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Wang X, Shrestha S, Tymon L, Zhang H, Miles C, DeVetter L. Soil-biodegradable mulch is an alternative to non-biodegradable plastic mulches in a strawberry-lettuce double-cropping system. Front Sustain Food Syst 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fsufs.2022.942645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Double-cropping strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) could be a sustainable alternative practice for diversified specialty crop growers. Plastic mulch is beneficial for strawberry and lettuce production with soil-biodegradable mulch (BDM) providing opportunities to reduce plastic waste generation and costs of mulch disposal. The objective of this study was to compare non-biodegradable plastic mulches and BDM to bare ground cultivation in a strawberry–lettuce double-cropping system in a Mediterranean climate. A split-plot randomized complete block design experiment with mulch treatment [non-biodegradable polyethylene (PE) film, “weedmat” (woven, PE-based), BDM, and bare ground control] as the main factor and double-cropping rotation scheme (rotation 1 or 2) as the split-plot factor was conducted between 2020 and 2021. Strawberry yield was overall greatest when mulched with BDM, PE, and weedmat compared to the bare ground control. Total soluble solids (TSS), pH, and total titratable acidity (TA) of strawberry differed due to harvest date, but only pH differed due to mulch treatment. For lettuce canopy cover, rotation 2 had greater canopy cover (86%) compared with rotation 1 (66%) 30 days after transplanting. Average head weight (0.4 kg) and head length and diameter (both 20 cm) did not differ due to mulch or rotation. Average soil temperatures under PE and BDM were ~1.5°C higher than under weedmat and 2.5°C higher than the bare ground control. Soil under weedmat had the highest moisture content, whereas the PE, BDM, and bare ground treatments had similar levels. PE, BDM, and weedmat provided equivalent weed suppression, whereas the bare ground control had the most weeds. BDM deterioration estimated as percent soil exposure (PSE) was greatest (59% PSE) by the end of the experiment, whereas PE had 18% PSE and weedmat had no deterioration. Results show that despite high levels of deterioration, BDM performs similarly to PE in terms of soil temperature and moisture modification, weed suppression, and promotion of crop growth and yield in a double-cropped system. Double-cropping strawberry and lettuce is a promising alternative for growers to diversify their crop type and with potential economic benefits by increasing mulch lifespan.
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Lu Q, Miles C, Tao H, DeVetter L. Evaluation of real-time nutrient analysis of fertilized raspberry using petiole sap. Front Plant Sci 2022; 13:918021. [PMID: 35991427 PMCID: PMC9389145 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.918021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The time delay in receiving conventional tissue nutrient analysis results caused red raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) growers to be interested in rapid sap tests to provide real-time results to guide immediate nutrient management practices. However, sap analysis has never been conducted in raspberry. The present work aimed to evaluate the relationship of petiole sap nitrate (NO3 -), potassium (K+), and calcium (Ca2+) concentrations measured using compact ion meters and leaf tissue total nitrogen (TN), potassium (K), and calcium (Ca) concentrations measured using conventional tissue nutrient analysis. The relationship of petiole sap NO3 - and leaf tissue TN concentrations with plant growth and production variables was also explored. Fertilizer treatments of urea were surface applied to raised beds of established "Meeker" floricane red raspberry plots at control, low, medium, and high rates (0, 34, 67, and 101 kg N ha-1, respectively) in 2019 and 2020. The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Whole leaves were collected from representative primocanes in mid- and late- July and August 2019 and 2020 (i.e., four sampling time points per year). At each sampling time point, a subsample of leaves was used for petiole sap analyses of NO3 -, K+, and Ca2+ concentrations using compact ion meters, and conventional tissue testing of leaf tissue TN, K, and Ca concentrations, respectively. There were no interactions between N fertilizer rate and year nor between N fertilizer rate and sampling time. No significant differences were found due to N fertilizer rate for petiole sap NO3 -, K+, Ca2+ nor leaf tissue TN, K, Ca concentrations. However, significant year and sampling time effects occurred in measured petiole sap and leaf tissue nutrient concentrations. Overall, the correlations between petiole sap NO3 - and leaf tissue TN, petiole sap Ca2+ and leaf tissue Ca, petiole sap K+ and leaf tissue K concentrations were non-strong and inconsistent. Future research is warranted as the interpretation of correlations between raspberry petiole sap and leaf tissue nutrient concentrations were inconclusive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianwen Lu
- Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States
| | - Carol Miles
- Northwestern Washington Research and Extension Center, Washington State University, Mount Vernon, WA, United States
| | - Haiying Tao
- Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States
| | - Lisa DeVetter
- Northwestern Washington Research and Extension Center, Washington State University, Mount Vernon, WA, United States
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Devi P, DeVetter L, Kraft M, Shrestha S, Miles C. Micrographic View of Graft Union Formation Between Watermelon Scion and Squash Rootstock. Front Plant Sci 2022; 13:878289. [PMID: 35498692 PMCID: PMC9051512 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.878289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Grafting has become a common practice for watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum & Nakai] production in many parts of the world, due to its efficacy against biotic and abiotic stressors. However, grafting success for watermelon is challenging in part due to the complex anatomy of the cucurbit vascular system. The survival of grafted transplants depends on compatibility between the scion and rootstock, which in turn depends on anatomical, physiological, and genetic variables. A better understanding of cucurbit anatomy and graft union formation would inform grafting approaches and transplant management. An anatomical study was conducted by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) at 11 and 25 days after grafting (DAG) with seedless watermelon cultivar 'Secretariat' grafted onto compatible rootstock cultivars 'Pelop' (Lagenaria siceraria) and 'Tetsukabuto' (Cucurbita maxima × Cucurbita moschata) in comparison to non-grafted watermelon and rootstock seedlings. At 11 DAG, the parenchymatic cells of the central pith of grafted plants were dead and a necrotic layer was observed, representing the beginning of callus formation. New xylem strands were formed in the vascular system, connecting the rootstock with the scion. At 25 DAG, fully developed vascular bundles at the graft interface were observed with both scion-rootstock combinations. Although more studies are necessary to characterize the sequence of physiological events after grafting in Cucurbit species, this is one of the first studies to describe the complex anatomical changes that occur during watermelon graft healing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pinki Devi
- Department of Horticulture, Northwestern Washington Research and Extension Center, Washington State University, Mount Vernon, WA, United States
| | - Lisa DeVetter
- Department of Horticulture, Northwestern Washington Research and Extension Center, Washington State University, Mount Vernon, WA, United States
| | - Michael Kraft
- Scientific Technical Services, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, United States
| | - Srijana Shrestha
- Department of Horticulture, Northwestern Washington Research and Extension Center, Washington State University, Mount Vernon, WA, United States
| | - Carol Miles
- Department of Horticulture, Northwestern Washington Research and Extension Center, Washington State University, Mount Vernon, WA, United States
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Edger PP, Iorizzo M, Bassil NV, Benevenuto J, Ferrão LFV, Giongo L, Hummer K, Lawas LMF, Leisner CP, Li C, Munoz PR, Ashrafi H, Atucha A, Babiker EM, Canales E, Chagné D, DeVetter L, Ehlenfeldt M, Espley RV, Gallardo K, Günther CS, Hardigan M, Hulse-Kemp AM, Jacobs M, Lila MA, Luby C, Main D, Mengist MF, Owens GL, Perkins-Veazie P, Polashock J, Pottorff M, Rowland LJ, Sims CA, Song GQ, Spencer J, Vorsa N, Yocca AE, Zalapa J. There and back again; historical perspective and future directions for Vaccinium breeding and research studies. Hortic Res 2022; 9:uhac083. [PMID: 35611183 PMCID: PMC9123236 DOI: 10.1093/hr/uhac083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The genus Vaccinium L. (Ericaceae) contains a wide diversity of culturally and economically important berry crop species. Consumer demand and scientific research in blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) and cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) have increased worldwide over the crops' relatively short domestication history (~100 years). Other species, including bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea), and ohelo berry (Vaccinium reticulatum) are largely still harvested from the wild but with crop improvement efforts underway. Here, we present a review article on these Vaccinium berry crops on topics that span taxonomy to genetics and genomics to breeding. We highlight the accomplishments made thus far for each of these crops, along their journey from the wild, and propose research areas and questions that will require investments by the community over the coming decades to guide future crop improvement efforts. New tools and resources are needed to underpin the development of superior cultivars that are not only more resilient to various environmental stresses and higher yielding, but also produce fruit that continue to meet a variety of consumer preferences, including fruit quality and health related traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick P Edger
- Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
- MSU AgBioResearch, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Massimo Iorizzo
- Plants for Human Health Institute, North Carolina State University, Kannapolis, NC USA
- Department of Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC USA
| | - Nahla V Bassil
- USDA-ARS, National Clonal Germplasm Repository, Corvallis, OR 97333, USA
| | - Juliana Benevenuto
- Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Luis Felipe V Ferrão
- Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Lara Giongo
- Fondazione Edmund Mach - Research and Innovation CentreItaly
| | - Kim Hummer
- USDA-ARS, National Clonal Germplasm Repository, Corvallis, OR 97333, USA
| | - Lovely Mae F Lawas
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - Courtney P Leisner
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - Changying Li
- Phenomics and Plant Robotics Center, College of Engineering, University of Georgia, Athens, USA
| | - Patricio R Munoz
- Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Hamid Ashrafi
- Department of Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC USA
| | - Amaya Atucha
- Department of Horticulture, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Ebrahiem M Babiker
- USDA-ARS Southern Horticultural Laboratory, Poplarville, MS 39470-0287, USA
| | - Elizabeth Canales
- Department of Agricultural Economics, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA
| | - David Chagné
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited (PFR), Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Lisa DeVetter
- Department of Horticulture, Washington State University Northwestern Washington Research and Extension Center, Mount Vernon, WA, 98221, USA
| | - Mark Ehlenfeldt
- SEBS, Plant Biology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick NJ 01019 USA
| | - Richard V Espley
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited (PFR), Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Karina Gallardo
- School of Economic Sciences, Washington State University, Puyallup, WA 98371, USA
| | - Catrin S Günther
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited (PFR), Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Michael Hardigan
- USDA-ARS, Horticulture Crops Research Unit, Corvallis, OR 97333, USA
| | - Amanda M Hulse-Kemp
- USDA-ARS, Genomics and Bioinformatics Research Unit, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
- Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - MacKenzie Jacobs
- Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48823, USA
| | - Mary Ann Lila
- Plants for Human Health Institute, North Carolina State University, Kannapolis, NC USA
| | - Claire Luby
- USDA-ARS, Horticulture Crops Research Unit, Corvallis, OR 97333, USA
| | - Dorrie Main
- Department of Horticulture, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99163, USA
| | - Molla F Mengist
- Plants for Human Health Institute, North Carolina State University, Kannapolis, NC USA
- Department of Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC USA
| | | | | | - James Polashock
- SEBS, Plant Biology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick NJ 01019 USA
| | - Marti Pottorff
- Plants for Human Health Institute, North Carolina State University, Kannapolis, NC USA
| | - Lisa J Rowland
- USDA-ARS, Genetic Improvement of Fruits and Vegetables Laboratory, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
| | - Charles A Sims
- Food Science and Human Nutrition Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Guo-qing Song
- Plant Biotechnology Resource and Outreach Center, Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Jessica Spencer
- Department of Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC USA
| | - Nicholi Vorsa
- SEBS, Plant Biology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick NJ 01019 USA
| | - Alan E Yocca
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Juan Zalapa
- USDA-ARS, VCRU, Department of Horticulture, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
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Grant KJ, DeVetter L, Melathopoulos A. Honey bee ( Apis mellifera) colony strength and its effects on pollination and yield in highbush blueberries ( Vaccinium corymbosum). PeerJ 2021; 9:e11634. [PMID: 34395063 PMCID: PMC8323595 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.11634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Many pollination studies with honey bees have examined the effect of colony density on crop yield and yet overlook the effect of variation in the population size of these colonies. High colony density in northern highbush blueberry has been met with concerns from beekeepers who feel higher densities will intensify outbreaks of European foulbrood (EFB, Melissococcus plutonius, Truper and dé Clari), a honey bee brood disease. The purpose of this study was to confirm the prevalence of EFB in colonies pollinating blueberries and to determine whether field-level variation in the population of adult workers in colonies explained variation in blueberry fruit set and/or yield. We addressed these objectives over the course of two production seasons at 13 commercial blueberry fields in Oregon, USA, stocked with identical densities of 10 colonies/ha. We confirmed that all colonies had negligible symptoms of EFB at the start of blueberry pollination, but 53% of colonies in 2019 and 41% in 2020 had symptoms immediately following the pollination season. We also validated a method for rapidly assessing adult honey bee colony populations, namely by counting the rate of foragers returning to colonies, and it was found to be strongly correlated to true internal adult bee population independent of year and ambient temperature at the time of evaluation. Using returning forager counts, we determined there was considerable variation in the average population of colonies at each field, ranging from an estimated 10,300 to 30,700 adult worker bees per colony. While average colony strength did not predict variation in fruit set, it was related to variation in yield, independent of year. Our linear model of flight count (as a proxy for colony strength) predicts estimated yield increases of up to 25,000 kg/ha of blueberries could be achieved by colonies stronger than the recommended six frame minimum, suggesting that higher pollination benefits could be achieved without increasing hive density if stronger colonies are promoted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kennedy Judith Grant
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States of America
| | - Lisa DeVetter
- Department of Horticulture, Washington State University, Mount Vernon, WA, United States of America
| | - Andony Melathopoulos
- Department of Horticulture, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States of America
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