The Scottish Crop Research Institute has launched a new website www.fruithealth.co.uk to streamline its service offer in the provision of pathogen testing for soft-fruit plant material in the UK.

SCRI is the sole UK establishment with the expertise and facilities to produce pathogen tested (PT) foundation stocks of strawberry, raspberry and blackcurrant plants and an international centre for the supply of such PT germplasm for scientific and commercial use worldwide. Because of its reputation and integrity in this capacity, SCRI has special relations with several countries whereby their strict quarantine regulations are relaxed for material originating as PT stock from SCRI. In addition to production of PT stocks, the institute can also offer a full range of pathogen testing services for Rubus, Ribes and Fragaria. These range from testing for a single pathogen to testing for the full range of pests and diseases affecting these stocks. The new website has been launched to simplify this process and allow sponsors to track their test results.

A prime role of SCRI is to provide the industry with high health soft fruit plants for propagation. Pathology testing is applied to provide mother plants that are then maintained in ultra-modern glasshouses. The institute's pathology testing uses the best tests available, many of which were first devised at SCRI, to screen for a variety of fungal, bacterial and viral diseases and nematode pests of Rubus, Ribes and Fragaria. The mother plants provide planting material for propagation into the UK soft fruit industry.

SCRI maintains the SEERAD high health status germplasm collection, a collection of SCRI varieties, high health status material held for commercial sponsors, material for breeding programmes and material in quarantine.

Topics