improved variety, selection and sustainability of strawberries for the eastern united states
DESCRIPTION
2014 National Sustainable Strawberry Initiative Project Leader MeetingTRANSCRIPT
Improved Variety Selection and
Sustainability of Strawberries for the Eastern
United States
Peter Nitzsche, PI
Agricultural Agent
Cooperative Extension of Morris County
William Hlubik, Co-PI
Agricultural Agent
Cooperative Extension of Middlesex County
Objectives
• Expedite the evaluation, release, and adoption of new
strawberry selections developed by Rutgers NJAES with
outstanding flavor, improved fruit quality, and yield, to benefit
NJ farmers, gardeners, consumers
Dr. Gojko Jelenkovic
Professor Emeritus
Plasticulture in Eastern United States
Breeding Selection Plots with Growers
Replicated Field Trials
Donaldson Farms trial
Fernbrook Farms - organic
Nourse Farms
Finalizing Patents, Licensing and Release
Advanced Selections
“Christmas Light Bulb”
Clean Greenhouse Stock
Production of Clean Stock Material
• All materials have tested
negative for viruses by Robert
Martin USDA, ARS
Micropropagation
• Tissue culture of stock material
by Rutgers NJAES and Nourse
Farms
Kube Pak
Bacterial Angular leaf Spot?
Xanthomonas fragariae
University Field Trials
• Replicated field trials
– Pittstown, NJ
– North Brunswick, NJ
– Castle Hayne, North Carolina
• Observation trial
– University of Maryland
On Farm Trials
• 10 field trials on local farms throughout New Jersey
– 8 conventional farms
– 2 organic farms
– Plastic culture (9/10)
– Matted row (1/10)
Donaldson Farms
Specca Farms
Media and Outreach
• 13 presentations on the project
414 attendee
• 3 published articles
• 2 short videos produced
• ‘P. Allen Smith’s Garden Home’
public television show
• ‘The Garden Show’
radio program
Future Plans
• 2013-2014 replicated trial
data collection and analysis
– Yield
– Fruit quality: shape,
coloring, ripening
– Flavor
– Plant vigor/ propagation
potential
Grower Surveys
Videos
Formal Blinded Taste Panels
Outcomes
• Nurseries, growers will soon
have new locally adapted
strawberry varieties for
production and marketing in
the Eastern US
• Consumers will have better
tasting strawberries
Impacts
• Production and marketing of
strawberries in Eastern US
will be improved
Questions?