Location: Genetic Improvement for Fruits & Vegetables Laboratory
Project Number: 8042-21000-023-009-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Sep 15, 2020
End Date: Sep 14, 2025
Objective:
ARS funding increases for cranberry research have enabled development of new research for high throughput phenotyping that will enhance the efficiency of cranberry breeding. Development and validation of reliable and efficient phenotyping methodology is contingent on enhancing uniformity of production practices at the Philip E. Marucci Center for Blueberry and Cranberry Research and Extension. Primary needs for enhanced production uniformity in established cranberry bogs at the research station are focused on improved irrigation and chemigation practices that are consistent with commercial production standards.
Approach:
The Cooperator has extensive experience with commercial cranberry production and will assist in reconfiguring existing irrigation equipment and modifications required to optimize irrigation layouts. Uniformity of the modified system will be evaluated using commercial irrigation/chemigation standards to identify relevant practices best suited to established production bogs at the station. Crop biomass, fruit yield, fruit quality and plant health will be assessed in evaluating efficacy of best practices.
