IMPROVING DAFFODIL DIPPING Hot water treatment (HWT) is routinely used to manage basal rot and stem nematode in narcissus bulbs, but there is still room for improvement.
AHDB-funded trial work has demonstrated that retrofitting chlorine dioxide dosing systems could markedly reduce the number of Fusarium spores present during dipping. During the 2019 dipping season, project BOF 077 explored these results further to help growers decide whether to invest in this technology at their own sites. The project saw Ewan Cameron, from the Scotmas Group, install equipment at three sites to test the efficacy of chlorine dioxide in both hot and cold water dipping systems.
8 AHDB Grower CULTIVATE
Alongside Ewan, Rob Lillywhite from the University of Warwick supplied the science – testing water samples and bulbs to measure the treatment effects during the 2019 season and beyond. We spoke to the growers who took part in the testing to find out their thoughts on the potential value of the work and their experience of having the kit fitted.
