Positive outlook for Brussels sprouts

Plant researchers are using the science behind home pregnancy tests to detect the presence of diseases in vegetable crops, including Brussels sprouts.

Trials are under way to help protect Brassica crops – sprouts, broccoli and cabbage – and onions from diseases including ring spot, light leaf spot and downy mildew.

The pregnancy test technology, known as a lateral flow device (LFD), is being used to pick up the presence of infective spores carried in the air around crops in the field.

The test results, together with weather data, could indicate how likely a disease is to develop, allowing growers to decide if crop protection methods are needed or not.

Further development work is now under way to enable growers to get immediate results, and thus remove the need to send samples away to laboratories for further testing.

“When it’s fully developed, this simple low-cost tool, allowing growers to test whether there is a risk of diseases developing on their crops, will help prevent significant financial losses and reduce the need to use conventional methods to protect their crops,” said Cathryn Lambourne, a senior scientist with AHDB which is carryingout the project in partnership with Warwickshire College and Mologic Ltd.

“Over the last four years we’ve been developing the lateral flow device test, demonstrating how simple and effective it is, to give growers the confidence to rely on the results and make appropriate decisions for their business.”

Kettle Produce field operations manager Euan Alexander hailed the potential of the LFD technology.

He said: “The long period between the disease affecting the crop and the symptoms appearing, which are a characteristic of many of the diseases tested, can lead to devastating diseases becoming established in crops, turning them into waste.

“Using these tests will allow us to select the appropriate fungicide and time application as part of our crop management strategy, before the disease renders any of the crops unmarketable.”

A team from Kettle Produce harvest Brussels sprouts in a field in the East Neuk.