Australian
citrusSpring 2016 news Varieties to meet export demand
Inside this issue New Chemicals Rust mite varieties 4 approved 12 resistance 30
Australian
citrusSpring 2016 news
MANAGING EDITOR In this issue... BIOSECURITY 17 Stephen Cooke Stop the rot… 17 Currie Communications CEO REPORT 2 Kaolin sprays 18 T: (03) 9670 6599 NEWS 3 E: [email protected] Plan now for citrus gall wasp 19 Strong finish to season 3 DESIGN & PRODUCTION Natural pathways an underrated Growers have pick of crop 5 Josephine Eynaud threat 21 Redtail Graphic Design Industry committee delivers ADVERTISING ACCOUNT MANAGER national overview 6 MARKETS 22 Susie Mills Forecast model shows supply National program an T: (03) 5023 6333 issues 22 E: [email protected] independent voice 7 Preparing for further growth in Seedless mandarins under PUBLISHER Japan 24 Currie Communications watchful eye 8 Citrus Australia sets standards on T: (03) 9670 6599 Bundaberg field day shows off Imperial granulation 26 Level 9, 190 Queen Street citrus breeding site 10 Melbourne, Vic, Australia 3000 INNOVATION 29 www.curriecommunications.com.au FARM MANAGEMENT 12 Medfly under attack 29 Growers can use new chemicals this year 12 Mandarins resist citrus rust mite 30 Biological approach for Queensland lime growers 14
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Australian Citrus News is written and published by Currie Communications Pty Ltd (ABN 82 050 913 909) for:
Citrus Australia Limited. (ACN 130 238 792) 115 Lime Avenue Mildura Vic 3502 Australian Citrus News has been PO Box 10336, Mildura Vic 3502 Australia funded by Horticulture Innovation T: (03) 5023 6333 Australia Limited using the national F: (03) 5023 3877 citrus levy and funds from the E: [email protected] Australian Government. www.citrusaustralia.com.au
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Australian Citrus News Spring 2016 1 CEO REPORT Working to lock in our competitive advantage in Japan
opportunities to meet the growing Asian This work will provide Australian citrus middle class are profound. with another point of difference, and an advantage, in this important market. One of the aims for the Japanese visit was to test some new ideas for deeper Closer to home, remember to mark the engagement with the local trade, Citrus Technical Forum and Field Day on industry and government. Australian 1–2 March 2017 in your diaries. It will citrus has been traded into Japan for once again be held in Mildura and will decades and in the last five years it has showcase all the latest research and been the number one or number two new technologies, and delegates will largest export market by volume. hear from international experts and see demonstrations of several new products. The Japan Australia Economic Partnership Agreement is now To support the event through sponsorship, contact Susie Mills at Citrus delivering the third tariff cut for Australia on (03) 5023 6333. citrus and we must lock in this competitive advantage.
Australia is the first counter seasonal country to enjoy tariff reductions for JUDITH DAMIANI citrus and this will only be available until Chief Executive Officer, the TPP is ratified. Citrus Australia Cara Cara navels are popular in Japan. We are also working with Horticulture Innovation Australia to coordinate have recently returned from additional R&D to increase the number IJapan where I met up with of varieties able to be exported to many of our importers, retailers Japan under cold treatment — Afourer, and Australian government Blood orange and Dekopon. Feedback representatives. from the market was positive for all Citrus Australia CEO, Judith Damiani, and these varieties, particularly Afourer Market Access Manager, David Daniels, Exports to Japan this season have and Dekopon. visited Japan’s largest retail group, Aeon been extraordinary — almost double management, when in Japan during August. the amount compared to the same time last year — and the program will continue into the Valencia, and even the grapefruit, seasons. The export season has been very strong with demand from Asia, low dollar, tariff cuts and the quality Australian crop driving the growth. Many grower/ exporters complain that there just isn’t enough fruit to meet the demand. What a good problem to have! Demand and higher returns to growers have seen an increase in new plantings and nursery tree orders. This spring edition is packed with grower friendly information about varieties, pest management and agrichemical options. It is also important for growers to discuss varieties and agrichemical use with their packer/marketer to ensure premium, safe fruit is delivered to market. The
Australian Citrus News 2 Spring 2016 NEWS Strong finish to citrus season Renewed focus on citrus biosecurity
Citrus Australia took part in a National Citrus Surveillance Workshop in Melbourne in August. The Workshop was part of the Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper funding. Citrus Australia, Horticulture Innovation Australia, Plant Biosecurity CRC, Plant Health Australia and State and Federal Government departments investigated how best to invest funding from the program into Key points The mid-season check of the Navel harvest rate revealed a slight decrease in citrus-specific biosecurity measures. Export figures indicate record season the estimated national Navel crop (down “The workshop was the first 7% overall), most notably the early and Estimated national Navel crop down mid-season crop, which was down 8% and stage to develop a national, Good demand for Valencias 11% respectively. standardised program,” Citrus Australia CEO Judith “Indications from the mid-season Damiani said. survey were that volumes were down ROWERS, packers and in some regions more than others, the “We explored current programs to Gmarketers across Australia estimate for the late Navel crop was a 3% identify existing groups and areas were reporting a positive finish to decrease,” Nathan said. that would benefit from further the 2016 citrus season, according work, either in areas of Australia, or Western Australia bucked the trend with to Citrus Australia Market diagnostic work. Information and Quality Manager, a slight increase (13%) to the estimated Nathan Hancock. late Navel total, albeit from a low base. The workshop explored enhancing surveillance and specifying key “Export demand has remained strong “There’s certainly a lot of optimism to exotic pests as areas to invest funds right through to the end of the Navel and the finish of the season, the first of the in the future. late Navels are arriving in ports and the mandarin seasons, there’s also been good outturns so far have been good,” he said. demand for Valencia oranges which is a “The group agreed to improve program that has built up in volume over current areas of work, and also Year to date export figures indicate the past few seasons. concentrate on standardising what we’re doing.” a record season with strong “We all hope that this demand is demand from a large range of sustainable into the future, but our Further areas of discussion included markets. This has coincided with season has been aided by reduced crops creating a robust database, new a decrease in volume compared to from South Africa to some extent. trapping methods and further areas of research. expectation in a number of crops. “That doesn’t apply to all markets and all varieties I know, but it’s a good “I’ve heard that Murcott volumes in Plant Health Australia will idea to keep our southern hemisphere the Burnett were down as much as 20% now submit a report and an competitor’s production in mind when implementation plan from the on some farms, there are quite a few we look ahead to future season.” workshop for a national surveillance growers around who wished they had strategy for citrus. a few more bins this season because MORE INFORMATION demand has been strong for all sizes and Nathan Hancock, Citrus Australia, on grades,” Nathan said. [email protected]
Australian Citrus News Spring 2016 3 NEWS — VARIETIES
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Australian Citrus News 4 Spring 2016 NEWS — VARIETIES Growers have pick of crop
Key points was probably dominant in 2004–05, and since then another company’s come Increase in new varieties tested in called Nu Leaf. That’s pretty much Brown-skinned navel South Africa main source of varieties linked to the University of California for a whole range of products, not just one of many under Variety Access most active citrus, out of the university’s program. evaluation Nu Leaf has brought in a mandarin variety called Tango and another one USTRALIAN growers have called Gold Nugget. They’ve been Graeme said while the best of the access to the pick of the crop A planted and are still being planted at varieties first sighted in Australia in terms of citrus varieties, thanks the moment commercially.” 11 years ago had become to a steady flow of new material established commercially, many into the national citrus evaluation Graeme said a surge in importations more recent arrivals were in the program. provided abundant new material in a evaluation phase. relatively short time-span just over a “There’s always new material coming decade ago. “Some of those are Australian; some into Australia,” program manager are selections, just mutations,” he Graeme Sanderson said. “There’s been “There was quite a surge in varieties said. “Often the people who find quite an influx in the past 10 years or so in 2005. ANFIC brought in varieties, them tend to put quite a number of and it looks like it’s not slowing at all; Auscitrus still was bringing in some trees in. it’s definitely still coming. material. Around that time there were “There’s a brown-skinned navel. “There’s quite a strong selection process roughly 31 new varieties available for The people who found that in the overseas from the climates there that evaluation. Riverina are planting it. It’s quite an might match with Australia,” he said. “Some of those have started to produce unusual novelty-type product. “South Africa is the main source of the commercially now.” current batch of varieties but we have “There’s another variety that’s an had material from California, Spain, There are now commercial blocks of at early navel. It’s also one they found China, Japan and also Israel — the typical least some of these varieties. in the Riverina which they’re calling citrus-producing areas. FJ Navel. “Probably the most popular ones “People are always out looking.” that are in the ground now and “Variety Access is managing these and will handle them if they do go Graeme said variety managers played a just starting to produce fruit are to the next stage.” major part in the introduction process. Tango and Gold Nugget but there’s another mandarin variety called One of the more visually striking “Pretty much all the material that varieties to have passed through comes into Australia now is brought in by Nectar that’s been commercially the evaluation program is the variety managers who have relationships planted in Queensland. Sumo mandarin. or contracts with some of the breeding “People are also looking at one called programs overseas. “Sumo, or Dekopon, is a very strange- Orri. That’s an Israeli variety which is looking fruit that was brought in “The dominant one now bringing very popular in Europe. by a grower group. It came into the material into Australia is Variety “These are all mandarins — four out program quite late; it was already Access; they’re the most active at the in Australia when the owners in moment. Wayne Parr is on the lookout of that initial group have moved to Leeton (in NSW) said they’d like it internationally for things that might fit commercial status.” to be added into our program here. our industry in Australia. Graeme said other varieties assessed in The people who brought it in have “The other company which started out recent years included a Eureka seedless planted a lot in the Riverina and a bit over 10 years ago bringing fruit in lemon. there are a lot of plantings around was the Australian Nurserymen’s Fruit “That’s an ANFIC one that’s gone the Riverland in South Australia as Improvement Company — ANFIC. That commercial,” he said. “It’s a South well. It’s a product which is known African selection of seedless Eureka. overseas and they’re hoping to be able to send it back to Japan and LEFT Lemons have been very popular in the also probably into California.” 1 Tango. past couple of years; there’s been quite a lot of planting occurring.” 2 Gold Nugget. 3 Sumo. Graeme said interest was being shown in MORE INFORMATION 4 Orri. an Italian blood orange, Tarocco Ippolito, www.anfic.com.au 5 Tarocco Ippolito. as well. “That’s one that Auscitrus brought www.varietyaccess.com.au 6 Eureka SL. in a number of years ago,” he said. www.auscitrus.com.au
Australian Citrus News Spring 2016 5 NEWS — VARIETIES
Committee keeps an eye on the big picture
ITRUS Australia plays a key newly opened post quarantine facility quality manager) Nathan Hancock has Crole in the variety introduction at Mickleham, Victoria, with the aim of done, identifying areas where there’s process by taking a big-picture ensuring that material moves through an over-supply of some varieties or a view of the industry’s needs quarantine as efficiently as possible future under-supply. Nathan’s done some nationwide. but with the highest scientific rigour to excellent work on that.” screen for pests and diseases. Its variety committee — Shane Kay, Tim said respect for confidentiality prevented the group discussing individual Steve Burdette, Graeme Sanderson, Bill “The main aim is generally privately held varieties. Robinson, Mano Babiolakis, Malcolm keeping an overview of what’s Smith and Tim Herrmann — monitors happening in variety changes in “As a group we try to liaise with the current and predicted future trends to Australia, particularly in some people bringing material into Australia,” ensure Australian growers across the of our rootstock and research Graeme said. “We don’t have any real board are well supplied with relevant part in bringing varieties in; we’re trials,” Tim Herrmann said. citrus varieties. The seven members trying just to see what direction might represent a balanced cross-section of “We’re trying as a committee to identify be needed and maybe suggest to the businesses, government departments and any areas where there’s a shortfall variety managers what to access from non-profit organisations. in varieties that we can address as overseas programs. The variety committee reviews a number an industry — seedless mandarins or “Our role is trying to see where the of issues around varietal development whatever it is that we think the industry industry might be in a number of years’ including biosecurity and plant health. needs — and also, through work that time and what the trends are overseas Some of them attended a tour of the (Citrus Australia market information and as well.”
Renewed interest in new varieties Graeme says visitors are welcomed at the facility whenever confidentiality requirements can be satisfied. “Because there are plant breeder’s rights involved we can’t have open field days, but as long as people have approval to come through there are no issues,” he says. “They generally come as small to medium groups that are shown through and have information discussed with them. I’ve had no real problems with industry accepting that. “The people who want to come and look through are really the serious people who might want to move ahead with some Graeme Sanderson hosts international visitors of the material rather than just have a ITRUS growers have renewed at the Dareton site. general walk-around look-and-see. Cinterest in new and emerging varieties, according to Graeme “We’re dealing with people who want to “We’re on the route for international Sanderson. change or adopt something else, so they visitors,” Graeme says. come in, have a look at the trees, try “This has been by far the busiest of all “They often want to come here as part the fruit and see the juice results so they my years here for farmers wanting to see of their touring of the region. We’ve had can make their own minds up.” what’s happening,” Graeme says. groups this year from South Africa, Spain, “People aren’t physically walking into “That reflects the state of the industry Thailand, China, Chile, England; last year the orchard but the fruit’s laid out with at the moment — it’s in a developmental we had Argentinians. information and there’s discussion about phase again of looking for opportunities “Some of these visitors are commercial it so they get to see the varieties and for the future.” buyers of Australian fruit and they’re taste what they’re like.” Others keen to gauge the progress of new coming here to look at what might be MORE INFORMATION varieties under Australian conditions are the next things to come out of Australia. HIA contributes funding to the national potential importers of the end-product. We’re known internationally.” citrus evaluation program.
Australian Citrus News 6 Spring 2016 NEWS — VARIETIES
National program an independent voice
He said the evaluation process from start A four-year-old Tango mandarin tree at the OR almost 30 years Australia’s NSW Department of Primary Industries’ Fnational citrus evaluation to finish generally took seven years. Dareton Research Station shows the type of program has been examining and “I try to get four harvests. We’re top- work that is being carried out by research documenting the performance of horticulturist Graeme Sanderson and his team working the trees with budwood we’ve on behalf of the Australian citrus industry. new citrus varieties for the benefit grown on, as well as growing them as of orchardists. nursery trees. With top-working, from the “Our role here is to quickly screen the time I graft a mature citrus tree across The trial material, imported into the varieties to see which ones are most to a new variety, I can see fruit in three country or selected locally, is evaluated attractive for the Australian industry,” years for a few preliminary tests. In the under Australian conditions at the NSW he said. fourth year after grafting there’s enough Department of Primary Industries’ to do quite extensive testing normally, and “We can do things fairly quickly. Because research station at Dareton by Graeme then we take two more harvests.” we have heated hothouse facilities and Sanderson. grow fast and in good conditions, we can He said the majority of varieties The evaluation program is supported get some trees producing very quickly, evaluated at Dareton did not go on to by the NSW DPI and funded by Citrus which is what the industry wants. We can have commercial futures. Australia as an aid to citrus growers do it as well as it could possibly be done nationally. “We just work our way through them. anywhere, ex-quarantine. Most of them don’t work. They’re not “We just try to provide that resource, plus “Often farmers and variety managers suitable for Australian orchards or the production information and juice quality don’t have the time to be trying to do all farmers aren’t interested or they don’t information, so the farmers make their this,” Graeme said. “It’s better left to a perform as well as people had hoped in own minds up. Often the best information specialist organisation with facilities like our environment. these to do it.” is how a particular variety is performing in “There’s more need now to be Australia under Australian conditions.” Graeme said there have been about 69 very sure of what you’re going varieties under evaluation at the site Material for evaluation is accepted from since 2005. to plant, because there are a spread of sources. contractual arrangements with “We do a certain number of trees for “The relationship we have with the pretty much all of these new importers, or the variety managers, is evaluation,” he said. “We’re not talking varieties.” hundreds. We traditionally grafted 12 quite good so we get access to pretty much everything that comes into trees and planted seven — that was up Graeme said it was never his place Australia to evaluate as an independent to 19 trees of every variety to look at to advise growers on which, if any, of organisation,” Graeme said. — but we’ve dropped that back a little Australia’s new varieties they should plant. Rather, he presented trial results now to six grafted, with the seven still MORE INFORMATION field-planted, just to make it a bit more in an independent, impartial manner for Graeme Sanderson on graeme.sanderson@ manageable. their interpretation. dpi.nsw.gov.au
Australian Citrus News Spring 2016 7 NEWS — VARIETIES Seedless mandarins under watchful eye
HREE seedless or low-seeded “It’s completely seedless, and it current growers waited to assess the early Tmandarin varieties introduced certainly crops and eats much better commercial crops. “As time goes on and in recent years to private orchards than Imperial — that’s it’s major claim to the trees mature and the fruit quality and are being monitored closely by fame. Because it matures straight after the yields are improving, then I expect the Australian Nurserymen’s Fruit Imperial, growers who already have a lot we’ll see more growers putting in some Improvement Company (ANFIC). of Imperial are not directly competing further plantings, but at the moment with that one. they’re just watching to see what the ANFIC chief executive officer Dr Gavin commercial plantings are doing.” Porter said the most widely planted “The second one we have out there is of the trio, Nectar, was producing its Mor, a late, low-seeded Murcott hybrid. Gavin said ANFIC had further varieties second commercial crop this season. It’s not quite on the same scale as Nectar under consideration which were not — there’s probably about 20ha of that, scheduled for imminent release to the “Nectar is an earlier seedless mandarin,” again, almost all in Queensland. Gavin said. “It’s been available for a industry — “it would be more likely in while now. There are about 90 hectares “And there’s also a little bit of C1867, the mid-term, I’d say”. which is also known as Early Sicily. It has of that, mostly in Queensland. “Other than the three mandarins we a light-red-coloured flesh in a mandarin currently have out there, there’s nothing “It performed quite well as the hybrid, especially after cool storage. Early Sicily is planted in lower numbers new to be released just yet; the rest are best-tasting mandarin from some still being evaluated at this stage.” taste panel work done through than in other areas — there’d be lucky to be about 4–5ha of that, mainly Citrus Australia last year and However, he said two Italian mandarin around Mildura. we’re seeing a similar response varieties had just been placed under to it this year. “Those are the seedless mandarin evaluation at the national trial site at varieties that are currently listed on our Dareton in the NSW Riverina. “There’s interest in Nectar in the website; they’re the ones that have been “There are a couple of new ones out of Sunraysia area as well. planted in some commercial numbers Italy which we’ve only just put into trials already.” “Some people are looking to replace so we’re a little way off having a look at their Imperials as it harvests straight He said further plantings of Nectar, Mor those,” he said. “They’re both seedless after Imperials. and Early Sicily were on hold while the mandarin types, too.
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Australian Citrus News 8 Spring 2016 NEWS — VARIETIES
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At its Dareton site in far south-western NSW, Auscitrus produces certified disease-free and pest-free budwood for private-variety citrus releases. Confidential and impartial: Auscitrus conscious of 9 industry’s needs
ESPECTING commercial to leave that step in the development Rconfidences is paramount for process to Graeme Sanderson at the manager Tim Herrmann and his NSW Department of Primary Industries’ team at Auscitrus, the not-for- Dareton site. “Again, we detached ourselves from that a few years back 1 Nectar seedless mandarin. profit, industry-owned operation based in the NSW Sunraysia. because of the potential for a conflict, 2 Mor low-seeded mandarin. with us handling private varieties. If we 3–4 Mandared mandarin. “The real interesting trend is in were also involved in evaluating those 5–6 Eureka SL seedless lemon. private varieties,” Mr Herrmann said, private varieties that could be seen to be 7–9 The flesh of the Early Sicily/C1867 mandarin “but beyond that I can’t give any not 100% independent. deepens in colour to light-red in cool information out about which private storage. The progression can be seen in varieties or even which types of private “Graeme can do that completely this series of photos taken at harvest, after independently — there’s no conflict, with three weeks in storage and again after varieties are selling well, because we three months. have confidentiality agreements with him reporting exactly what he sees.” their owners. Tim said it had taken Auscitrus “We’re still looking at other varieties “Obviously, if you think about it, they “10 years or so to actually build like Mandalate and another selection out don’t really want their competitors up the confidence” of Australia’s of that program called Mandared, which knowing in advance that their new private variety managers. we’re beginning to evaluate. It’s early varieties are going out.” days on those yet — there’s a way to go. However, Tim said he could reveal that “We’re really working hard to protect “We’re waiting for the first commercial private variety sales were “definitely this impartiality,” he said. “We have to harvests as these plantings are maturing trending upwards — that’s becoming a make sure we keep the private varieties now.” larger and increasing part of total sales on board within our scheme. Otherwise, of varieties”. we’ll end up with people growing He said growers looking at either their own budwood and that could Auscitrus imports public varieties, replacing or transitioning to be disease-infected — we could set recently introducing Palmer navel from ourselves back in Australia 30 years. mandarins were interested only South Africa, a number of Tarocco in fully seedless varieties. oranges from Italy and some Japanese “We’re very cautious of that — of specialty cooking varieties. keeping everyone on board — for the “Anybody who’s wanting to change from good of the whole industry. It’s not just oranges is looking for seedless mandarins “We intend to import some other non- for us or for the variety managers; it’s — that’s what the worldwide trend is, commerical varieties in future to reduce for all the growers who eventually want not just here in Australia. That’s what the temptation for people to import to plant a disease-free tree.” they’re chasing.” them illegally,” he said. MORE INFORMATION MORE INFORMATION Tim said Auscitrus did not undertake any www.auscitrus.com.au www.anfic.com.au new-variety evaluation in-house, choosing
Australian Citrus News Spring 2016 9 NEWS
Bundaberg field day shows off citrus breeding site
Key points As its contribution to an industry field day organised jointly with the Citrus Bundaberg Research Station opens doors Australia Queensland Regional Advisory New varieties sampled Committee (QRAC), the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Regional visit to come opened the gates to its Bundaberg Research Station in early June.
ROWERS accustomed Co-ordinated by Citrus Australia market Gto sampling the fruits of information and quality manager Nathan Australian citrus breeding efforts Hancock, the event drew more than 80 have received their first-ever attendees from throughout Queensland’s behind-the-scenes look at the citrus regions (including Emerald and process citrus breeder Malcolm Mareeba, in the north of the state) and Smith and his team follow in as far afield as the South Australian producing new varieties. Riverland. “We all pitched in and said ‘Well, we’ll host it here’,” Mr Smith said. “We Matt Cottrell from Nu Leaf IP. helped QRAC to put it together; it was a collaborative effort.” Dr Gavin Porter, ANFIC and Craig Pressler, Malcolm said through its 2PH Farms. participation in the field day his department aimed to give growers “It underlines how critical new varieties an understanding of citrus or better varieties are to the future of breeding work. the industry. Growers really recognise that they can’t keep doing what they’re “The QRAC idea was to give growers doing; they’re always looking for the opportunity to see new varieties so something better.” we added onto that the ability to have He said discussions during the field day a look at the breeding program at the reinforced his confidence in the breeding same time.” program’s direction. Malcolm said the Bundaberg Research “We explained what our selection criteria Station usually made fruit available for were — the sort of things we were looking inspection by growers at least once a for in new varieties — and then we were year but had never opened the station able to get feedback from the growers on itself to a citrus industry group. how well that matched up with their view He said the level of enthusiasm shown by as to market expectations. The two are growers was rewarding. pretty well aligned.”
Australian Citrus News 10 Spring 2016 NEWS
Subtropical breeding suits growers further south
ITRUS varieties that do well in As a breeding base, coastal Bundaberg Cthe subtropics are likely to excel — with average daytime temperatures in southern Australia, according ranging between 30ºC in summer and to Queensland Department of 22ºC in mid-winter and overnight lows Agriculture and Fisheries breeder in July of just under 10ºC — provided a Malcolm Smith. sound balance, he said. Based at the department’s research “We believe the varieties we select here station at Bundaberg, Malcolm said will actually do quite well down south. operating in one of the warmer and “In the climate here where it’s a little Malcolm said offering a site tour of the wetter parts of the country was no bit warmer it can be very challenging facility proved popular. hindrance to his breeding program from to get good external colour and skin “We’ve always had field days every year a national perspective. texture. When you get into warmer but we’ve never held one here on the “In terms of where to breed varieties climates those things can be quite research station where growers can also that are well adapted elsewhere, across difficult to achieve. see the process involved in producing the whole continent, Bundaberg’s not those new varieties; in previous years too bad a place to be,” he said. “You’d “If we breed them here and they’d just see the end product.” have trouble taking this too much select for those characteristics we can be pretty confident that when He said the majority of growers were further north, perhaps, with the lack of surprised by the number of individual cold there.” those varieties are grown down south they’ll be even better.” trees required by the breeding process. He said citrus bred in subtropical In addition to the Bundaberg Research conditions could adapt to cooler Malcolm said paying attention to fruit Station’s range of new mandarin selections surroundings but the reverse was not size was important in his region. (Australian Citrus News, March 2016), true. “Simplistically, you can breed “There is one issue we do have to oranges, lemons and grapefruit from three varieties in a hot climate and they’ll watch. Fruit can be quite large here but independent breeders were also on show. do well in a cold climate, but you can’t breed varieties in the cold and expect when you go down to a colder climate “Aside from our program there that they’ll do well in the heat. It sometimes it can be slightly smaller so are other people who bring in doesn’t work like that. we need to be a little bit careful.” varieties from overseas or find “We’ve actually seen that before. Some He said the program compensated for them in orchards in Australia of the varieties that were bred down this by generally favouring larger-fruiting and then commercialise them south have done very poorly when grown trees. “A lot of our selections are fairly independently,” Nathan said. in Queensland. They’re not productive, large anyway.” they have poor colour and they have “Growers are interested in any new citrus poor skin texture.” regardless of where they come from. Malcolm Smith leads a discussion with growers at the Bundaberg Research Station. For some who are already growing new varieties it was an opportunity for them to speak to the commercialisers about how they’re getting on with them.” Malcolm said his team was likely to make at least one regional visit this year to enable growers to evaluate a mandarin whose fruit had not ripened properly at the time of the Bundaberg field day. “We had one late-season variety on display, and everybody who tasted it said it was very, very acid — that was simply because it wasn’t mature. That can come as late as August-September so depending on how it goes we might do a travelling display later in the season.”
MORE INFORMATION Malcolm Smith, [email protected]. gov.au
Australian Citrus News Spring 2016 11 FARM MANAGEMENT
Growers can use new chemicals this year
Prior to the permits being issued, the only other chemical control option for gall wasp was methidathion (Suprathion®). With supplies of Suprathion® in doubt for the 2016/17 season, the release of the two permits for clothianidin is timely news. However, as with many things there are a few catches. Firstly, there is currently no MRL for clothianidin in the Australia By David Daniels Queensland growers could have further options New Zealand Food Code. However, we to help control Emperor brown spot this year. anticipate that an MRL of 0.2mg/kg will Key points be published by the end of September black spot other than dithiocarbamates New options to control gall wasp 2016 — prior to the product being (mancozeb, propineb, zineb) and applied after flowering in November. The achieving the extremely low Australian Dithiocarbomates MRL level raised other catch is that a number of MRLs MRL of 0.2mg/kg has compounded the in importing countries are substantially Citrus Australia applies for captan use challenges. After lengthy discussions lower than the proposed Australian MRL. between Citrus Australia and the Our key message is to check importing Australian Pesticides and Veterinary ITH the spring season now country MRLs (available on the Citrus Medicines Authority (APVMA), the APVMA upon us, we look at some of W Australia website) and to conduct testing is proposing to amend the MRL for all the new chemistry available this through our NRS residue monitoring dithiocarbomates to 7mg/kg. year. In August 2016, Citrus Australia program prior to consigning fruit to was granted two permits for the use We expect that process to be finalised export markets. of clothianidin (Samurai®) to control by December 2016, prior to the citrus gall wasp. Disease control in Queensland has commencement of the disease cycle in always been challenging. There are very Queensland. Citrus Australia would like few options available to control citrus to emphasise that while the MRL is due Citrus Australia was granted two permits for the use of clothianidin to control citrus gall wasp. to be amended, the product label has not changed.
So while the new MRL will provide some flexibility for use of dithiocarbamates later in the season, we implore all growers to strictly follow label directions.
Also, in relation to Queensland disease control, Citrus Australia has applied to the APVMA for a minor use permit for captan to control Emperor brown spot. The only products currently available to control Emperor brown spot are iprodione (Rovril®) and azoxystrobin (Amistar®). While these products are useful, there are no MRLs set for Iprodione in many key export markets and disease resistance to azoxystrobin has been reported.
Australian Citrus News 12 Spring 2016 FARM MANAGEMENT
Growers must focus on MRLs of importing countries
By David Daniels ‘juggling act’. Many of the existing agrichemicals across the world As citrus exports have increased are under increased scrutiny by over the last five years, so too regulators. have the demands of retailers There is no consistency between and regulators in overseas importing country MRLs and very markets. In addition to stringent few international standards are quarantine requirements, food published. Producers need to safety and agrichemical residue have specific markets in mind and compliance have become carefully consider MRLs before any fundamental expectations. agrichemicals are applied. Australian fruit attracts a high As world leaders in Integrated Pest premium based largely upon Management and responsible Australia’s reputation as a safe and agrichemical use, Australian growers reliable supplier — a reputation that are continually searching for the most simply must be protected. effective agrichemicals that are IPM compatible and not harmful to the Pest and disease management will environment. We remain hopeful that the APVMA will always present challenges. Over grant the minor use permit for captan the years we have seen some pests We are in the fortunate position that in October 2016 which will provide expand their natural distribution. chemical companies are investing significant relief for Queensland growers. heavily in sustainable products Citrus gall wasp for instance has now Fuller’s rose weevil (FRW) remains a and we are seeing some fairly become a critical concern in the exciting new chemistry entering the difficult pest to control in the southern southern states, where previously the states. While it causes no economic Australian market with much more pest was largely isolated to the north. damage to citrus crops, FRW is on the horizon. As we move towards ‘softer’ chemical considered a quarantine pest by South options, some of the pests that are Unfortunately, overseas regulators can Korea, China and Thailand. currently of no concern, could be a be slow to recognise new chemistry Citrus Australia has focussed a large concern in the future. and new MRL standards are often amount of effort on controlling FRW over years behind new product approvals. We also need to be prepare for the However, we cannot be discouraged the last 10 years at both the pre and ‘unthinkable’ scenario that exotic by this or allow importing country post-harvest levels and we acknowledge pests could land on our shores. MRLs to dictate. Otherwise, the that the current trunk-banding program industry will be forced to keep using is both time-consuming and expensive. Complying with maximum residue last generation chemistry. However, some exciting new chemistry limits (MRLs) while at the same time is on the horizon. For the last two years controlling pests and achieving David Daniels is Citrus Australia’s we have been worked with DuPont to quarantine conditions, is certainly a Market Access Manager. register cyantraniliprole (Exirel®) for use as a foliar spray to control Fuller’s rose weevil, light brown apple moth and Kelly’s citrus thrips. Exirel® is new generation chemistry (Group 28) that targets muscle cells and is reportedly more ‘friendly’ to beneficial insects. We anticipate that Exirel will be registered in the first quarter of 2017 and we look forward to hearing more from DuPont at our next Citrus Technical Forum in March next year. David Daniels is Citrus Australia’s Market Access Manager.
MORE INFORMATION David Daniels, Citrus Australia, david. [email protected]
Australian Citrus News Spring 2016 13 FARM MANAGEMENT
Biological approach for Queensland lime growers
By Rosalea Ryan We make all of our own fertiliser — Mareeba, due west of Cairns in Far North we chelate everything ourselves — so Queensland. The orchard is spread across Key points it’s saving money for us and it’s also three properties totaling just on 90ha: better for our land, and we have an the twin home farms of about 40ha and a Homemade fertiliser applied entomologist come into the orchard third, slightly bigger block of 49ha three Production peaks during winter every two weeks to check for insects so kilometres away. we only spray when we have to. New packing machinery meant more Limes are the primary crop, trees “We’re regenerative farmers so we use complemented by another form of citrus, a lot of biology to keep things under K15 pomelos (1000 trees), and custard control. apples (1200 trees). DOPTING biological farming Apractices occurred gradually “We have a good name for how The couple have agents in Brisbane, for lime-growers Debbie and Jose we’re farming here. Our agents Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide who Caamano-Bermudez. know what we’re doing and handle all three fruits. “We started delving into it in about 2000 they’re happy because our fruit They extract maximum value from their but I guess we didn’t take it too seriously has a good shelf-life.” crop by encouraging production during until 2010,” Debbie said. the winter months when prices peak. Feeling secure in their existing on-farm “The aim is to get as much as we can “In the early days it was one step practices, the Caamano-Bermudezes then,” Debbie said. forward, two steps back. We were doing have opted not to pursue organic the right thing but then we weren’t certification. “It’s not something we’re “In our case, we go all year with our keeping a good eye on it so we were aiming for. Organic is a limited market so limes. Some people only do it as an extra using biology but still spraying, which for us it would be just another expense, crop but because it’s our main crop we didn’t work.” really — an unnecessary expense. do it year-round. However, since the couple began “We know we’re already doing the “They’re a hungry tree so we have to pursuing the practice wholeheartedly right thing by the soil and the trees and feed them constantly and water and they haven’t looked back. everything else.” keep up the sprays.” “We’ve been serious since 2010,” The couple have 13,000 Tahitian Despite its tropical climate, Mareeba Debbie said. lime trees on about 167 hectares at can experience cool nights. “Our coldest
Australian Citrus News 14 Spring 2016 FARM MANAGEMENT mornings can be as low as 8.5ºC and sometimes we have light frosts. Limes do like a little bit of cold weather but they can burn if we get too heavy a frost when the shoots are very new.” While fruit reaches harvest-stage in about three months in summer, it can take half as long again to mature mid-year. “Limes are very labour-intensive,” Debbie said. “There are a lot of insects that will attack them so we have to be very careful with our spraying. “They can also be difficult to harvest. All the picking has to be done by hand; there’s no mechanical way of harvesting because of their delicate nature. Especially in the mornings, they can be very soft and bruise easily, and if it rains we have to be extra careful.”
The younger generation of the family is also involved in the process. “We have one son Orchard expansion and a nephew helping us and one or two locals during the supports packing revamp year; the rest of our labour is backpackers.” OSE and Debbie Caamano- through southern France and Spain JBermudez’s decision to visiting equipment manufacturer MAF’s While limes are grown relatively widely upgrade the shed side of their major European facilities and inspecting around Mareeba and Dimbulah, the operation was based on extensive orchards, packhouses and research sites. Caamano-Bermudezes’ other citrus, the first-hand research. “It was a very informative tour,” Debbie K15 pomelo, is less common. The fact-finding process spanned half said. “We went to a lot of places with “We had pomelos years ago but, like a decade and two continents as the huge packing sheds. We saw every type with a lot of crops in the tropics, we couple weighed up options not just in of machinery: the different ways people had a big problem with the fruit-sucking Australia but in Europe as well. were using it, the different set-ups. moth that used to attack them when “One of the reasons we’ve decided to go they were green. Five years ago the Caamano- Bermudezes started planning how they this way with our packing is to cut back “They were falling off and then causing would replace their existing machinery. on the time we spend packing our fruit, havoc in the paddock with all the rotten but to justify upgrading the machine fruit so we pulled them out. Then we “We do all our own packing on farm,” we’ve had to plant more trees to have trialled a different variety, K15. The Debbie said. more fruit to put through,” she said. moths don’t seem to go for those yet. “There’s another machine like the one we’ve chosen out at Dimbulah; they “We’re going to be saving a lot “Now there are a few other people up of labour in the shed because here who’ve also planted them in the were the first to get one in this region. it’s a speed-packer that packs past couple of years.” They’ve had theirs for about three and a half years. automatically. It’s right from the bin-tipper through to the “We went over there a couple of times and had a good look it and they grading system. explained everything to us. “We’ll need more people in the “It seemed like the only way to go, paddocks picking the fruit but overall it because we were using up so much will make life easier.” labour and time in the shed that we Installation of the system began in May didn’t have time to do anything else.” and was completed in the second week Debbie said the couple finalised their of August. plan after participating in the inaugural “Part of it came from Spain and Citrus Australia-MAF Oceania overseas then the grader was built by MAF in study tour in 2014. Melbourne,” she said. For almost two weeks in late 2014, a group of Australian growers travelled
Australian Citrus News Spring 2016 15 FARM MANAGEMENT Converting mature citrus from full cover to drip irrigation
By Jeremy Giddings RIP irrigation is a popular One of the common mistakes when Dmethod of water application converting from sprinkler to drip is not Key points for citrus growers, particularly in applying water frequently enough, along with an ample nutrition program during Plan carefully for drip conversion new developments, but also when converting established plantings. the first year of conversion. Wetting pattern change can shock mature When the conversion occurs the trees trees Converting mature citrus trees to drip irrigation creates a series of challenges can have up to two thirds of their roots Apply water frequently that can be overcome if appropriate no longer in the wetted root zone and management practices are adopted. the tree will have to operate on the remaining one third. This means that Where an established orchard is one third will need to be developed in converted to drip, the change in wetting order to sustain the tree. pattern can ‘shock’ the tree and result in poor tree health and reduced productivity More information about converting to in the first year after conversion. drip irrigation is available in the new Primefact ‘Converting mature citrus from However, converting existing trees can full cover’. It can be downloaded from be successful if growers follow a few the Irrigation section of the NSW DPI simple guidelines. website. A recently developed Primefact by NSW DPI covers a range of aspects to consider MORE INFORMATION Contact Jeremy Giddings, NSW DPI, when converting mature trees, including [email protected] rootstock, soil type, existing crop health, fertigation, irrigation scheduling and dripline location.
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Australian Citrus News 16 Spring 2016 BIOSECURITY
Stop the rot… By Steven Falivene either during early fruit development or through imperfections or micro-cracks. Key points Diseased fruit colour prematurely, and a brown to black discolouration may or High incident of black rot may not be evident at the stylar end of Southern Imperials damaged affected fruit. Mealybug infestations can exacerbate issues with black core Fungus grows during transit rot. Once infection has set in, it is too late to spray. LACK core rot caused The disease is common but the Bsignificant damage to the southern Imperial mandarin crop level of infection differs with during the 2016 season. A major season. It is difficult to predict problem was that not all infected whether the high incidence fruit had symptoms at harvest. experienced this year will continue into coming years. Examples of black rot in citrus. Affected fruit The fungus then grew during transit and falls from the tree, as shown here. infection was discovered at retail or on Current management practice is to delay the kitchen bench. Even during the early harvest to let infected fruit fall from the stages of infection black core rot causes tree but no sprays are applied with the Well pruned trees have an advantage significant off flavours and the black aim to manage black core rot. Imperial of better spray penetration and also fragments ruin the appearance of juice. mandarins in Queensland did not seem reduced levels of dead wood that could NSW DPI citrus development officers to be affected this past season but it is harbour the causal fungus. Steven Falivene and Andrew Creek likely that their existing spray program NSW DPI is currently investigating were on the front line in the Sunraysia to manage other fungal diseases also chemical options and plans to conduct and Riverina regions helping growers reduced the level of core rot. spray trials commencing at petal fall. tackle the problem. Samples were sent Current literature suggests that Contact Steven Falivene or Andrew Creek to the NSW DPI Plant Health Diagnostic protectant spray programs are if you are interested in participating in Service where Citrus Pathologist, Nerida ineffective for black core rot but a South the trial. Donovan, identified the Alternaria African trial found systemic fungicides fungus in affected fruit. Infection was (unregistered in Australia) sprayed at MORE INFORMATION sporadic with not all blocks affected and Contact Steven Falivene, NSW DPI, on petal fall significantly reduced disease differences in infection across blocks. [email protected] levels. Structured spray trials are needed The rot starts in the stylar (navel) to develop proven recommendations for end of fruit, with the fungus entering the southern Australian growing regions.
Australian Citrus News Spring 2016 17 BIOSECURITY Kaolin sprays drive the citrus gall wasps away
By Jianhua Mo Kaolin-Sunraysia — Post Kaolin-Sunraysia — Post Kaolin-Sunraysia — Post Kaolin-Sunraysia — Post 800 200 Treatment Treatment Key points 800 200 Treatment Control Treatment Control ControlKaolin ControlKaolin Surround reduces gall wasp impact 600 150 Kaolin Kaolin 600 150 Success in Sunraysia, Riverland 400 100 Reduced application rate to be tested 400 100
200 Number of galls 50
URING 2015–16, two large- 200 Number of galls 50 ® plot field trials of Surround Total weight (g) per 3 trees D 0 0 were conducted in the Sunraysia Total weight (g) per 3 trees 0 0 <30mm 30–100mm >100mm and the Riverland to investigate <30mm Size 30–100mm category >100mm its potential in citrus gall wasp Size category control. Surround® is wettable and FIGURE 1 Total gall weight (left) and numbers of small (<30 mm), medium (30–100 mm) and refined kaolin. After spray, it forms large (>100 mm) galls in kaolin treated plots and un-treated plots (right). Control is unsprayed a barrier film on the plant surface Source: NSW DPI Sunraysia Riverland which acts as a protectant against 800 Sunraysia 800 Riverland sunburn and heat stress. 800 800
The Sunraysia trial showed that two 600 600 ® applications of Surround just before and 600 600 during the middle of gall wasp emergence greatly reduced the number and size of 400 400 galls. Compared with untreated plots, 400 400 total weight of galls was reduced by >90% 200 200 in treated plots (Figure 1). Average gall 200 200
size was reduced by >35%. In particular, Total weight (g) per 3 trees Total weight (g) per 3 trees 0 0 Total weight (g) per 3 trees 0 Confidor Samurai Unsprayed Total weight (g) per 3 trees 0 Confidor Samurai Unsprayed The effects of citrus gall wasp. Confidor Treatment Samurai Unsprayed Confidor Treatment Samurai Unsprayed Treatment Treatment
FIGURE 2 Total gall weight in plots treated with Confidor® Guard, Samurai®, or nothing (unsprayed) in the systemic trials in the Sunraysia (left) and the Riverland (right). Samurai® results were only shown for the best performing rate Source: NSW DPI
the number of large galls (> 100mm) was In addition to the Surround® trials, reduced by 99%. The Riverland trial has we also conducted two field trials of not yet been analysed but an inspection Samurai® and Confidor® Guard for the in the following autumn showed clearly control of CGW larvae. Both were smaller and fewer galls in treated than in effective against CGW when applied in untreated plots. the soil, although the level of reduction in galling was not as high as that by It appears that the barrier Surround® (Figure 2). Confidor® Guard film of Surround® on the plant is currently registered in citrus for the surface also deterred egg-lay by control red scale. Samurai® is not yet CGW on citrus shoots, resulting registered in citrus. in a reduction of gall size and MORE INFORMATION abundance in the following season. Contact Jianhua Mo, NSW DPI, at jianhua. [email protected] Surround® sprays at the trial rates may be too expensive to many growers. This work has been funded in part by HIA To lower the cost, this season we will through project CT15006. next investigate the scope of reducing the application rate by using different wetters and water rates.
Australian Citrus News 18 Spring 2016 BIOSECURITY
Plan now for citrus gall wasp
By Steven Falivene TABLE 1 Quick gall wasp orchard assessment method Observation of galls Severity Key points Most galls <3cm Low Prepare for early-October emergence > 3cm galls easily seen, >5cm galls rare Moderate Inspect for gall wasp now >5cm galls easily seen, 10cm galls rare High Hedging can revitalise tree >10 galls easily seen Very high
Note: This is a quick guide only. For a more accurate classification, gall data per canopy volume is ITRUS gall wasp is expected required (i.e. counting frame). Cto emerge from about early October and growers should NSW DPI in collaboration with Fruit recent APVMA permit to control citrus prepare a control strategy to suit Doctors is currently undertaking a gall wasp. Samurai® is another soil their situation. Horticulture Innovation Australia project applied insecticide with a lengthy to develop management strategies withholding period. Gall wasp has infested many blocks against citrus gall wasp. throughout the southern regions, Initial trials indicate that the two soil however there are significant First year’s finding suggests that applied insecticides can significantly differences in infestation levels and the kaolin clay (Surround®), reduce galling, however in high infestation blocks many galls will still varieties affected. applied at least twice during gall develop next season. This will impact on the type of control wasp emergence disrupts egg required for your situation. laying and provides a significant In heavy infestations, hedging is a good option to bring the tree back to The first step is to find out which blocks reduction in galls. healthy branches. Vigorous regrowth are infested and level of infestation. This can be an effective control from heavily hedged trees is attractive Galls in newly infested blocks are small in moderate infestations where to gall wasp and will probably require and difficult to spot. suppression is required and or in higher spray protection. Check for light-green coloured shoots infestation levels where chemical Gall wasp seminars discussing updated coming out at right angles from the control is not possible. project results, control options and main stem in the lower canopy. If the In addition to kaolin clay, two systemic a technical overview of the recently block is infested, galls are more easily insecticides equally showed promise in permit registered insecticide, Samurai®, found at the base of the light-green gall wasp control. will be held at the Riverland field day in coloured shoots. late September. One is a soil applied chemical commonly For blocks known to be infested by used in spring to control red scale with a the gall wasp, a rough estimate of the MORE INFORMATION lengthy withholding period. Contact Steven Falivene, NSW DPI, infestation level can be made based on [email protected] the size of the galls. Table 1 provides a The other is Samurai®, produced by rough guide to infestation level. Sumitomo, is available under a
Australian Citrus News Spring 2016 19 AD ADVERTISEMENT Trapping the fruit fly
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Australian Citrus News 20 Spring 2016 BIOSECURITY Natural pathways an underrated threat economic impact for both industry and government.” Dr Finlay is targeting three potential pathways for wind-borne arrivals: from Papua New Guinea to Queensland; from Indonesia to north-west Western Australia; and from New Zealand to Australia in general. “The project will engage with selected horticultural industries that are impacted by important natural dispersal pathways,” Dr Finlay said. “Case studies for each of these industries will be conducted to improve future surveillance strategies and proactive preparedness programs.” Dr Finlay said the project’s findings would be made available to a range of stakeholders including federal and state biosecurity agencies, Plant Health Australia, the Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy, BB-RCD spell out Jessica Lye with a prototype passive suction VIC, the Tasmanian Department of Primary By Rosalea Ryan trap deployed in a potato field at Werribee . Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, Image: Callum Fletcher, AUSVEG. and relevant plant industries. Key points Wind risk to biosecurity dispersal pathways’ as phase two of “The end result of this project her dispersal scoping study — examines will be recommendations for Project to boost early detection this information in the context of three improved surveillance systems specific commercial production sectors: and biosecurity preparedness Pests from PNG, Indonesia, NZ citrus, potatoes and sugarcane. for naturally dispersed pests,” “This will build on the key she said. HERE transmitting the recommendations from CRC1031 to review Wunwanted organisms that existing surveillance techniques and “We will be providing information to threaten Australia’s horticultural industry biosecurity plans in respect to industry biosecurity implementation production is concerned, Mother naturally dispersed pests,” Dr Finlay said. activities — for example, industry Nature’s role is sometimes biosecurity plans — and subsequent overlooked. “It will also address particular biosecurity and contingency plans. requirements posed by key stakeholders “Long-distance natural dispersal is with the focus on the ‘what’, ‘where’, Capacity-wise it will improve the a substantial and underestimated ‘when’ and ‘how’ of surveillance for capability of Australia’s government biosecurity risk,” according to Dr Kyla long-distance wind dispersal, and will biosecurity agencies, research institutes Finlay of the Victorian Department of prioritise pests and pathogens and high- and industries by increasing awareness of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport risk areas for incursions and how and potential new threats along key natural and Resources’ Biosciences Research when they should be surveyed. dispersal pathways. It will also support Branch at AgriBio in Melbourne. the inclusion of remote local communities “To improve our preparedness and early in cost-effective surveillance activities. Referring to the findings of a previously detection of pests arriving via wind, completed project titled CRC1031, this project will help to develop more Dr Finlay said knowledge of pathways Dr Finlay said six important natural targeted and timely surveillance systems gathered during the project would be pathways to the spread of unwanted and identify strategies and options to used in recommending improved systems plants and diseases had been identified. assist end-users. for on-ground field deployment and future strategies. Following on from that, her current “This will result in an improvement work — forming the thesis ‘Enhanced in the allocation of limited resources MORE INFORMATION surveillance strategies in horticultural and will increase our chances of early Kyla Finlay, DEDJTR, [email protected]. industries based on knowledge of natural detection, which will have a significant gov.au
Australian Citrus News Spring 2016 21 MARKETS
Forecast model shows supply issues
Key points “Just a few seasons ago, based on the Murray Valley (-24%) and Riverland (-22%) available data we were all concerned will also see a reduction in yield over the Mid-season navel production is predicted that there was an oversupply of mid- next 10 years. to decline season navels, our modelling is now In contrast the Western Australian showing that over ten years based on Growth in Imperial mandarin production of mid-season navels is current replanting and ages of trees we production predicted to jump 90%, albeit it from a will start to see a decline in mid-season Export demand will counteract Afourer, navel production”. low base. Murcott increase “Being able to drill down and compare This is a key finding of the report, the different regions is important, as we highlighting the need for ongoing see in the case of WA, a 90% increase HE 2014 Citrus Tree Census data collection to map trends in in production in that region has big Tdata was used to develop a production. impacts for their marketers and throws production forecast model, using up different issues to the remainder of “Mid-season navels are the engine room production volumes and market the country”. of the citrus export sector, particularly delivery patterns collated from to markets such as China and Japan, if Nathan said mandarin area of various sources. we continue to have demand for navels production has increased, probably Nathan Hancock said this model allows like we have seen in the past two to at the expense of mid-season navels, Citrus Australia to put some data around three years then we will need to see a and projected volumes over the next the trends that many in the industry correction in the decreasing trend for ten years point to the need for strong would agree are well known and mid-season navel”. export markets. accepted. Mid-season navel production is predicted “We see a large increase in predicted He said the modelling does point to some to fall 20% nationally. Hardest hit will volume across the main mandarin trends that may be contrary to popular be the Riverina with a predicted fall in categories, each of these has different belief. production of almost 27%, whilst the implications.”
80,000 100,000 Imperial Total 207,201 Afourer Riverina 70,000 181,944 Murcott Riverland 80,000 60,000 141,686 Murray Valley WA
50,000 60,000 40,000
Tonnes Tonnes 40,000 30,000
20,000 20,000 10,000
0 0 2015 2020 2025 2016 2020 2025 Year Year FIGURE 1 Imperial, Afourer and Murcott production forecast FIGURE 2 Mid Navel production forecast Source: Citrus Australia Source: Citrus Australia
Australian Citrus News 22 Spring 2016 MARKETS
Imperial mandarin, a variety almost entirely consumed by the domestic Successful tree census provides great insight market, is predicted to rise 24% nationally and in Queensland by 26%. Nathan said many hours were spent “It could be argued that Imperial About the census completing data entry for growers who production in Queensland already found it difficult to enter information exceeds supply after the past two Tree census data is always available to growers to create records of orchards into the online forms, or who did not seasons of pretty good fruit quality have internet access. but marginal returns for growers,” for banks, staff, prospective buyers “We accept that not every one feels Nathan said. Tree census is the first step in creating comfortable with technology, and at “To me the data suggests the predicted an export application for Korea, China and Thailand each season the end of the day that was never a increase in volume is going to cause barrier to getting the data, we made ongoing issues, not just in Queensland Tree census can be completed online sure there were multiple ways that but for southern states Imperial or through various hard copy means growers could contribute, either by growers too as they deal with their own (post, fax) mail, fax or over the phone.” increase in production and the effect of oversupply from Queensland.” Copies of the tree census and Nathan said updating data in 2016 production forecast reports are should be even easier for participants Afourer and Murcott mandarin available at www.citrusaustralia.com. as programmers work to simplify the types paint another picture, also au or by calling (03) 5023 6333. interface between the system and of predicted increased supply. growers. However, this time demand is The word census has been in the “The tree census will be run again in strong, according to Nathan. news a lot lately, and not for the 2016, starting from November 1, and we right reasons. However, Citrus are working to reduce the number of “On their own the predicted production Australia Quality and Market clicks it takes to complete the form for figures for these mandarins could be seen Information Manager, Nathan those that haven’t made any changes,” as alarming, but taken with the export Hancock, says the Citrus Tree Nathan said. trends over the past few seasons and Census has been a great success in anecdotal stories of demand for Afourers comparison. MORE INFORMATION and Murcotts in our export markets I am Growers can contact Nathan on more optimistic.” “The online Citrus Tree Census has 0429 772 181 or Shay Linder-Auricht been a great success, the data we are (03) 5023 6333 to receive their username MORE INFORMATION able to collate and report to industry or password to access the online system This work has been funded in part by HIA through the InfoCitrus platform is or to set up a tree census profile if they have not done so previously. through project CT15012. excellent,” he said.
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Australian Citrus News Spring 2016 23 MARKETS Preparing for further growth in Japan
Key points Judith and David met with key importers Australia has had a surge in exports to and distributors, retailers, fresh Japan this year. Citrus Australia visit Japan, Philippines produce markets, members of Austrade, Judith attributes this to a reduction the Australian Agriculture Counsellor Surge in exports to Japan of exports from South Africa, currency and the Japanese Import Export Food exchange, the quality of the current Preparing to build on good demand Safety Association. harvest, and the third year of tariff “Japan is a major market for Australia reductions established through the FTA ITRUS Australia CEO Judith and we are focussing on building with Japan. CDamiani and Market Access relationships and sharing information to Manager David Daniels visited enable us to grow,” Judith said. “Japan is a mature market and we are not just supplying Japan late last month, meeting “Our Japanese partners are keen to hear fruit, we are now strengthening with the Australian Government, about future growth, as well as potential key members of the trade and issues, and we were open with them.” our levels of engagement to viewing in-store promotions. assure we continue to grow that relationship.”
Judith said this year’s fruit looked very good in stores and markets and was selling well. The Now in Season! in-store program is funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia and the Victorian Government. Citrus Australia inspected in-store promotions with a view to ensuring future programs are effective at supporting growth in this key market.
Citrus Australia met with over 10 importers/ retailers in Tokyo, Kyoto, Kobe and Osaka.
Australian Citrus News 24 Spring 2016 MARKETS
3
Judith said these discussions with Japan could prove to be a pilot for other 1 markets, including China.
She will prepare a report for Hort Innovation with recommendations on how Australian exporters can move forward in Japan.
“We will engage our exporters for their views as well,” Judith said. “We need to show how we can best support trade and citrus in Japan, and how we can more effectively engage with stakeholders to ensure long term growth.” 2 4 While in the Philippines last month, 1 Tasting demonstration with Australian oranges 3 David Daniels inspects the Now in Season! David viewed Now in Season! Promotions at a Costco store, Tokyo. Costco is experiencing promotion in the Philippines in August. and held seminars for the trade. double digit growth in Japan. 4 Australian Afourer mandarins displayed 2 Inspecting Australian fruit at the Ota Wholesale next to early expensive Japanese mikan Market in Tokyo with the Australian Agriculture mandarins. Counsellor Nadia Bouhafs.
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Australian Citrus News Spring 2016 25 MARKETS
Citrus Australia sets standards on Imperial granulation
By Nathan Hancock It’s important to note that the ACQS An example of a fruit with 25% juice yet no project (with the guidance of Citrus typical signs of severe granulation, the fruit had Key points Australia’s Domestic Market Committee) flavour and was pleasant to eat. Low juice percentage in Imperials has focused on assessing fruit on flavour characteristics — primarily the minimum standards — they are based Why low juice fruit wasn’t failed relationship of Brix and acid, using on the efficiency of the processing the new BrimA formula and the ACS equipment to extract juice, not a Proposed maximum granulation standard (Australian Citrus Standard). consumer study. Fruit that is heavily granulated and 3) The current maturity testing protocol INDING a scientifically sound low in juice has been an area the ACQS takes the average of ten fruit — but Fmethod of assessing Imperial project has been working on recently; averages hide detail, especially when dryness has been a vexing issue for we don’t want dry fruit reaching the some pieces of fruit in the sample the industry, but good progress has consumer because we know it turns appear granulated. been made. them off and weakens sales demand. Our 4) Observations by the fruit testing Citrus Australia Market Information focus has been on finding the maximum team were that we regularly found and Quality Manager, Nathan Hancock, amount of granulation a consumer will Imperials fruit that ate well and explains the journey towards setting an accept and defining a way of assessing looked unaffected by granulation, but objective quality standard for dry fruit. fruit dryness that is fair and repeatable. did not meet the previous industry minimum juice percentage. For most of the 2016 season, Until consumer preferences could be quality standards reporting has nailed down, the decision was made to 5) What is more significant to the been positive, with very few report on juice percentage but not to fail consumer is the type of ‘dry fruit’ samples, for the following reasons: failures of samples against the or lack of juice they find in their Australian Citrus Standard (ACS). 1) A review of consumer research purchase. In particular, this applies around the world showed that juice to Imperial mandarins because of the The one fly in the ointment this season has percentage does not rank highly as granulation which is associated with been low juice percentage results in some a characteristic consumers reported the variety. samples, particularly Imperial mandarins. as significant when considering the A few growers have commented to me qualities of citrus fruit. Reasons for low juice over the season that they were confused There are a number of reasons why a or disappointed that some samples that 2) Outside Australia, there are no sample may have low juice: have passed ACS have had low juice maturity standards for fresh citrus percentages. This gave the impression which have minimum juice content 1) Immature fruit — when a fruit is very that fruit was being given the tick of parameters. Our own standards are immature it will not yet have filled approval when in fact it was inferior. thought to relate to juice processors’ its juice sacs
Australian Citrus News 26 Spring 2016 MARKETS
2) Granulation — a physiological Proposed maximum three fruit assessed to be greater condition of some varieties which granulation standard than 55% granulated). If the juice causes the juice in the juice sacs to percentage of the individual fruit is become gel-like. Often referred to After a season of assessing samples lower than 25% the fruit is confirmed as dry fruit, it is common in Imperial and collecting data against the draft as greater than 55% granulated. and Clementine mandarin varieties Imperial mandarin granulation chart, and in consultation with the Queensland 5) Maximum granulation standard: no 3) Dehydration — when a fruit has Regional Advisory Committee and the more than three fruit with more been on the tree for too long it can Domestic Market Committee, we proposed than 55% granulation in a 30 piece lose juice to the tree. This is usually the following sampling methodology and sample. evident at the stem end and shoulder maximum granulation standard: The Citrus Australia Board voted in favour of the fruit. 1) That fruit with levels of granulation of the methodology and the maximum granulation standard. Assistance will be 4) Sunburn — severe sunburn can cause in the major defect category (greater juice sacs to burst and the area available to growers and packers to assess than 55% granulated) should be the beneath the burned rind will be granulation and the likelihood of meeting focus of the standard. dehydrated. the standard. This can be done on a patch 2) That a minimum of 30 pieces of by patch basis or as the need arises. 5) Frost — juice sacs freeze, expand and fruit should be sampled per then burst, giving a dehydrated look. Having a maximum standard for consignment. Sampling is the cutting granulation won’t stop granulation — we Our focus has been on of the fruit through the equator and accept that. But it will even the playing determining the maximum assessing the fruit for the presence field in terms of packer, retailer and amount of granulation consumers of granulation. wholesaler assessment of your fruit. will accept. 3) That a maximum of three fruit in 30 MORE INFORMATION pieces may have the major defect We did this because the other causes of This work has been funded in part by HIA (greater than 55% granulation). through project CT15013. dry fruit above can be assessed more easily (sunburn, immaturity) or occur after 4) That an individual juice percentage a specific event (frost, heat wave) or can test should be conducted on each Examples of fruit with greater than 55% be graded out using other techniques (e.g. fruit assessed to be >55% granulated granulation — when more than three are found in a 30 fruit sample a juice percentage of each dehydrated fruit weigh less). (when the sample has more than of the severely granulated fruit will be required.
Australian Citrus News Spring 2016 27 MARKETS Citrus push targets Asia, Middle East And on October 30 to November 1, Australia Fresh will celebrate its sixth attendance at the China World Fruit & Vegetable Trade Fair at the China National Convention Centre in Beijing.
“The incentive to participating in this show is the access it offers to key Chinese decision- makers to maintain and advance Australia’s market access goals,” Mr Soares said.
Participation in all three exhibitions complements citrus’s Now In Season (NIS) program. Managed by the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources in Victoria, NIS is a Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director General of multi-industry, multi-country initiative Key points Dubai Municipality, led the inauguration to promote premium-quality Australian Push into Middle East market ceremonies of the International Perishables Expo in Dubai last year. fruit. Queensland growers were included in the program this year. World of Perishables event in Dubai “Any exporters interested in attending “Recently, activities were expanded Only expo dedicated to fresh produce are encouraged to get in touch with our into Vietnam and Thailand to provide trade events manager, Julie Willis.” future opportunities to existing priority ITRUS exporters are invited to WOP is the only expo dedicated to fresh markets,” Gustavo said. tap into the Middle East market produce in the region. C MORE INFORMATION via a dedicated Australian pavilion It is one of three such trade shows Contact Gustavo Soares, HIA, on gustavo. at this year’s World of Perishables targeted by Hort Innovation on behalf of [email protected] exhibition in the United Arab the Australian citrus industry this spring. Emirates. World of Perishables, www.wop-dubai.com. “In previous discussion with citrus On September 7–9, six citrus exporters industry stakeholders it was suggested were among 12 new exhibitors present in there had been a growing interest in Australia’s pavilion at Asia Fruit Logistica the Middle East market,” Horticulture in Hong Kong. Innovation Australia marketing associate Gustavo Soares said. Australian ACN provides focused, up-to-date World of Perishables (WOP) will be held information on trends, and market on November 13–15 at the Dubai World developments affecting Australia’s Trade Centre. citrusnews citrus industry both nationally Australia was one of 14 pavilion holders and on an export front. Editorial at the 2015 event, alongside Belgium, content is delivered in an easy-to- China, Egypt, France, Italy, Kenya, USTRALIAN Citrus News read style and includes technical Mauritius, Moldova, Morocco, Poland, A(ACN) is the voice of information, market trends Portugal, Spain and Rwanda. Individual Australia’s peak grower body, export and domestic, production exhibitors from a further 17 countries Citrus Australia Limited, and its developments, key industry issues, participated independently. official magazine. research and development, profiles and on-farm reports. In 2015, 4923 traders and industry professionals visited the event. “WOP will serve as a cost-efficient For all advertising queries contact Susie Mills, Citrus Australia platform to approximate Australian Email: [email protected] exporters to Middle Eastern Phone: (03) 5023 6333 stakeholders,” Gustavo said.
Australian Citrus News 28 Spring 2016 INNOVATION
Medfly under attack in Carnarvon, WA
pilot program is using a “As part of the pilot project, I’ve Acombination of Sterile Insect worked closely with local plantation technology (SIT) and community owners and residents on a successful engagement to reduce and baiting program and we have achieved eradicate Mediterranean fruit fly improved orchard hygiene with the (Medfly) from Carnarvon, WA. removal and effective disposal of unwanted fruit from the plantations. The Department of Agriculture and Food, WA, is piloting new techniques “The first release of sterile Medflies will to control and eradicate the significant begin at a rate of one million Medflies horticultural pest from Carnarvon, an per week and will increase to several isolated horticultural precinct 1000km million per week in peak fruiting periods north of Perth. of mangoes and grapes.” Grapefruit with larvae. DAFWA Community Engagement officer, The sterile Medflies are bred in the department’s South Perth breeding Sandy Leighton, has been working with “It is important to remember that the facility and transported to Carnarvon industry and community over the past release of sterile Medfly is not a single as pupae. year on a baiting and orchard hygiene solution — growers must continue to program in preparation for the first They then spend up to five days in a maintain crop hygiene, including treating release of sterile Medflies into the area specially designed emergence facility fallen and discarded fruit and vegetables in spring, 2016. where they emerge and feed on to destroy the larvae inside the fruit,” “Spring is a great time in Carnarvon; the sugared water. Ms Leighton said. weather is splendid and fruit trees have The insects are then distributed via a “Baiting, hygiene and monitoring are started to grow again,” Sandy said. ute-mounted release machine which the cornerstone strategies for successful “Mangoes are flowering, paw paws are will gently blow the insects out into Medfly control.” ripening and unfortunately, there is a lot Carnarvon plantations where they of fallen citrus left on the ground. will mate with wild females, causing For information on how to infertile matings. effectively treat Medfly hosts, “Citrus are the over-winter ‘bridge’ for please refer to the department’s Medfly, providing shelter and a host fruit Mediterranean fruit fly webpage. during the cooler months in Carnarvon when other host crops aren’t in fruit. Discarded citrus in WA. Border protection strategies and continued release of sterile Medflies will be used in the latter part of the eradication pilot to secure Carnarvon from potential future Medfly incursions. The ‘Piloting new techniques to control and eradicate Mediterranean fruit fly project is part of the department’s Boosting Biosecurity Defences project made possible by a $20 million investment by the State Government’s Royalties for Regions program, with additional funding from Horticulture Innovation Australia, Carnarvon Growers’ Association and the Shire of Carnarvon.
MORE INFORMATION This work has been funded in part by HIA through project HG 13039.
Australian Citrus News Spring 2016 29 INNOVATION
New mandarins resist A foreign intruder
CITRUS rust mite is an exotic citrus rust mite invertebrate that feeds on all commercial citrus. It is a form By Rosalea Ryan “This season we didn’t do any treatments; of arachnid, closely related to we assessed that hybrid sensitivity.” spiders. Key points Chris said the DAF program had not Peracto regional manager for South Rust mite resistance in mandarin hybrids focused specifically on breeding East Queensland, Chris Themsen, mandarins to resist citrus rust mite. “This Project proposed to test varieties said it could pose a ‘significant’ is just a scion observation that’s been problem for citrus growers in NSW Rust mite prevalent in NSW, Queensland made through the selection process that and Queensland in particular. Malcolm’s been doing,” he said. “It’s not something he intentionally set out to do.” “Citrus rust mite generally ATURAL resistance to citrus He said the pair’s next step would be doesn’t do so well in the rust mite has been found N to propose a project to be undertaken drier production areas,” Chris in mandarin hybrids developed in citrus-producing regions. “We’ll look said. “It occurs much more in through the Queensland at going into orchards so we can try to Department of Agriculture and the coastal districts.” determine the sensitivity of existing Fisheries’ (DAF) breeding program varieties to citrus rust mite.” However, with the mite being at Bundaberg. present in all regions, it could The trait was identified by DAF citrus Chris said a quick analysis of potentially inflict serious crop breeder Malcolm Smith and Chris literature showed there had “only damage if a wetter-than-usual, Themsen, South East Queensland ever been one study worldwide humid season occurred in the regional manager for contract research looking at hybrid sensitivity in southern states. organisation Peracto, who shared their breeding to citrus rust mite”. He said while Australia’s native findings during an open day for growers brown citrus rust mite was kept at the DAF research station in June. “Hybrid resistance to this is a natural in check by a naturally occurring progression for the breeding team; it’s a “We had some people at the growers’ predatory mite, the introduced natural step forward,” he said. meeting who were from the tropics and species could be suppressed they were saying they were having a “If we can start to demonstrate that in orchards only by multiple massive problem with it but it wasn’t some of the hybrids are less sensitive applications of miticides. across all varieties, so they were very through breeding selection then as far as “The native mite doesn’t handle the interested to hear what we had to say,” I’m concerned, as an entomologist, we exotic species that well at all,” he Chris said. should be embracing it. It doesn’t matter said. “Sometimes if the population’s what crop we’re talking about. An entomologist by training, Chris high enough it can manage it, but it operates from an independent office won’t control it.” MORE INFORMATION not far from DAF’s Bundaberg site. Chris Themsen, Peracto, cthemsen@ Peracto has been conducting agricultural peracto.com research trials in Australia for more than 25 years and provides services including plant health diagnostics. “I’ve known Malcolm for ages,” Chris said. “He asks me to go in from time to time and we have a look through the orchard together. This is part of an in- kind offer I made to him.” The citrus rust mite resistance was first detected by the pair during one of those visits. “Malcolm asked me to do a quick scout around for pest control in his breeding section, and we started noticing last season that some of his new hybrid crosses seemed to be getting less damage from rust mite. It’s as simple as that. Fruit affected by rust mite (left) compared to healthy citrus (right). INSET: Chris Themsen.
Australian Citrus News 30 Spring 2016 INNOVATION
International focus on postharvest decay
Key points Visit to Postharvest research laboratories at the sodium benzoate and Cirtrocide® PC etc) Valencian Institute for Agricultural Research in combination with physical treatments Blue light to combat green mould (IVIA), Spain. (such as heat and ultra-violet radiation Tebuconazole fungicide trials effective (UV-C) etc) to successfully control citrus • Postharvest factors affecting quality decay and storage disorders such as Chemical-free options tested (such as hot water treatments) peteca in lemons. • New storage disorders In addition to applied postharvest ATEST information on research “A range of different university and R&D, some basic research is being Linto controlling postharvest commercial laboratories in Spain are undertaken to understand how green decay in citrus was shared at the working on controlling postharvest decay mould (P. digitatum) in citrus infects 8th International Postharvest in citrus,” John said. and causes decay. Symposium in Cartagena, Spain. “Researchers in Valencia reported Researchers in Valencia are using the John Golding, postharvest researcher on the efficacy of a tebuconazole recent sequenced genome of P. digitatum with NSW DPI, attended the symposium, fungicide formulation, which was mixed to identify the genes and virulence which was the largest scientific meeting with wax and applied to four different factors involved in the growth and dedicated to the science and technology citrus varieties. development of P. digitatum in oranges. of fruit and vegetable storage. “They showed that the fungicidal Other research, also from Valencia, is Citrus was one of the key horticultural examining the role of LED blue light in effect of tebuconazole was crops of interest, attracting significant reducing P. digitatum development. academic and commercial research similar to that of other authorised interest from Spain and around the world. fungicides and is therefore a “They have shown the potential potential fungicide alternative.” involvement of ethylene and John said the conference was well phenylpropanoids in the blue light- supported by local horticultural Tebuconazole is currently not registered induced resistance against P. digitatum industries, which gained a lot of good in citrus, but is used in a number of attack in citrus fruit,” John said. information from the 325 presentations other horticultural and broad acre crops. over the four days of the Symposium. “This exciting research may have “It is important to increase our positive practical outcomes for industry John was on the Scientific Committee treatment options for the control of to manage decay without chemicals, and chaired the first session — postharvest decay, as different export but its application to industry is some Preharvest and Harvesting Advances. markets have different requirements.” time away.” Key areas of citrus postharvest science John said a major focus of much of The next ISHS Postharvest Symposium were: the citrus postharvest R&D is driven will be held in New Zealand in 2020. • Decay control (chemical and non- by the goal for zero tolerance to chemical) fungicide residues. MORE INFORMATION Contact John Golding, NSW DPI, • Chilling injury Spanish researchers from different [email protected] • Preharvest factors affecting quality laboratories reported the assessment (such as rootstocks) of ‘non-synthetic’ chemicals (such as
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