The state’s berry best
Research producing new fruit
VITAL research at the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) Applethorpe Research Facility is helping Queensland farmers produce more attractive, flavoursome and robust strawberries.
Visiting the facility today, Minister for Agricultural Industry Development Mark Furner said the Queensland Government’s Australian Strawberry Breeding Program was targeting our three major strawberry production regions – temperate, subtropical and Mediterranean – to get the best fruit.
“Breeding trials at Applethorpe during 2018 have developed two new varieties, Summer Song and Scarlet-silk, which are being trialled this season by strawberry producers in Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia,” Mr Furner said.
“In addition, our strawberry breeding team has just commenced a new five-year $8.6 million dollar National Strawberry Varietal Development Program, co-funded by Hort Innovation, to deliver new and improved varieties to all production regions in Queensland.”
More broadly, Queensland’s $3 billion fruit and vegetable production industry had benefitted from research into a range of issues.
“DAF researchers are involved in important projects to support and enhance Queensland’s well-earned reputation for producing some of the world’s safest produce,” Mr Furner said.
“The Applethorpe Research Facility is the hub of research activity for a $16.6 million fiveyear project to improve the resilience of crops against viral and bacterial diseases.
“This will see the development of an area wide management strategy to address high priority viral and bacterial diseases affecting vegetable crops.
“Project work is undertaken in all major Queensland vegetable production areas, including Applethorpe, and will give industry the latest recommendations on disease occurrence and management.
“Other work at Applethorpe has focused on the improved management of charcoal rot in strawberries, and the development of a new variety of table grapes.
“DAF staff at Applethorpe have also supported and enabled the formation of a Granite Belt Growers Group whose first annual general meeting will be held on 29 November 2018.”