14TSB_ATC_IR Developing resource-use efficient strawberries for substrate production

该项目的目的是通过使用创新技术开发改良的栽培品种和无土栽培系统，提高英国草莓生产的可持续性和效率。草莓约占浆果总产量的60%。根据零售额计算，草莓市场价值约为4.5亿英镑，2012年英国草莓产量超过10.8万吨。在过去的十年里，英国的产量以每年10-15%的速度增长，增长了156%，是欧洲增长最快的国家。新品种和改良品种以及创新技术使种植者能够将一年的生产季节延长到至少八个月。这一增长大大减少了对进口水果的依赖；2012年，住宅生产占总供应量的比例为66%，而2002年为53%。然而，新鲜草莓的进口额高达1.228亿英镑，英国草莓产业的自给自足程度仍有提高的空间。要做到这一点，英国种植者需要采用新产品和新方法，以进一步提高生产效率和延长季节。在2009年停止使用土壤灭菌剂甲基溴之后，诸如冠腐病和黄萎病等土壤传播疾病的发病率大幅增加。氯霉素已被采用作为替代产品，但由于它也面临着不确定的未来，因此正在寻求替代战略。许多种植者现在不再直接在土壤中种植，而是使用基质袋来减轻土壤传播病原体带来的风险。近年来，无土栽培一直在稳步发展，目前英国生产的草莓中约有40%是用无土栽培的。在过去的五年里，泥炭基产品已经被椰子所取代，椰子可以说是一种更可持续的替代生长介质。为了促进草莓生产的可持续集约化，以商业为主导的育种计划将成为该行业未来的内在要素。目前，大多数育种计划的重点是用于土壤生产的品种，但如果采用无土系统的情况继续增加，就有必要通过开发适应基质生产的新品种来促进经济的可持续性。通过新一代创新技术提高效率，产量和水果质量，预计整个英国软果行业，从种植者到消费者都将受益。

The aim of the project is to improve the sustainability and efficiency of UK strawberry production by using innovative technologies to develop improved cultivars and systems for soil-less culture. Strawberries account for around 60% of total berry production. The strawberry market is worth c. £450 million based on retail sales, and UK production exceeded 108,000 tonnes in 2012. With annual growth of 10-15% p.a., production in the UK has shown the largest increase in Europe with a rise of 156% in the last ten years. New and improved cultivars and innovative technologies has enabled growers to extend the season of production to at least eight months of the year. This increase has led to a significant reduction in reliance of imported fruit; home production marketed as a percentage of total supply was 66% in 2012 compared to 53% in 2002. However with fresh strawberry imports worth c. £122.8 million, there is still scope to improve self-sufficiency of the UK industry. To do so UK growers will need to adopt new products and embrace new methods to further improve the efficiency of production and season extension. Following the withdrawal of the soil sterilant methyl bromide in 2009, the incidence of soil-borne diseases such as crown rot and Verticillium wilt has increased considerably. Chloropicrin has been adopted as a substitute product, but since this also faces an uncertain future, alternative strategies are being sought. Instead of planting directly in the soil, many growers are now utilising substrate bags to alleviate the risks posed by soil-borne pathogens. Soil-less culture has been growing steadily in recent years and currently around 40% of strawberries produced in the UK are grown using this system. In the last five years peat-based products have been replaced by coir, an arguably more sustainable alternative growing medium. In an effort to advance the sustainable intensification of strawberry production, a commercial-led breeding programme will be intrinsic to the future of the industry. Currently most breeding programmes focus on cultivars for soil production but if the adoption of soil-less systems continues to rise, there is a necessity to promote economic sustainability by developing new cultivars that are adapted to substrate production. By improving efficiency, yield and fruit quality through a new generation of innovative technologies it is envisaged that the whole UK soft fruit industry, from grower to consumer will benefit.