East Malling Research Station facts for kids
An Orchard at East Malling
|
|
| Abbreviation | NIAB EMR |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1913 |
| Type | Research institute |
| Legal status | Private company (09894859) and registered charity (1165055) |
| Purpose | Horticulture research in the UK |
| Headquarters | East Malling |
| Location |
|
|
Region served
|
global |
|
Membership
|
Horticultural scientists |
|
Managing Director
|
Professor Mario Caccamo |
|
Parent organization
|
NIAB |
|
Staff
|
100 |
NIAB EMR is a special place in East Malling, Kent, England. It is a research center that studies plants, especially fruit and other crops that grow from cuttings. Think of it as a science lab for plants!
In 2016, NIAB EMR became part of a bigger group called the NIAB Group. This means they work together to learn even more about farming and growing plants.
Contents
Discovering Plant Science: The History of NIAB EMR
.jpg)
The research station at East Malling started way back in 1913. Local fruit growers wanted to learn more about how to grow better fruits. So, they helped set up this special place. The first buildings from over 100 years ago are still used today!
Over the years, scientists at East Malling have done amazing research on plants that live for many years, like fruit trees. This work has made East Malling famous all over the world.
Some of their most important discoveries include:
- Finding better ways to grow young plants.
- Improving how fruit plants are grown, especially by developing special rootstocks.
- Creating new and better types of fruits and ornamental plants (like flowers).
- Learning how to store fruit so it stays fresh longer.
- Studying plant pests and diseases to find ways to control them.
For a while, from 1990 to 2009, a part of another research group called Horticulture Research International (HRI) was also at the site. After HRI closed, East Malling Research joined the NIAB Group in 2016.
Apple Rootstocks: The Secret to Growing Great Apples
One of the most famous things to come from East Malling is the work on apple tree rootstocks. In 1912, a scientist named Ronald Hatton started studying these.
What are rootstocks? Imagine you want to grow an apple tree. You don't just plant an apple seed. Instead, you take a small branch from the apple tree you want to grow (like a Granny Smith or a Fuji). Then, you attach this branch to the roots of another special apple plant. This root part is called the rootstock.
Ronald Hatton and his team carefully studied and named different rootstocks. Before their work, many rootstocks were mixed up or wrongly named. They created a clear system called the "Malling series". This helped growers know exactly what kind of rootstock they were using.
The Malling series made it easier to grow apple trees that were the right size, grew well in different soils, and produced lots of fruit. One of the most popular rootstocks they found was called M9. It's still used a lot today!
What NIAB EMR Does Today
Today, NIAB EMR continues its important work in plant science. They still focus on horticulture, which is the science of growing plants, especially fruits, vegetables, and flowers.
The center also has a business area where other local companies work. It's a place where science and business come together. They also have a conference center, which is a place for meetings and events.
Images for kids
-
An Orchard at East Malling
-
The Telamon apple, grown at East Malling.
-
A view of the research station from the east.
See also
In Spanish: East Malling Research Station para niños
