This year's Impatiens Downy Mildew Seminar 'Disease risk management for 2012’ will be held on 26 October 2011 in the Avon Suite, Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 2TL.
The retail market value for impatiens is large with estimates placing it at up to £40 million per annum. The outbreak of impatiens downy mildew during the 2011 production season impacted on the industry in a major way, affecting all parts of the supply chain from propagators through to gardeners. This year cutting-raised material was confirmed as the source of the disease and although the market for cutting-raised plants is small relative to the seed-raised one, the disease has had an impact on both markets.
The objective of the seminar is to provide growers and retailers with a detailed summary of the disease gained from a number of HDC funded projects examining downy mildew and its control and to permit discussion about production of this crop in 2012. Recent work covering fungicides, the potential of the pathogen to overwinter, its resistance to a key fungicide, appropriate disease management practices and the potential for breeding disease resistance into plants will be explained. Various industry representatives will then present their views on how their businesses coped with the disease through the year and their approach to the 2012 season. The event will culminate in an industry discussion on the best approach to manage the disease next year.
Event programme
10:00 Coffee and registration
10:15 Welcome by event Chairman, Alan Davis, HDC Protected Ornamentals Panel Chairman
10:20 Outcome of HDC funded projects on downy mildew (PC 230, 230a and 230b) – Phil Jennings, Fera
11:00 Disease management in 2012 and beyond, Martin McPherson, STC
11:30 Coffee break
12:00 The prospect of breeding disease resistance into impatiens, speaker to be confirmed
12:30 Feedback from gardeners on the disease issue, Guy Barter, RHS
12:45 Questions for the morning speakers
13:00 Lunch
14:00 Industry perspectives
- a propagator’s perspective – Steve Waters, Syngenta Seeds Ltd plus another to be confirmed
- a grower’s perspective – Chris Need, Roundstone Nurseries and Mike Smith, W D Smith and Son
- a retailer’s perspective – Garden centre representative to be confirmed
15:00 The way forward for the industry
Discussion concerning the decisions to be made for 2012 facilitated by the event Chairman, Alan Davis, HDC Protected Ornamentals Panel Chairman
15:30 Depart
Directions to the Stoneleigh site
BY ROAD
From the North: Leave the M1 at J21, following signs for Coventry (M69). At the end of the M69, follow signs for Warwick. After joining the A46 from the A45, take the exit signposted Stoneleigh NAC. Follow roadside signage to the Stoneleigh Park showground. From the North West: Leave the M6 at J2, following signs for Warwick (A46). After joining the A46 from the A45, take the exit signposted Stoneleigh NAC. Follow roadside signage to the Stoneleigh Park showground.
From the South: Leave the M40 at J15, following signs for Coventry (A46). After approximately 8 miles on the A46, take the exit signposted Stoneleigh NAC. Follow roadside signage to the Stoneleigh Park showground.
If you would like to attend the Impatiens Downy Mildew Seminar please contact Kirsty Nichols at Kirsty.nichols@hdc.ahdb.org.uk or on 02476 478677.
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