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CROP PROTECTION
Few crops escape aphid attack and UK
blackcurrants are no exception. Aphids
on blackcurrants include Hyperomyzus
lactucae (currant sowthistle aphid), Aphis
grossulariae (gooseberry aphid), Rhopalo-
siphoninus ribesinus (currant stem aphid)
and A. schneideri (permanent currant
aphid). These are generally kept in check
by a range of natural enemies, including
coccinelid predators as adult and larval
ladybirds, predatory hemipteran bugs like
Orius species and Anthocoris nemorum
(common flower bug. Also involved are
parasitic wasps such as Aphidius matricar- Rows of blackcurrants equipped with black plastic mulch
iae which lays its eggs in the aphid host, for weed suppression and drip irrigation lines.
and soldier beetles which can arrive in capsid (Lygocoris pabulinus), blackcurrant
large numbers as if from nowhere. Accord- sawfly (Nematus offaciens), winter moth
ing to some growers Ben Hope has a de- (Operopherta brumata) and fungal dis-
gree of resistance to the currant sowthistle eases like leaf spot (Pseudopeziza ribis),
aphid and gooseberry aphid that is unre- Botrytis (Botrytis cinerea) and white pine
ported by the plant breeder. blister rust (Cronartium ribicola) may tem-
Weeds can proliferate in the inter-row. Dandelions shown porarily ‘escape’ natural cultural control
here probably encouraged by a soil rich in potassium Two spotted spider mite (Tetranychus
urticae) numbers can build up rapidly in and require prompt but highly targeted
profile ‘Ben Hope’ offers considerable resis- warm weather on the sheltered undersides and environmentally sensitive spraying.
tance to gall mite – up to thirty times high- of leaves but are normally suppressed by White pine blister rust was responsible
er than other mainstream varieties – while predatory mites of which Typhlodromus for the banning of commercial blackcur-
‘Ben Gairn’ with its resistance to ‘Reversion pyri and Amblyseius cucumeris are the rant growing in 17 states of the USA over
Disease’ is extending the life expectancy of most important. But these and other ar- several decades, so it is not surprising that
plantations threatened with this debilitat- thropod pests including blackcurrant leaf blackcurrant juice is not so well known in
ing virus disease. midge (Dasineura tetansi), common green North America. Circle 5 on enquiry card

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6 Vol. 40 No. 7