South African Avocado Growers’ Association

2009 Yearbook

Volume 32

Table of Contents

HORTICULTURE

6          Effect of different mulch materials, composts and organic treatments on tree condition and root health
Z Mavuso

10        Initial results of fertilizer trials aimed at reducing orchard cold/freeze damage and grey speckle in South African avocado
LS Magwaza, MJ Ntandane and FJ Kruger

13        Follow-up study on the effect that iron supplements have on the postharvest chilling injury disorder of avocado fruit
LS Magwaza, MJ Ntandane and FJ Kruger

18        Protein and sugar trends during the avocado season
RJ Blakey, JP Bower and I Bertling

23        Excessive leaf abscission in the avocado cultivar ‘Ryan’
NJR Roets, S de Meillon, NJ Taylor, JH Owen and R Ehlers

POSTHARVEST TECHNOLOGY

32        Quantification of the respiration and softening rates of South African avocados of increasing maturity stored at different temperatures
D Lemmer, TR Malumane and FJ Kruger

36        Semi-commercial trials to determine the risk of shipping ‘Hass’ at 1^◦C for 30 days
Z van Rooyen

42        Evaluation of different atmospheric conditioning treatments to synchronize the ripening of SmartFresh^SM ‘Hass’ avocado fruit
NJR Roets, D Lemmer and FJ Kruger

48        The importance of maintaining the cold chain for avocado ripening quality
RJ Blakey and JP Bower

53        Effect of post-harvest application of silicon on ‘Hass’ avocado fruit
I Bertling, SZ Tesfay, JP Bower and K. Kaluwa

PATHOLOGY

57        Fungicides for Pseudocercospora control on avocados: A review, a trial and observations
BQ Manicom and MH Schoeman

64        Alternative control of Cercospora spot on ‘Fuerte’ – progress report
A Willis and Z Mavuso

ENOTMOLOGY

67        Control of the false codling moth with the Isomate mating disruption technology
PS Schoeman and M de Beer

69        Minute sucking bug complex causing pimples on the skin of avocado fruit in the Soutpansberg district
AJ Alberts