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The following research has been funded by the North American Strawberry Growers Research Foundation for this year:
A method for delaying flowering in strawberry plants.
Fumiomi Takeda (USDA-ARS, Kearneysville, WV).
Objective: To investigate mechanisms that control flowering and delay or prevent flowering among transplants established in the field in spring and in late summer, focusing on the effect of altered light environments during transplant production. Manipulation of transplant growth and morphology in the nursery will lead to reduced production costs after establishment in the field. $4,200.
Winter canola as a trap crop for controlling tarnished plant bug damage in strawberries.
Greg Loeb and Marvin Pritts (Cornell University, Ithaca, NY).
Objective: Evaluate the impact of flowering winter canola on tarnished plant bug abundance and damage in matted row strawberry production at different distances from the canola trap crop. $6,420. (Co-funded by the California Strawberry Commission.)
Improved management of strawberry powdery mildew.
David Gadoury and Robert Seem (Cornell University, Ithaca, NY).
Objectives: Determine the role of cleistothecia (sexual fruiting bodies) as a source of primary inoculum, the seasonal release of ascospore inoculum, and survival of the pathogen as mycelium within crowns and senescent leaves. $6,806.
Field performance, antioxidant capacity and phytochemical content of eastern strawberry varieties. Courtney Weber (Cornell University, Geneva, NY).
Objectives: Include two advanced selections and three varieties to a trial being established in Geneva, NY in spring 2009; Analyze antioxidant capacity, total anthocyanin, flavonoid and phenolic constituents expressed in fruit of 15 varieties and advanced selections over two harvest seasons; compile yield, fruit size, harvest timing and post-harvest data on 15 genotypes over two seasons; conduct a field-day for each harvest season to provide growers an opportunity to observe the trial and compare fruit samples; and compile and publish research data in extension and research articles for grower use in variety and marketing decisions. $5,000.
Evaluation of anthracnose resistant MSUS strawberry clones developed by the USDA-ARS in Poplarville, MS for anthracnose resistant SCAR markers. Brian Kreiser and Kenneth Curry (University of Southern Mississippi) and Barbara Smith (USDA-ARS, Poplarville, MS). Objectives: Determine if SCAR markers are present in anthracnose resistant MSUS selections, and determine the response of the MSUS selections, commercial cultivars, and breeding lines to inoculation with three Colletotrichum species. $5,000.
Soilless culture of strawberries under high tunnels in Florida.
Bielinski Santos and Teresa Salamé-Donoso (University of Florida, Wimauma, FL).
Objectives: Develop recommendations on production practices under Florida conditions by comparing growth, yield, and post-harvest quality of fruit grown in diverse soilless media under high tunnels, and in February, 2011 to conduct a field-day at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center to present the results to growers and extension, researcher, and industry representatives. $2,900.
Breeding for crown rot resistance in Southeastern strawberries: a collaborative approach. Vance Whitaker (University of Florida, Wimauma, FL) and Jeremy Pattison (North Carolina State University, Kannapolis, NC).
Objectives: Primarily to determine the inheritance of crown rot resistance in University of Florida and North Carolina State University germplasm through specific and general combining abilities for crown rot resistance among our advanced selections and cultivars using specific parental crosses, determine the heritability of resistance and potential gains from selection and genetic parameters influenced by genotype and environment interactions, and identify genotypes with increased resistance for use in both breeding programs. $6,183.
Nematode-suppressive cover crops for rotation with strawberries.
Annemiek Schilder and Fred Warner (Michigan State University).
Objectives: Assess several rotation crops for their ability to suppress Pratylenchus penetrans (root lesion nematode) and Meloidogyne hapla (Northern root knot nematode) utilizing potted plants in the greenhouse, and evaluate crop rotation schemes for management of Longidorus elongatus (common needle nematode) and other plant parasitic nematodes on a farm. $3,953.
Quantification of Colletotrichum acutatum latent infection from strawberry leaves for developing a disease prediction and decision support system for better anthracnose management. Frank Louws and Mahfuzur Rahman (North Carolina State University). Objectives: Relate the latent inoculum levels with anthracnose outbreak in the field, utilize inoculum detection in developing a disease prediction system, and develop an enhanced decision support system for management options as a component of IPM tactics. $7,000. (Co-funded by the California Strawberry Commission.)
The development of new winter-hardy commercial strawberry cultivars and hybridization germplasm for eastern North America.
Brian Smith (University of Wisconsin, River Falls).
Objectives: Expand the scope of the existing UW-River Falls strawberry breeding program utilizing increased germplasm diversity, identify and evaluate new cultivars and selections with high adaptability and profitability potential for Midwest growers, and release new commercial cultivars for eastern North America. $5,436.
Improving strawberry potassium and nitrogen for producing high fruit quality of fresh market berries. Hong Li, Nova Scotia Agricultural College.
Objectives: Quantify strawberry plant ability to assimilate potassium-nitrogen (K-N) and its translocation to fruit under different K-N treatments; assess interactions of K-N nutrition on strawberry fruit yields and fruit quality (size, titratable acids, total phenols, total soluble solids, glucose, fructose, sucrose, and total sugar; and develop local K-N recommendations for improving strawberry plant nutrition for better fruit appearance and nutritional qualities. $2,000.
TOTAL GRANT FUNDING FOR 2010 RESEARCH PROJECTS: $54,898
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