Growing Organic Apples – World class production systems for new Australian apple varieties

  • 32 pages

  • Published: 23 Jul 2008

  • Author(s): Middleton, Simon, Zeppa, Aldo, McWaters, Allan, Horlock, Christine, Nimmo, Peter, Rickard, David

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Australian apple growers considering organic production need to be aware they will face similar and often more arduous challenges to those faced by non-organic apple orchardists.
This report provides information needed for successful organic production of a new scab-resistant Australian apple variety that has been developed by the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Queensland. The un-named variety is currently protected by provisional Plant Breeders Rights and is referred to by its breeding code of ‘RS103-130’. Evidence that this variety can be grown organically is of value to apple growers intending to convert to organic production, but who may have some concerns that apple scab would be a significant impediment to successful production.
The study was funded by the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, Horticulture Australia Limited, Apple and Pear Australia Limited and the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Queensland. It is an addition to RIRDC’s diverse range of over 1800 research publications and forms part of our Organics R&D Program, that aims to facilitate the development of a viable organic industry through increasing adoption of sustainable organic farming systems.