horticultural research and development,including a comprehensive list of allprojects currently underway within thefour Riverlink agencies in Sunraysia-Riverland. The report will be availablein printed form and on the RiverlinkwebsiteSpreading the wordRiverlink is recognised by nationalorganisations seeking collaboration inhosting regional events. Riverlink hashosted visits by Chinese scientistsand other overseas visitors who are

interested in the work done throughRiverlink sitesRegional horticultural research hasbeen communicated to growers andindustry at theRiverland Field Days inSeptember 2005 and the Mildura'DistrictHorticultural Field Days in May 2006The field days are well attended andprovide an excellent opportunity for faceto face discussion with growers andother industry representatives

DeliverablesRiverlink Annual Report 2005,Whyte M, Milne G.Riverlink Newsletters Numbers 7677, 78, Whyte M, Milne GHighlights of Riverlink AnnualReport 2004, Whyte MRiverlink Media/CommunicationsStrategy 2006Development and maintenance ofthe Riverlink website www.sardi.sa.gov.au/riverlink/riverlink.htm

Project Title :Project No:P roject Team :

Further improve drying efficiency of bunchesDG04002

Dr Mahabubur Mullah and Jenny Gordon from Primary Industries Research Victoria.Industries (DPI), Mildura. 'Provide .industry with additional rate and volume prescriptions for using low volumescontain both an oil-spreading alkylsilicone and a water spreading orgadosilicone

Project Duration: I July, 2004 to 30 June, 2006Life of Project Funding: $90,833Alternate Funding Source: Victorian DPIContact: Dr Mahabubur Mullah, Victorian DPI, Mildura

Tel: (03) 5051 4500 Email: mahabubur.mollah @dpi.vic.gov.au

Department of Primary

Aim of Project: of drying emulsion that

Project SummaryIn 2005, a laboratory study conducted byPlant Protection Chemistry New Zealandevaluated an organo silicone (OS) superspreader (S240), for its potential tofurther reduce the current spray volumesof,drying emulsion.

S240. S240 should be used at ratesabove 0.2%, preferably at 0.5%, tomaximise its super spreading abilityand stability. It can be used inemulsions containing up to 2% oil.

Tartrazine dye is a suitable tracer toinclude in drying emulsion spraysto monitor deposits on Sultanas. Itis stable in the spray solution andcan be readily and consistentlyrecovered from berry surfaces forup to 48 hours after application.

TurboDry and S240 were used in 2005and 2006 field trials.

coverage for inner berries

A range of application methodsjcombination of different sprayer, spraynozzles and ground speeds) wereused in 2006 to assess the suitabilityof applying low volume drying emulsionto produce good quality dried grapes.Currently, data are being analysed.After receiving analysed data, the finalreport will be written and submitted toHorticulture Australia Limited (HAL) by30 September, 2006

OS super spreaders are water soluble,as opposed to the alkyl silicone (AS),oi[-so]ub]e adjuvant (]u rboDry), andcan spread water to a far greater extentthan an AS can spread oil. However, OScan be rapidly degraded by extremes ofpH and are known to cause phytotoxiceffects on crops if used incorrectly.The laboratory tests concluded that:

The preliminaryresults (Figure1) from 2005field trials haveshown thatgrapes sprayedwith emulsioncontaining S240,but half in volumecompared withstandard volumeapplied, can stillproduce similar

50

2. 45.g 40.9 35Q

'R 30C 25

io 20E

£ lOE5

0

Tartrazine de posits in bunches (n=24)

n S240 super spreader has thepotential to reduce spray volumesof drying emulsion applied toSultana grapes by up to 80%,which would remove the need forwetting machines. It is stable inthe alkaline conditions of dryingemulsion sprays for at least twohours after mixing. The use ofTurboDry adjuvant in the tank mayimprove emulsion spreading with

1 0 inner berries

H Standard plus S240. fastsn double oil and polish plus S240 plus TD going fasterH standard plus S240

est of bunchH double oil and potash, S240, fasts'[] standard[] double oi] potash p]us TD fasts

Figure 1. Comparison of berry coverage under different mixtures and application rates of dryingemulsion.

ProjectTitle; Development of rain tolerant drying varieties to meet market specificationsProject No: DG04003Project Team: Peter Clingeleffer. CaroHne farr, Dr Steve Sykes, David Emmanuelli, Norma Morales and Dr Rob Walker from

Aim of Project: Development.of rain tolerant dryi.ng.varieties to meet market specifications. In doing so, improve the costefficiency and economically sustainable development of dried grape production by developing and evaluatingnew and improved plant material to improve yield, production efficiency and consistency.

Project Duration: I July, 2004 to 30 June, 2009Life of Project Funding: $772,000Alternate Funding Source: CSIRO Plant Industry. MerbeinContact: Contact: Peter Clingeleffer, CSIRO Plant Industry, Merbein

Tel: (03) 5051 31 00 Email: peter.clingeleffer@csiro.au

DRIED FRUITS PROJECT REPORTS$

still in quarantine will be includedonce released.A non-sprayed site with di.seaseresistant selections to testfield tolerance/ resistance.byobservation of leaves and fruit.New hybrid seedling . populations

@£S.%HH "'e!':.:x seedless crosses and in-ovuloembryo rescue techn.iques Each

$&Tlilimqll:l«.spring

iaI i.,.itnd mAI \ and researchersLim

Project Summary

IZmEi3UBh!;,

fDecember.

UR'g:£=:iJU££$HE::'-'

":.dried grape production

k=s'R:u:u£E=Eh.'-'..for comparative purposesEach season fruit from about 150.

The project also involves the assessment

crops in 2007.Key trial sites which have been

swing-arm trellis include:

8:Tii;:i ' g::11:iRPi:.:i,"'a rootstock trial established in

ig ulH: ul:i ilBZante Currants on Ramsey vines inlate 2004.

' :11Z::!S:RBl:E'YURI'l?lgF

and M47-58 which are smaller

give sufficient fruit for processingand marketing purposes-

othAr research sites includedn

E

H

b

P rojectTitle :Project No=Project Team:

Dried Grape Industry Development Program

HHl:WH il I:"'; !E$$ 1iii @i.s0'8:mmwsus'

fertHisers and chetnicals.4. Providing growers with relevant market information.

Project Duration: I July, 2004 to 30 June, 2007

..«',. :E 'Eng$%UH:EIHI =1.;.,.

R

Aim of Project: