The Integrated Crop Management (ICM) combines work of the Entomology group, Plant Pathology and Environment Plant Interactions programmes at SCRI. Much of the ICM insect research is centred on soft fruit pests that affect raspberry and blackberry (both species of Rubus) and blackcurrant (Ribes). For the work done on other crops see the Molecular ecology of insects and mites page.

These are high value crops that are commercially important in Scotland and in other countries. We also have expertise working with strawberry and will shortly begin research on blueberry pathology as this crop becomes more commonly cultivated in the UK.

Our research is sub-divided into the following areas:

• host:pathogen interactions (of raspberry and blackberry with insect pests and virus pathogens)
• natural resistance of raspberry to particular insects and viruses (for example, raspberry aphids)
• improved methods for pest and disease control in soft fruit crops using semiochemicals derived from host plants and insect sex pheromones
• co-evolutionary processes between plants, insects (pests and beneficial) and pathogens which impact on current and future soft fruit ICM
• the impact of climate change (localised and larger scale) on the agro-ecology of soft fruit, non-cultivated habitats and trophic interactions.

Our work links to other SCRI projects on raspberry and blackcurrant genetics and breeding and to externally funded research with UK and International partners.

Details of our work and information on other aspects of soft fruit research are available on the FruitDisease website which is part of the FruitGateway series of websites that has been developed and is maintained by SCRI researchers.