Progress 01/01/03 to 12/31/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: An olive cultivar evaluation study was initiated at the Northeast MS Branch Experiment Station (Verona, MS) in 2008. Cultivars include: Leccina, Marino, Frantoio, Arbequino, Mission, Picholine, Pendolino, Taggiasca, Canino, Cailletier. All planted trees survived and appear healthy. Peach and nectarine cultivars at Pontotoc, MS had no fruit due to late spring frost. A new blueberry cultivar evaluation study was initiated in Verona, MS; all fruit was removed from plants to encourage plant and root development. The blueberry cultivar test in Pontotoc was terminated. In addition, an apple cultivar test at Pontotoc was terminated due to severe drought which resulted in high tree mortality. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Olive cultivars will serve as a high value crop for interested fruit growers and adapted cultivars will be identified. Blueberry growers will be able to select high producing cultivars of high quality fruit. Furthermore, growers will be able to grow insect and disease resistant cultivars that will increase production efficiency and less use of pesticides, thus protecting the environment.
Publications
- Kerdchoechuen, O. and F.B. Matta. 2008. Flower Sex Expression in Lychee is affected by Gibberellic Acid and Naphthalene Acetic Acid. International Journal of Fruit Sciences. 7(3): 33-40.
- Vielma, M.S., F.B. Matta, J.L. Silva. 2008. Optimal Harvest Time of Various Apple Cultivars Grown in Northern Mississippi. Journal of the American Pomological Society. 62(1): 13-20.
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Progress 01/01/07 to 12/31/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Blueberry cultivars performance showed that Brightwell and Ozark Blue had high vigor ratings and Magnolia, Peach River, and Misty has low vigor ratings. Tifblue out-yielded all cultivars tested. In Poplarville, Rahi, Ira, and Maru were high producers. Few producers were Desoto and Natureblue in 2005. Berry firms were highest for Tifblue and Austin and lowest in Montgomery. Gives pH of berries ranged from 11.2 to 14.9 for premier. Soluble solids ranged from 21 for Ochlocknee to 34 for Maru. PARTICIPANTS: No Participant information reported. TARGET AUDIENCES: No Target Audiences information reported. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: No Project Modifications information reported.
Impacts
Blueberry growers will be able to select various high producing cultivars of high quality fruit. In addition, growers will be able to grow adapted cultivars that are insect and disease resistant which will result in less use of pesticides that will lead to increased profits for growers.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/06 to 12/31/06
Outputs
In blackberries, alternated fungicide applications of pyraclostrobin plus boscalid, captan, and azoxystrobin in late summer and early autumn managed foliar and floral diseases occurring after heavy rains. In rabbiteye blueberries, leaf area index, percentage canopy cover, canopy width and height, stem diameter, and yield were increased in organic plants treated with worm castings. There were no differences in size, diameter, and degree brix of fruit. No pathogenic organisms from organic manure were found in the fruit. Results showed that blueberries can be grown successfully on heavy soils with forest waste that can increase soil acidity and worm castings are excellent organic manure for this crop.
Impacts
Disease management in blackberry plantings using fungicides will contribute to sustained yields and quality of fruit. Market value and increased economic returns for growers will result. Organic production techniques, such as, use of earth worm castings as manure can enhance blueberry production, particularly in heavy soils, without soil contamination. Such techniques contribute to sustained yield and increased economic returns for growers. In addition, no fruit contamination occurred indicating safe use of such manure.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/05 to 12/31/05
Outputs
Postharvest studies indicated that berry weight loss of Tifblue blueberries was reduced at 15 percent and 25 percent CO2; juice pH was not affected and soluble solid concentration (SSC) and SSC/TA ratio increased with time in storage. Berry firmness and appearance were highest at 15 to 25 percent CO2 and at 20 percent CO2 or greater berries had the least decay. Low pressure storage (LPS) of blueberry cv Premier showed that berries stored at 1.0 atmosphere lost less weight, were firmer, developed less decay and did not shrivel. LPS also resulted in low berry pH and SSC. In field studies, blueberry cultivars Pender, Montgomery, Gadkin and Ozark Blue were the most productive and had best overall performance.
Impacts
Knowledge on consumer acceptance of apples will allow growers to select cultivars that will sell, thus, increase their market profits which lead to greater economic returns for apple growers. Postharvest technology such as modified atmosphere storage with various gases, and recommendation on gas fumigation will extend shelf life and quality of blueberries, thus increase marketable yield which will result in increased profits to growers. Production techniques such as use of kaolin clay on blueberries will reduce production costs and increase returns.
Publications
- Sindoni, M.J., Matta, F.B., and Silva,J.L. 2005. Consumer Preference of Apples Grown in Northern MS. J.MS Academy of Science 50 (3):177-182.
- Silva, J.L., Marroquin, E., Matta, F.B., Garner, J.O. and Stojanovic, J. 2005. Physiochemical, Carbohydrate and Sensory Characteristics of Highbush and Rabbitege Blueberry Cultivars. J. Sci. Food Agri. 11:1815-1821.
- Matta, F.B., Arjona, H., and Garner, J.O., 2005. Studies on Postharvest Quality of Passion Fruit. MS Agri. Forestry Exp. Sta. Bulliten 1153.
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Progress 01/01/04 to 12/30/04
Outputs
Consumer preference tests of apples grown in N MS indicated that 'Improved Golden'/EMLA7 and 'Royal Gala'/MM111 were preferred compared to early harvested cultivars. 'Earligold'/EMLA7,'Williams Pride'/M7A, 'Jonafree'/Mark and 'Macspur'/M7A had a low acceptance rating.Postharvest studies of blueberries 'Tifblue' berries fumigated with 193 ppm SO2 and 18.8% CO2 lost less moisture and had less fruit decay compared to non-fumigated berries. Ozone at 15.5% increased berry firmness. Berry color was not effected by ozone or CO2, but SO2 changed colorfrom blue to red blue. A preference panel preferred berries stored under ozone. Kaolin clay increased fruit quality and yield of blueberries and reduced flower thrip infestation.
Impacts
Knowledge on consumer acceptance of apples will allow growers to select cultivars that will sell, thus, increase their market profits which lead to greater economic returns for apple growers. Postharvest technology such as modified atmosphere storage with various gases, and recommendation on gas fumigation will extend shelf life and quality of blueberries, thus, increase marketable yield which will resultin increased profits to growers. Production techniques such as use of kaolin clay on blueberries will reduce production costs and increase returns.
Publications
- Panicker, G.K., A.H. Al-Humadi, C.A. Sims, J.L. Silva and F.B. Matta. 2004.Animal and forest wastes on muscadine grape (Vitis rotundifolia)production, and water and fruit quality. Acta Hort. 659:657-661.
- J. D. Spiers, F.B. Matta, D.A. Marshall and B.J. Sampson. 2004. Effects of kaolin clay application on flower bud development, fruit quality and yield and flower thrip [Frankliniella spp. (Thysanoptera:Thipidal)] populations of blueberry plants. Small Fruits Review 3:361-373.
- Matta, F.B. and J. Cartegena. 2004. Response of rabbiteye blueberries to chemical thinning agents. MS Agri. Forestry Expt. Sta. Res. Rpt. 23(15):1-6.
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Progress 01/01/03 to 12/31/03
Outputs
This project was initiated in January 2003. Fruit crops evaluated this year were peaches, apples and blueberries. Apple cultivars tolerant to fire blight were Redchief (Campbell strain)/MMIII, Mutsu/M7A, Improved Golden/EMLAIII and Starkspur Compact Red Delicious/seedling. At harvest peach variety Correll had a fruit pH of 37.5, Brix 10.26, and total acidity of 0.59 compared to Spring Gold with pH of 3.68, total acidity of .62 and Brix of 9.98. Fruit weight was 89.1 g for Correll and 84.5 g for Spring Gold. Blueberry cultivars with highest overall adaptability were Yadkin, Ozark Blue, Montgomery and Tifblue.
Impacts
Fruit producers will be able to select adapted varieties capable of producing high yields of high quality fruit. Increased yields and high quality marketable fruit will result in greater economic return for producers. Efficient production systems will result in reduced production costs and increased returns. Postharvest technologies and recommendations will increase marketable yield and maintain fruit quality to facilitate sales, thus resulting in increased profits to growers.
Publications
- Spiers, J.D., Matta, F.B., and Marshall, D.A., 2003. Effects of kaolin clay particles film on Southern highbrush (vaccinium Corymbosum L.) blueberry plants. Small fruits review 2:29-36.
- Spiers, J.D., Matta, F.B., and Blair, J.S., 2003. Impact of kaolin particle films on flower strips associated with rabbiteye blueberry. Proceedings XXVIth International Horticulture Congress, Toronto, Canada.
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