduce its reliance on synthetic agricultural chemicals to control pests and diseases. Apple scab, caused by Venturia inaequalis, is the major fungal disease of apples in Australia, and new apple varieties resistant to scab have been developed by the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Queensland (DPI&F).
One of these varieties is ‘RS103-130’, which will soon be available to Australian apple growers and help meet consumer demands for healthy food products grown using reduced agricultural chemicals. ‘RS103-130’ is a red apple that has exceptional shelf-life, and is juicy with a sweet, low-acid and mild flavour.

This project identified world’s best practice strategies to successfully grow ‘RS103-130’ apples in the Stanthorpe district of southern Queensland, in both organic and conventional production systems. The spring and summer rainfall in this locality makes it a high risk environment for apple scab infection, and the application of fewer sprays for apple scab control has both economic and environmental benefits. The total absence of apple scab symptoms on leaves or fruit of ‘RS103-130’ over four years suggests this variety is ideally suited to other apple producing regions of Australia, which contend with fewer environmental, pest and disease problems.