Progress 05/15/03 to 05/14/06
Outputs
Ozone has been shown to reduce microbial load as well as pesticide levels on the fruit. Levels of 1 ppm ozone with a contact time of 60 sec were the optimum for reduce microbial load and pesticide residues. Future research should examine the use of gaseous ozone as a means of reducing total microbial load and pesticide residues on wild blueberries which will be marketed fresh. Aqueous chlorine dioxide (ClO2) can be used as a sanitizer for controlling foodborne pathogens as well as yeasts and molds on blueberries. We expect that brief treatment intervals and degradation of ClO2 over time and by organic materials (blueberries) provide advantages to food processors who seek to preserve the appearance of their product and reduce ClO2 residues while enhancing food safety with novel sanitization procedures. NIR combined with PLS method is a feasible technique for detection of fruit fly maggots in Maine wild blueberries. The validation and testing of the method showed that
83% of unknown samples can be predicted correctly. This ratio is similar to the ratio of defect detection by human operators at lighted pick-over tables in the blueberry packing plants. Wild blueberries seem to potentate greater vasorelaxation in the aortas of the animals that are under oxidative stress, the hypertensive animals, as compared to hypertensive animals fed normal diets. Yellow sticky cards are an effective early warning monitoring technique for blueberry thrips. If deployed early, sticky cards will give growers at least a one-week warning and provide time for the application of the first insecticide. Pherocon AM traps are indicators of BMF population density and damage potential, but are not useful as a control tool, even at trap intervals of one trap every 5 ft. The two years of data do not support the initial hypothesis that blueberry maggot flies colonizing fields from high in the tree canopy would tend to land beyond a 75-100 ft perimeter, insecticide-treated zone at
the edge of the field. Results from the irrigation study suggest that lateral redistribution through rhizomes do not improve the water distribution of the irrigation system. Mummy berry disease is a significant problem to the blueberry industry and evaluating new fungicides to control this disease must remain a priority. We have not been very successful in raising leaf Mn concentrations through foliar or soil applications of Mn, there are indications that clones with higher leaf Mn concentrations have the potential for higher yields. Fruit Mn concentrations vary among clones and there is a positive correlation between leaf and fruit Mn concentrations. The mesotrione applications at the higher rate preemergence or at the low rate per and post emergence gave equivalent control to the hexazinone application. When these applications were combined with hexazinone additional suppression of both grasses and broadleaf weeds was obtained. Sulfur applications reduce weed pressure and are a good
cultural management tool to suppress weeds. Fields need to be soil sampled periodically and the pH reduced with sulfur to suppress weeds
Impacts
Research will provide wild blueberry growers the information they need to improve the quality of wild blueberry processing and the development of reduced risk pesticides will improve crop safety and maintain groundwater quality. All projects will improve the efficiency and competitiveness of the wild blueberry
Publications
- Kalea, A.Z. Lamari F., Theocharis A.D., Cordopatis P., Schuschke D. A., Karamanos N.K., Klimis-Zacas D. 2006. Wild blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) consumption affects the composition and structure of glycosaminoglycans in Sprague-Dawley rat aorta, Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry 17(2):109-116. Kalea A.Z., Lamari F.N., Theocharis A.D., Schuschke D.A., Karamanos N.K., Klimis-Zacas D.J. 2006. Heparan sulfate Glycosaminoglycan Composition and structure is affected by Dietary Manganese (Mn) in the Sprague-Dawley Rat Aorta Biometals, 19(5):535-46. Kalea A.Z., Schuschke D, Harris P.D. & Klimis-Zacas, D. 2006. Cyclo-oxygenase inhibition restores the attenuated vasodilation in manganese deficiency. Journal of Nutrition, 136(9):2302-2307. Lough-Guiseppe, K.F., F.A. Drummond, C. Stubbs, and S. Woods. 2006. The use of herbicides in managed forest ecosystems and their potential effects on non-target organisms with particular reference to ants as potential bioindicators.
MAFES, Tech Bull. No. 192. 62 pp.
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Progress 05/15/03 to 05/14/05
Outputs
1 ppm aqueous ozone was affective in reducing pesticide residues on wild blueberries.Hydrogen peroxide and 1 ppm aqueous ozone resulted in a greater than 2-log reduction of Enterobacter agglommerans and Pseudomonas fluorescens.Two formulations for a soy-wild blueberry burger were developed and their sensory and chemical characteristics are being investigated.Blueberry enriched diets fed to hypertensive animals seem to potentiate greater vasorelaxation than ones fed a control diet.Nitric oxide synthase inhibition resulted in greater vasorelaxation in animals fed the blueberry-enriched diets, while COX inhibition reduced vasodilation in the animals fed blueberry-enriched diets.Spring foliar application of 0.5 to 2 lbs Cu/acre (Cu Keylate (5%Cu), raised leaf Cu concentrations but had no effect on growth or yield of lowbush blueberry. The controls had an average leaf Cu concentration of 4 ppm rather than the proposed standard of 7 ppm.We conclude the Cu standard for
Vaccinium angustifolium Ait.is too high. When comparing raw spectra collected during 2002,2003 and 2004 seasons no significant differences were found related to season.Overall results in 2004 indicate that the USDA-KSU spectrometer provides better results than the UMaine spectrometer due to longer wavelength range.Spectral subtraction show differences between infested and non-infested samples and define the region of interest;1350-1700 nm.We discovered that synergistic effects of wild blueberries and cranberries have heath benefits and significant antimicrobial effects to control foodborne pathogens such as Escherichia coli O157:H7,Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella Typhimurium, and Staphylococcus aureus. Development of a chlorine dioxide pouch method for the sanitation and microbial control of Maine wild blueberries.Results indicated that the new chlorine dioxide (ClO2) method for microbial decontamination was achieved even in as short treatment time as 10 sec. A five-year study on
immigration patterns of blueberry maggot flies was concluded.The highest densities of flies emerge from pruned fields and low from fruit-bearing.In a trial conducted in 2004 and 2005, blueberry spanworm densities of up to 100 larvae/4 ft2 did not reduce stem density or flower-bud number on a stem or plot basis.From these results we suggest that only if blueberry plants are severely stressed will a reduction in potential yield result due to high larval densities during the prune year.This is the second year that we have documented detection of thrips on sticky traps prior to leaf curl formation in the field.Tribenuron-methyl was effective for bunchberry control when applied in September or October.It also controlled fern, vetch, and yellow loosestrife.Neither Evitol or Kerb were adequate in controlling sedges or grasses.Orbit and Pristine had lower levels of mummy berry blight and in one field, Serenade had lower levels of blight than the control. None of the fungicide or organic
treatments were significantly different from the control.There were no significant differences in the percentage of berries infected with post-harvest diseases among the different fungicide or organic treatments.
Impacts
Research will provide wild blueberry growers the information they need to improve the quality of wild blueberry processing and the development of reduced risk pesticides will improve crop safety and maintain groundwater quality. All projects will improve efficiency and competitiveness of the wild blueberry industry to compete in national and international markets.
Publications
- Collins, J. A. and F. A. Drummond. 2005. Blueberry flea beetle control, 2004A. Arthropod Management Tests, 30 (Electronic Journal). C5.
- Collins, J. A. and F. A. Drummond. 2005. Blueberry flea beetle control, 2004B. Arthropod Management Tests, 30 (Electronic Journal). C6.
- Collins, J. A. and F. A. Drummond. 2005. Blueberry maggot control, 2004. Arthropod Management Tests, 30 (Electronic Journal). C7.
- Collins, J. A. and F. A. Drummond. 2005. Blueberry maggot control with GF-120 NF fruit fly bait, 2004. Arthropod Management Tests, 30 (Electronic Journal). C8.
- Collins, J. A. and F. A. Drummond. 2005. Blueberry spanworm control, 2004. Arthropod Management Tests, 30 (Electronic Journal). C9.
- Collins, J. A. and F. A. Drummond. 2005. Blueberry thrips control, 2004. Arthropod Management Tests, 30 (Electronic Journal). C10.
- Collins, J. A. and F. A. Drummond. 2005. Red-striped fireworm control, 2004. Arthropod Management Tests, 30 (Electronic Journal). C11.
- Collins, J. A. and F. A. Drummond. 2005. Blueberry flea beetle control in the laboratory, 2004. Arthropod Management Tests, 30 (Electronic Journal). L1.
- Collins, J. A. and F. A. Drummond. 2005. Red-striped fireworm control in the laboratory, 2004. Arthropod Management Tests, 30 (Electronic Journal). L2.
- Norton, C., Kalea, A.Z. and Klimis-Zacas, D. 2005. The effect of whole blueberries on arterial biomechanical properties in the Sprague Dawley rat. Journal of Medicinal Food, 2004 (In press- accepted Aug 2004-expected publication date March 2005)
- Kalea, A.Z., Norton, C., Harris, P.D. and Klimis-Zacas, D. 2003. Whole wild blueberries suppress 1adrenergic agonist induced contraction in rat aorta, FASEB J. 17(4): A334, 2003.
- Norton, C., Kalea, A.Z., Harris, P.D. and Klimis-Zacas, D. 2003. Whole wild blueberries affect the vascular contractile machinery in the Sprague-Dawley rat, FASEB J. 16(4): A334, 2003.
- Kalea, A.Z. Lamari F., Theocharis A.D., Karamanos N.K., Klimis-Zacas, D. 2005. Dietary blueberries affect the composition and structure of rat aortic extracellular matrix (submitted for poster presentation in the FASEB-Experimental Biology 2005 Meeting, San Diego, April 2nd 2005)
- Peshlov, B, N., D. W. Donahue, F. A Drummond, and F. Dowell. 2005. Application of near-infrared spectroscopy and multivariate calibration for detection of infestation in small fruit. Presentation at PITTCON 2005, 27 Feb - 04 Mar, Orlando, FL. Peshlov, B, N., D. W. Donahue, F. A Drummond, and J. Collins. 2004. Near-Infrared Spectroscopy for larvae detection in wild blueberries. Presentation at PITTCON 2004, 6-11 March, Chicago, IL.
- Wu, V.C.H. and X. Qiu. 2005. Killing and suppressive effects of the combination of cranberries and wild blueberries on Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella Typhimurium, and Staphylococcus aureus. Poster Presentation at IAFP annual meeting, August, 2005.
- Wu, V.C.H. and X. Qiu. 2005. Killing and suppressive effects of the combination of cranberries and wild blueberries on Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella Typhimurium, and Staphylococcus aureus. Manuscript under preparation to submit to Journal of Food Protection.
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Progress 10/01/03 to 09/30/04
Outputs
Results of research on new disinfection technologies for wild blueberries have demonstrated a 3.7 log10 reduction in total aerobic plate count vs control with 1 percent hydrogen peroxide followed by UV. Incorporation of 5, 10 and 15 percent wild blueberry powder into raw ground beef patties stored at 3.5C resulted in a significant reduction in levels of a four strain cocktail of E. coli 0157:H7, which was inoculated onto patties prior storage. Fifteen blueberry samples collected from Maine processors were analyzed for nine different residual pesticides. Phosmet (0.01 to 0.144 ppm) and Chlorothalonil (0.09 to 0.025 ppm) were the only residues detected. Classifications of blueberries based on infestation using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy and Partial Least Squares classification algorithms show consistent prediction ratio of 80-85 percent successfully detected maggots 2 mm and larger. Blueberries affect the biomechanical properties of arteries by decreasing the maximum
force developed by the artery when challenged with the stress hormone phenylephrine. Blueberries elicit their effect on the vascular smooth muscle cell contractile machinery through an endothelium related pathway and may thus be responsible for blood pressure regulation. Wild blueberries alter the structure and sulfation pattern of glycosaminoglycans, important components of the arterial matrix and components of cell-membrane receptors. Thus wild blueberry action on the process of cardiovascular disease seems to be multifactorial, so it may have implications on blood pressure regulation but it may also affect the process of atherosclerosis. With the objective of improving irrigation water use efficiency in the blueberry growing region, existing data collection was increased with additional lysimeters, new soil water sensors and soil water mapping technology, rain gages, evaporation pans, and a new site was added on a fine textured soil. The most effective materials in 2004 efficacy
trials were: GF-120 N Fruit Fly Bait, Imidan 2.5 EC, Provado 1.6 F, and Aza-Direct (blueberry maggot fly); Imidan 2.5 EC, Mycotrol ES and Entrust 80 WP (blueberry flea beetle larvae); Admire 2 F (thrips); Intrepid 2 F and Mycotrol ES (red-striped fireworm); and Imidan 70 WP and 2.5 EC and SpinTor 2 SC (blueberry spanworm larvae). A study on the effects defoliation due blueberry spanworm feeding showed that stems sprouting as late as 9 July still had sufficient time to recover and produced a similar number of flower-buds as earlier emerging stems. The diurnal foraging behavior of the blueberry fly was investigated in three locations. The pattern observed was highly consistent. Flies forage mostly in the early afternoon and late evening, but not at night or in the early morning. Fungicide treatments indicate that Orbit and V116 were the most effective materials for the control of Monilinia blight. Sulfur was an effective organic treatment to reduce grasses in wild blueberry fields.
Impacts
Research will provide wild blueberry growers the information they need to improve the quality of wild blueberry processing and the development of reduced risk pesticides will improve crop safety and maintain groundwater quality. All projects will improve efficiency and competitiveness of the wild blueberry industry to compete in national and international markets
Publications
- Dalton T. J and D. Yarborough. 2004. The economics of supplemental irrigation on wild blueberries: A stochastic cost assessment. Small Fruits Review 3(1/2):73-86, MAFES 2571.
- Jensen K.I.N. and D. E. Yarborough. 2004. An overview of weed management in the wild lowbush blueberry - past and present. Small Fruits Review 3(3/4):229-255.
- Seymour, R. M., G. Starr and D. Yarborough. 2004. Yield and quality differences of lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) in irrigated and rain-fed conditions. Small Fruits Review 3(1/2):45-56.
- Starr, G., R.M. Seymour, F. Olday, F and D. Yarborough. 2004. Determination of evapotranspiration and drainage in lowbush blueberries (Vaccinium angustifolium) using weighing lysimeters. Small Fruits Review 3(3/4):273-283.
- Yarborough, D.E. 2004. Factors Contributing to the Increase in Productivity in the Wild Blueberry Industry. Small Fruits Review 3(1/2):33-43, MAFES 2569.
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Progress 10/01/02 to 09/30/03
Outputs
Post-harvest treatments on reduction of microbial populations on lowbush blueberries have shown 2% hydrogen peroxide produced a 2.74 and a 1.85 log reduction in total aerobic plate and yeast counts, respectively. Reductions were greater than treatments with 100-ppm chlorine, 1% hydrogen peroxide or 1% citric acid. Addition of 1 or 5% blueberry concentrates to Brain Heart Infusion broth containing acid tolerant E. coli 0157:H7 incubated at 37 C resulted in a 3 to 3.5 log reduction after 120 hours. When incubated at 5 C reductions of 0.6 to 1.2 logs were found after 350 hours. We are collecting IQF blueberry samples from five Maine processors and will begin pesticide residue analysis in December. We continue to develop new analytical methods for difficult pesticides and have recently procured a PLC/MS/MS system to enhance this process. Daily doses of 75 ml blueberry juice concentrate did not improve the vision acuity of volunteers with essentially normal vision.
Consumption of wild blueberries may affect cardiovascular events involving platelet aggregation. In comparison of consumption of solutions made from freeze dried blueberry or grape powders, in vivo antioxidant status appeared to be improved in blueberry consumers but not grape consumers. The percentage of maggot infestation prediction obtained by modeling of NIR spectra was comparable to the 70% - 80% of infestation prediction obtained during the previous field season. Modeling comparisons between spectra of fresh, frozen and thawed blueberries revealed that we can predict all groups equally well. Whole wild blueberries added to the diets of Sprague-Dawley rats prevent arterial contraction when the artery is challenged with an a1-adrenergic antagonist such as phenylephrine. Blueberries do not seem to affect membrane sensitivity. We also documented that blueberries affect the contractile machinery of the smooth muscle cell by acting through the endothelium possibly preserving NO
bio-availability. The action of blueberries on preventing contraction of the artery when the artery is challenged with a stress hormone may be essential for blood pressure regulation. SpinTor 2 SC, Confirm 2 F, Intrepid 2 F, and Entrust 80 W gave excellent control of blueberry spanworm larvae. Proclaim 5 SG and Calypso 480 SC also performed adequately. Entrust and Imidan worked well against strawberry rootworm adults. Admire 2 F and SpinTor 2 SC showed promise against blueberry thrips. Tests against blueberry maggot were inconclusive. Queen Bombus impatiens were observed which indicates this commercially reared species can successfully over winter in Maine. Fungicide sprays to prune year fields decreased leaf spot; in 2004, the effects of fungicide treatments for leaf spot and stem infections in prune year fields on disease incidence and yield in the crop year will be examined. Leaf Cu and Fe concentrations were raised by mid June foliar applications of commercial products to levels
above the current standards for Cu (7 ppm) and Fe (50 ppm) but had no effect on growth or yield suggesting that the standards are too high. Alternative herbicides did not perform as well as the standard, hexazinone.
Impacts
Research will provide wild blueberry growers the information they need to improve the quality of wild blueberry processing and the development of reduced risk pesticides will improve crop safety and maintain groundwater quality. All projects will improve efficiency and competitiveness of the wild blueberry industry to compete in national and international markets
Publications
- Hazen, R.A., A.A. Bushway, K. Davis-Dentici, and B.L. Calder. 2003. Effects of chlorine spray and freezing on the microbiological quality of Maine wild blueberries. Small Fruits Review. 2:87-94.
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