The Soft Fruit Pathology and Entomology Group at SCRI study a number of important pests and pathogens that affect raspberry and blackberry (both species of Rubus) and blackcurrant (Ribes). These are high value crops with significant nutritional and health benefits, and 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.

We are sub-divided into three research areas; virology, entomology and root rot (caused by species of Phytophthora), and currently are working on the following:

• host:pathogen interactions (of raspberry and blackberry with insect pests and virus pathogens)
• natural resistance of raspberry to particular insects and viruses
• improved methods for pest and disease control in soft fruit crops using semiochemicals derived from host plants and insect sex pheromones
• characterisation of newly identified viruses
• pathology of different Phytophthora species
• development of new diagnostics for root rot and viruses.

Our work links to other SCRI projects on raspberry and blackcurrant genetics and breeding, and to the SCRI High Health Certification scheme which supplies comprehensively tested material for propagation by the UK soft fruit industry.

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.