Suppliers of cuttings or plants do everything they can to provide growers with disease-free material. Or growers do their own propagation, in which case they also prefer to do it as healthily as possible. Yet there is often quite a lot of plant loss in new crops.
Control during propagation often goes beyond just checking the plants. Recirculation water and reusable trays are also checked for reuse. This can often be done very well via germination rates for specific diseases, points out Ines van Marrewijk of Normec Groen Agro Control. “We also facilitate research into the most effective method of disinfection, right down to testing a wash for trays or crates.”
For a grower, visual inspection is, of course, the first important thing when entering, says the Senior Product Manager of Horticulture. “Do you see any suspicious symptoms or unhealthy roots there? Then don’t wait but make sure you hygienically pack some plants immediately and have them examined for diseases. Or for possible chemical damage.”
For more information:
Ines van Marrewijk 
Normec Groen Agro Control
[email protected]
www.agrocontrol.nl
