Bayerische Landesanstalt für Landwirtschaft Gesellschaft für Hopfenforschung e.V. Annual Report 2011 Special Crop: Hops Bavarian State Research Center for Agriculture - - - Institute for Crop Science and Plant Breeding - and the Society of Hop Research e.V. March 2012 LfL Information 1 Published by: Bayerische Landesanstalt für Landwirtschaft (LfL) (Bavarian State Research Center for Agriculture) Vöttinger Straße 38, 85354 Freising-Weihenstephan Internet: http://www.LfL.bayern.de Edited by: Institut für Pflanzenbau und Pflanzenzüchtung, Arbeitsbereich Hopfen (Institute for Crop Science and Plant Breeding, Hops Dept.) Hüll 5 1/3, 85283 Wolnzach E-Mail: [email protected] Tel.: +49 84 42/92 57-0 Translated by: J. Pockrandt (B.Sc.) and M. Eisenberger (B.A. Hons.) 1st Edition: March 2012 Nominal fee: 5.-- € 2 © LfL Research is the most important investment in the future "If you ask what real knowledge is, my answer will be: real knowledge is what enables action.” (Hermann Ludwig von Helmholtz) The global hop market is currently characterised by considerable surplus production. Approximately 95 % of the global hop harvest is used in the brewing industry, where growth in demand is slow. A mere 5 % is put to other uses. Aligning hop farming with this situation and safeguarding long-term competitiveness pose a sizeable challenge. This goal can only be achieved if extensive research and development work is carried out and the results communicated directly to hop growers, the hop trade and the brewing industry and put into practice without delay. The hop research performed by the Institute for Crop Science and Plant Breeding (IPZ) of the Bavarian State Research Center for Agriculture is a model example of a functioning public-private partnership between the Free State of Bavaria and the Society of Hop Research. There are very few institutes in the world that perform such extensive and holistic research into hops as the Hop Research Centre in Hüll. This research is performed by four work groups: • WG Hop Cultivation/Production Techniques (IPZ 5a) • WG Plant Protection in Hop Growing (IPZ 5b) • WG Hop Breeding Research (IPZ 5c) • WG Hop Quality and Analytics (IPZ 5d) This structure allows optimum exploitation of all synergies. The Hop Research Centre cooperates closely with numerous university institutes, state and federal bodies, and brewing-industry and hop-growers' organisations. Apart from its ongoing tasks, a large number of projects financed by third parties are also carried out. The Hüll Hop Research Centre is in a position to react rapidly and flexibly to queries, suggestions and ideas from outside sources. Close contacts are maintained between high-profile representatives from the brewing industry and brewing science and the Hop Research Centre via the Advisory Board of the Society for Hop Research. Climate change, environmentally friendly hop-growing practices, energy-efficient harvesting and post-harvest processing, irrigation, plant protection and breeding strategies that optimise resistance properties, yields and components for the brewing industry and for alternative uses are challenges that will require considerable efforts in the future. “Flavour hops” offer a ray of hope for the future. Craft brewers, now enjoying considerable commercial success in the USA, need hops with very distinct aromas, even exotic aromas such as mandarine, melon, mango or currant. New breeding lines from Hüll show great promise in this connection. Apart from the classic bitter and aroma varieties, the "flavour hops" could become a new mainstay for hop farmers in Germany. The numerous challenges and tasks cannot be met and solved without the hard work, commitment and creativity of all employees at Hüll, Wolnzach and Freising. We would therefore like to take this opportunity to thank them sincerely for their efforts. Dr. Michael Möller Dr. Peter Doleschel Chairman of the Managing Committee Head of the Institute for of the Society of Hop Research Crop Science and Plant Breeding 3 Contents Page 1 Research projects and main research areas of the Hops Department ................7 1.1 Current research projects............................................................................................7 1.2 Main research areas ..................................................................................................26 1.2.1 Main research area: Hop Breeding ...........................................................................26 1.2.2 Main research area: Hop Cultivation/Production Techniques .................................29 1.2.3 Main research areas: Hop Quality and Analytics .....................................................30 1.2.4 Plant protection in hops ............................................................................................32 2 Weather conditions and hop growth in 2011 .......................................................32 2.1 Weather data (monthly means or monthly totals) for 2011 compared with 10- and 50-year means .............................................................................................35 3 Statistical data on hop production ........................................................................36 3.1 Production data.........................................................................................................36 3.1.1 Pattern of hop farming .............................................................................................36 3.1.2 Hop varieties ............................................................................................................38 3.2 Yields in 2011 ..........................................................................................................40 4 Hop breeding research ...........................................................................................43 4.1 Classical breeding ....................................................................................................43 4.1.1 Crosses in 2011 ........................................................................................................43 4.1.2 Breeding of dwarf hops for low trellis systems .......................................................43 4.1.3 New hop breeding trend – hops with floral, citrus and fruity aromas ......................50 4.1.4 Monitoring for dangerous viroid and viral hop infections in Germany ...................54 4.2 Biotechnology ..........................................................................................................57 4.2.1 Characterisation of hop/hop powdery mildew interaction at cell level and functional analysis of defence-related genes............................................................57 4.3 Genome analysis ......................................................................................................59 4.3.1 Investigation of Verticillium infections in the Hallertau district ..............................59 5 Hop cultivation and production techniques .........................................................62 5.1 Nmin test in 2011 .......................................................................................................62 5.2 Reaction of various cultivars to reduced trellis height (6 m) ...................................64 5.2.1 Objective ..................................................................................................................64 5.2.2 Methods ....................................................................................................................64 5.2.3 Results ......................................................................................................................65 5.3 Testing of various substances for their efficacy and ability to intensify the effect of initial hop-stripping formulations ..............................................................67 5.3.1 Initial situation, problem and objective ....................................................................67 5.3.2 Methods ....................................................................................................................67 5.3.2.1 Trial design, Part 1, of May 6, 2011 .....................................................................68 5.3.2.2 Trial design, Part 2, of 13.05.11 ...........................................................................70 5.3.2.3 Trial design, Part 3, of 18.05.11 ...........................................................................73 5.3.2.4 Trial design, Part 4, of 24.05.11 ...........................................................................74 5.3.3 Discussion ................................................................................................................76 5.4 Field trials with follow-up hop-stripping formulations ............................................76 5.4.1 Initial situation, problem and objective ....................................................................76 4 5.4.2 Methods ....................................................................................................................76 5.5 Disinfection of hop bine choppings by means of hot rotting ...................................81 5.5.1 Objective ..................................................................................................................81 5.5.2 Methods ....................................................................................................................81 5.5.3 Results and discussion .............................................................................................82