Performing Department
Western Agri Res Center
Non Technical Summary
The opportunities are ripe to expand small-fruit production in Montana. Demand for small fruits is growing in the state and nationwide. In part, the growth in demand is due to an increased interest in healthy eating. Berry-based "nutraceuticals" or "superfoods" have captured public attention and represent a growing market. In addition, local and regional food processors have expressed a strong interest in incorporating these fiuits into their products. However, current production is low. Producers lack the basic information concerning which types and varieties are adapted to grow in Montana and the economic potential of these crops. Research is needed to test the feasibility of these new crops. The short-term goal of this project is to determine which small fruits are productive and profitable. We are currently testing over 50 varieties of small fruits including elderberry, dwarf sour cherries, currants, Aronia, and Haskaps at four sites across the state. The mid-term goals are to provide this information to producers and consumers and investigate effects of management and environment on fiuit quality with a focus on antioxidant concentrations. Our findings will be communicated to fruit-grower and fruit-buyers through field tours and publications in a variety of media. The ultimate goal is to increase both the supply and demand for Montana fruits and contribute to the growth of this niche market. The success of the variety trials will be measured, in part, by identifying the most productive and profitable types. Educational and outreach goals will be measured using focus groups and surveys.
Animal Health Component
0%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
50%
Applied
50%
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
This project has four objectives: 1) Identify adapted and productive/profitable types and cultivars of berries and small fruits as trials reach maturity and assess end-use qualities and flavor; 2) Assess effect of environment and management practices on fruit production and phytonutrient concentrations; 3) Determine attributes of wild, native Haskap biotypes; and 4) Educate consumers, producers, and buyers.
Project Methods
Obj.1- Identify adapted and productive/profitable types and cultivars of berries and small fruits as trials reach maturity and assess end-use qualities and flavor.Cultivar evaluations consist of multisite trials of six fruit types and an elderberry trial conducted at the MSU-Western Agricultural Research Center (WARC) in S.W. Montana. In the multi-site trials, test orchards were planted at threesites across the state in 2015. Sites are located near urban centers (Kalispell, Missoula, and Bozeman). Across all sites, 28 varieties of six fruit types are being evaluated. This includes: 6 Saskatoon varieties(Martin, Smoky, Northline, Lee 3, Lee 8, and JB 30);4 Black Currant varieties(Titania, Blackcomb, Stikine, and Tofino); 2 Red Currant varieties (Rovada and HRON); 2 Aronia Varieties (Viking and McKenzie); 4 Dwarf Sour Cherry varieties (Romeo, Juliet, Carmine Jewel, and Crimson Passion); and 8 varieties of Haskaps (Indigo Gem, Aurora, Borealis, Sugar Mountain Blue, Boreal Blizzard, Solo, and two un-named lines from Oregon State University). Fifteen additional varieties are included in trials at WARC (41 total varieties).Harvest parameters include labor required for hand and mechanical harvest and effects of commercial spray treatments (ethylene-inhibitors such as 1-mcp) on preventing fruit drop, extending shelf life, and flavor. Trials at WARC will test effects in Haskaps. In each block, one of the plants in each variety will be randomly selected to receive the 1-mcp treatment at labeled rates and timing. The other two plants will serve as controls. Ripening (? Brix) and fruit drop will be measured until harvest. At harvest, one of the control plants and the treatment plant will be mechanically harvested with a modified reciprocal saw and the remaining control plant will be harvested by hand. The time (labor) required to harvest berries will be measured for each treatment and converted to consistent time per harvested, marketable berry weight. Sub samples (200 g.) of fruit harvested from each treatment will be evaluated for shelf life. Berries will be place in ½ pint container in refrigeration (4 °C) and monitored for desiccation, appearance, and flavor over a four week period.End-use parameters for fresh flavor will also be evaluated. We are partnering with Dr. Wan-Yuan Kou (MSU-department of Health and Human Development) to formally evaluate berry sensory (flavor) attributes and marketability among fruit species in these trials and among varieties within Haskaps, Cherries, and Saskatoons (i.e. fruits that have a potential fresh market). Fruit types and cultivars will continue to be evaluated for winter hardiness, pests and disease, phenology, and fruit production and quality following established methodologies (St. Pierre 2005). Eight to ten years of data will be needed to reach plant maturity and produce reliable performance evaluations. We currently have four years of data and four to five more years are required to: 1) sample environmental variability and climate effects on fruit cultivars; 2) determine mature yields and fruit qualities; and 3) determine harvest and end-use parameters.Obj. 2- Assess effect of environment and management practices on fruit production and phytonutrient concentrations.Environmental conditions including long sunny days and high elevations are likely increase phenolic concentrations in small fruit produced in Montana. This objective is divided into two sub-objectives: a) Evaluate Montana-grown small fruit qualities and relative quality compared to other regions and b) Assess the effects of management practices on phytonutrient concentrations and productivity in Haskap.Obj. 2a- Evaluate Montana-grown small fruit qualities and relative quality compared to other regions.Fruit samples will be collected from replicated trials. Samples from other growers and trials, including the NDSU-Carrington fruit evaluation, will also be collected and used for comparison. The concentration of total phenolics (a broad class of plant compounds with antioxidant properties) will be measured and compared among types and cultivars in the replicated trials. Preliminary results suggest total phenolic concentration varies among Haskap varieties and is strongly negatively correlated with yields. Continued analysis as plantings mature will allow more robust comparisons among varieties. Samples from other sites will be used to determine geographic or environmental correlates of this metrics of fruit quality following Neeser (2008).Obj. 2b- Assess the effects of management practices on phytonutrient concentrations and productivity in Haskap.Phenolic concentration in wild plants has been found to increase with water and nutrient (i.e. nitrogen) stress (Muller et al. 1987), two factors that are part of horticultural management practices. Trials, planted in 2017, will evaluate the effects of type and rate of soil fertility amendments and the water and light limitation on fruit production and phenolic production in Haskaps.Plants will be grown for three years using standard practices. Management stress treatments will be imposed for two seasons after the plants have reached maturity . Soil fertility treatments will includesynthetic mineral fertilizers applied at two rates. Water stress treatments will be applied between fruit set and harvest and will have two levels, 50% and 100% of estimated crop evapotranspiration using ETc estimates for blueberry that accounts for effect of climate and plant size (Holzapfel et al. 2004). Plots will also receive one of two shading treatments, full sun or 50% sun.The 16treatment combinations will be randomly assigned to plots laid out in a complete block design with three blocks. The effects of the treatments and their interactions on total yield, fruit size, and total phenolic concentration will be compared over two years.Obj. 3-Determine attributes of native, wild Haskap biotypes. Native, wild populations of Lonicera caerulea occur in N.W. Montana and Idaho Panhandle and may provide useful genetic resources for breeding and insights into the ecology and growing requirements for this plant. Plant populations have been located using herbarium records. Data from each site will be collected concerning the habitat in which these populations occur including soil qualities, elevation, slope, aspect, and associated vegetation. Wild plant biotypes (three individuals per site) be collected and propagated for further evaluation. Currently, we have sampled and propagated cutting from two populations. In the spring of 2019, samples from eight addition populations (sites) will be collected. Plant traits (vigor, yield, and flavor) will be evaluated in replicated trials at WARC and promising selections will be shared with established breeding programs in the U.S. and Canada.Obj. 4-Educate consumers, producers, and buyers?The results of these evaluations will be shared with stakeholders using a variety of formats and media. Workshops and field tours have and will continue to be held at the four sites. Project description and results are and will continue to be published on the WARC website (http://agresearch.montana.edu/warc/ ). In addition, results have and will be communicated through presentations at regional and national scientific and producer meetings. Project impacts on consumer knowledge and practice will be gaged using surveys. At the beginning of the project, 139 survey responses were collected to establish base-line stakeholder knowledge and interest.