DIVISION:
Disease Management
DIAGNOSTIC COORDINATOR:
Dr. Ronel Roberts
COLLABORATING RESEARCHERS:
Dr. Providence Moyo (Fruit & Foliar, including Citrus Black Spot), Prof. Jacquie van der Waals (Fruit & Foliar), Dr. Glynnis Cook and Mr. Kobus Breytenbach (Graft Transmissible Diseases), Dr. M.C. Pretorius and Dr. Jan van Niekerk (Soilborne Diseases and nematodes), Dr. Wilma du Plooy and Dr. Meagan van Dyk (Postharvest Diseases), Dr. Aruna Manrakhan and Dr. Evans Mauda (Integrated Pest Management), Mr. Johan Joubert (Cultivar Evaluation)
The Diagnostic Centre is situated in Nelspruit and provides diagnostic and technical services to citrus fruit growers, other role players in the citrus industry and the Citrus Improvement Scheme. Diagnostic services offered are summarised below:
Soilborne Diseases
- Soil and root analysis for nematodes
- Soil, root and water analysis for Phytophthora or Pythium
- Contract evaluation of crop protection products
Graft Transmissible Diseases
- Diagnosis through visual assessment, biological indexing, gPCR and PCR
Citrus Black Spot
- Diagnosis through visual assessment, conventional and molecular techniques
- Fungicide resistance screening
- Market access support
- Contract evaluation of crop protection products
Fruit & Foliar Diseases
- Diagnosis through visual assessment, conventional and molecular techniques
- Contract evaluation of crop protection products
Postharvest Diseases
- Diagnosis through visual assessment, conventional and molecular techniques
- Fungicide resistance screening
- Analysis of packhouse water samples for postharvest pathogens
- Contract evaluation of crop protection products
Horticulture
- Internal fruit quality
- Cultivar evaluation
Entomology
- Diagnosis through visual assessment and conventional techniques
- Contract evaluation of crop protection products
More information on services and prices can be obtained from Elaine Basson:
CRI-Diagnostic Centre
P O Box 28
Nelspruit, 1200
Telephone: +27 (0) 13 759 8000