Eithne is a Harper Adams University PhD candidate based at NIAB-EMR in Kent. Her project will investigate the incidence and effect of Phytophthora root rot on U.K. raspberry crops.
Phytophthora begins to infect raspberry crops first through the roots, stunting plant growth, delaying fruit set and ultimately causing plant death. The loss of fruiting canes and subsequent removal of dead plants places substantial economic burden on growers. Phytophthora is part of the oomycete class; more closely related to algae than fungi, therefore few fungicides are effective in its control. Phytophthora infections in raspberry crops have led to ~70% of U.K. growers moving from field to pot cultivation, increasing labour and production costs. In addition, little is known about the species involved in Phytophthora disease in U.K. raspberry plants. U.K-wide surveying and sampling will be conducted throughout this project, which aims to increase our understanding of where, when and what species are involved in Phytophthora infection and if the pathogen is present in asymptomatic plants i.e. those which appear healthy, but are infected. Grower and Agronomist input are crucial to this project to increase our understanding of the disease and develop management strategies to reduce its impact on U.K. raspberry production. Following an introduction and background to the work, a brief interactive survey will be presented which can be completed by growers and agronomists during the event.
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