Spain: IFAPA initiates two research projects that seek to improve the quality and productivity of strawberries and blueberries in Huelva
During the next two years, IFAPA researchers will analyze the behavior of 12 varieties of strawberries and five of blueberries grown in the province of Huelva in order to determine the measures that the red fruit sector should adopt to improve the quality of the product. , increase the productivity of agricultural plantations using sustainable farming systems and to combat the pests that affect them with greater efficiency.
The details of the two transfer and research projects that the IFAPA researchers have initiated this campaign and whose results will not be known until 2018, were presented during the Technical Conference that has been held today in the assembly hall of the Cooperativa Fresón de Palos .
The director of the IFAPA Center in Huelva, Juan Jesús Medina, and the head of the IFAPA Center Las Torres, Berta de los Santos, were in charge of detailing both the methodology to be applied and the main lines of research that will be undertaken. Research guidelines that, as pointed out by Medina, have been agreed with the sector of red fruits after having a prior meeting with the people in charge of Freshuelva.
Specifically, the technicians will carry out the field tests in the experimental farm 'El Cebollar' of IFAPA, which is located in Moguer, and in the plantations of the companies' Fresperiquito 'and' Fresgómez ', both also in Moguer, and in' Flor de Doñana ', in Almonte, as well as using the hydroponic facilities owned by Adesva de Lepe.
The twelve varieties of strawberries that will be used for the different research projects are: Charlene, Flaminia, Flavia, Fortuna, Marisol, Candonga, Marquis, Melissa, Primoris, Florida, Sabrina and Rociera. Regarding blueberries, although the varieties were not provided, the most representative ones will be used in the province.
The eight lines of work contemplated in the research project will focus on: analyzing whether it is possible to reduce the volume of irrigation used in farms without affecting the quality or production of red fruits; know the real incidence of Drosophila Suzukii in strawberries, raspberries and blueberries; determine the effectiveness of chemical and non-chemical techniques in the processes for soil disinfection; highlight the nutritional compounds of red fruits related to health; measure tolerance and resistance of strawberry varieties to diseases; to know the phytosanitary problems of the sector, where a survey is contemplated in which the agricultural technicians of the provincial plantations will have to participate, as well as to study the cycle of life of the crop of the strawberry.
In this last section, the environmental impact of strawberry cultivation will be quantified and evaluated, in order to achieve action guidelines that enable the sector to obtain a more competitive product using more sustainable agriculture.
During the Technical Workshop, the results of the experimental and research work that the IFAPA technicians had developed during the last 2015-2016 campaign, and which refer to the uniformity and efficiency of the irrigation markers in plots with pending; the use of different varieties as a water saving strategy in strawberry cultivation; to the effectiveness of ozone applications in the control of soil pathogens; to the influence of PGPR bacteria on the development of the strawberry plant, and other bacteria as biocontrol agents against Macrophomina phaseolina; to the biosaludable compounds of strawberries and other red fruits; to the DNA test carried out for the prediction of volatile compounds responsible for the aroma in strawberries; and the disinfestation of soils in strawberry cultivation.
Source: Agrodiariohuelva.es
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