Research Projects
Research Projects
The Cranberry Research Foundation (CRF) funded over $15,000.00 in research projects in 2008 and $14,800 in 2009. CRF makes an ongoing effort to strategically fund projects that have immediate impact on the ability of Massachusetts cranberry growers to grow cranberries. CRF focuses on projects that improve the sustainability of cranberry production while protecting the environment.
The 2008 research projects that CRF contributed funding are as follows:
Title: Efficacy screening with repeated annual applications of mesotrione on woody perennial weed species.
Principal Investigator: Hilary A. Sandler
Research Objectives:
- Evaluate mesotrione for control of sawbrier, dewberries, narrowleaved goldenrod (NLGR), yellow loosestrife (YLS) and cinquefoil by conducting repeated applications on the same plant populations at the same rates for at least 2 years.
- Cooperate with insudtry and regulatory officials to confirm the registration of mesotrione in Massachusetts for use on cranberry and to pursue a 24© label for chemigation.
Title: Cranberry fruitworm insecticide management: screening of new chemistries and spray timing based on crop phenology.
Principal Investigators: Anne L. Averill (PD) and Martha M. Sylvia
Research Objectives:
- Screen reduced-rick and OP-alternative compounds for cranberry fruitworm in the lab and field.
- Evaluate CFW egg deposition as a function of crop phenology (percent out-of-bloom and thus, fruit set) for ‘Ben Lears’ and ‘Stevens’.
- Evaluate spray timing based on crop phenology (percent out-of-bloom and thus, fruit set) using old and new chemistries.
Title: Monitoring Pollen Viability in Cranberry Beds.
Principal Investigator: Peter Jeranyama, UMASS Cranberry Station
Research Objectives:
- To evaluate in-field pollen viability of Howes and Stevens cranberry beds.
- Evaluate flower characteristics and incidence of umbrella blooms in Howes and Stevens cranberry beds.
- Monitor temperature, humidity and drought stress from flower initiation until fruit formation.
- Evaluate pollinator strength on a limited basis.
Title: Implementation of Periodic Mowing in the Management of ‘Stevens’: An Alternative to Sanding or Pruning?
Principal Investigators: Carolyn DeMoranville and Hilary Sandler, UMASS Cranberry Station.
Research Objectives:
- Evaluate ‘Stevens’ sites that are mowed and compare to unmowed sites, following yield over a four year period, conduct economic analysis.
- Compare mowing and pruning at Rocky Pond Bog. Investigate weed management protocols for mowed vine areas.
Title: Obtaining efficacy data for perennial weed control with the liquid formulation of Casoron (Casoron CS).
Principal Investigator: Hilary Sandler
Research Objectives:
- Provide efficacy data for the liquid formulation of Casoron in Massachusetts.
- Coordinate with cranberry weed scientists to gain additional efficacy data from other growing regions.
- Work with Chemtura to add cranberries to the Casoron CS label.
The 2009 research projects that CRF contributed funding are as follows:
Title: Implementation of Periodic Mowing in the Management of 'Stevens': An Alternative to Sanding or Pruning?
Principal Investigators: Carolyn DeMoranville and Hilary Sandler UMass-Amherst Cranberry Station
Research objectives:
- Evaluate 'Stevens' sites that are mowed and compare to unmowed sites, following yield over a four year period, conduct economic analysis.
- Compare mowing and pruning at Rocky Pond Bog. Investigate weed management protocols for mowed vine areas.
Title: Postemergence Dodder Control Options.
Principal Investigator: Hilary A. Sandler
Research Objectives:
- Establish field studies (Year 2) to evaluate various rates of Callisto for control of emerged dodder populations and seed production and viability.
Title: Preliminary screening of growth regulators to reduce or eliminate dodder flowers.
Principal Investigator: Hilary A. Sandler.
Objectives:
- Screen several growth regulator compounds at various rates for ability to negatively impact dodder flower development and viability.
- Evaluate vine injury and yield reduction potential of cranberry associated with application of the tested compounds.
- Pursue use and registration avenues as appropriate for any successful candidate product, including IR-4 trials, Section 18s or other use permits.
Title: Efficacy data for the use of Quinclorac for postemergence dodder control.
Principal Investigator: Hilary A. Sandler.
Objectives:
- Establish field studies to collect efficacy data for the use of quinclorac as a postemergence control option for dodder.
- Work with scientists in other cranberry growing regions to collate data and submit needed information to secure Section 18s or other use permits.