38 results on '"Cary L. Rivard"'
Search Results
2. High Tunnel Coverings Alter Crop Productivity and Microclimate of Tomato and Lettuce
- Author
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Kelly M. Gude, Eleni D. Pliakoni, Brianna Cunningham, Kanwal Ayub, Qing Kang, Channa B. Rajashekar, and Cary L. Rivard
- Subjects
canopy/soil temperature ,growing degree-days ,hoophouses ,photosynthetic active radiation ,polyethylene (poly) ,season extension ,Plant culture ,SB1-1110 - Abstract
The implementation of high tunnels has shown to increase marketability and/or yield of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa) crops compared with open-field systems. These structures provide the opportunity to alter light intensity and spectral quality by using specific polyethylene (poly) films and/or shadecloth, which may affect microclimate and subsequent crop productivity. However, little is known about how specific high tunnel coverings affect these parameters. The overall goal of this study was to evaluate the impact of various high tunnel coverings on the microclimate and crop productivity of tomato and lettuce. The coverings included standard, ultraviolet (UV)-stabilized poly film (standard); diffuse poly (diffuse); full-spectrum clear poly (clear); UV-A/B blocking poly (block); standard + 55% shadecloth (shade); and removal of standard poly 2 weeks before initial harvest to simulate a movable tunnel (movable). Microclimate parameters that were observed included canopy and soil temperatures, canopy growing degree-days (GDD), and photosynthetic active radiation (PAR), and crop productivity included yield and net photosynthetic rate. Hybrid red ‘BHN 589’ tomatoes were grown during the summer, and red ‘New Red Fire’ and green ‘Two Star’ leaf lettuce were grown in both spring and fall in 2017 and 2018. Increased temperature, GDD, and PAR were observed during the spring and summer compared with the fall. The soil temperatures during the summer increased more under the clear covering compared with the others. For tomato, the shade produced lower total fruit yield and net photosynthetic rate (Pn) compared with the other treatments, which were similar (P < 0.001 and
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
3. Effect of High-tunnel Production Systems on the Preharvest Losses and Harvest Quality of ‘BHN 589’ and ‘Cherokee Purple’ Tomatoes
- Author
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Konstantinos G. Batziakas, Tricia Jenkins, Helena Stanley, Brianna M. Cunningham, Qing Kang, Cary L. Rivard, and Eleni D. Pliakoni
- Subjects
nutrition ,organic ,polytunnel ,solanum lycopersicum ,Plant culture ,SB1-1110 - Abstract
The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of high-tunnel production on preharvest losses and harvest quality of two tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) cultivars. Our results indicate that using high tunnels for tomato production can reduce the preharvest food losses for this crop compared with open-field production, as indicated by increased productivity and percent marketability during the span of three production seasons. The tomato harvest quality did not differ in terms of physical attributes. However, open-field–grown tomatoes demonstrated a significantly greater antioxidant capacity when compared with the high-tunnel–grown tomatoes.
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
4. Effect of Rootstock on ‘Tasti-Lee’ Tomato Yield and Fruit Quality in a High Tunnel Production System
- Author
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Tricia Jenkins, Jeremy Cowan, Cary L. Rivard, and Eleni D. Pliakoni
- Subjects
grafting ,phytochemicals ,solanum lycopersicum ,soluble solid content ,Plant culture ,SB1-1110 - Abstract
Grafting tomatoes with vigorous rootstocks can be used to increase yield in high tunnels without significant soilborne disease pressure. However, evidence suggests that grafting with high-yielding rootstocks could compromise the accumulation of primary and secondary metabolites. ‘Tasti Lee’ is a hybrid tomato that is bred to have a superior fresh-eating quality and higher lycopene content. The objective of this experiment was to investigate the yield and fruit quality impacts of grafting ‘Tasti Lee’ with rootstocks with ranging vigor and typical yield performance in high tunnels. Nongrafted ‘Tasti-Lee’ and ‘Tasti-Lee’ scion grafted onto ‘Maxifort’, ‘DRO141TX’, ‘Fortamino’, ‘Estamino’, and ‘RST-04-106-T’ rootstocks were trialed in a high tunnel in Kansas for three consecutive growing seasons (2018–20). The trials were arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Total yield, marketable yield, average fruit size, and distribution of fruit size classes were assessed. Red ripe tomato fruit were harvested to determine the soluble solids content, titratable acidity, lycopene content, vitamin C content, antioxidant capacity, and fruit firmness. ‘Maxifort’, ‘DRO141TX’, ‘Estamino’, and ‘Fortamino’ significantly increased marketable yield (kg/plant) by 31.5% to 47.0% more than nongrafted plants. In contrast, ‘RST-04-106-T’ did not lend any significant yield benefit. Regardless of the rootstock, grafting increased the marketable average fruit weight by 20 g. Grafting did not have significant effects on any of the fruit quality attributes assessed. However, the soluble solids content of fruit from plants grafted to ‘RST-04-106-T’ was 10% higher (P < 0.05) than that grafted to ‘Maxifort’, indicating that rootstock genotype can influence this quality trait. Our findings suggest that growers can graft the tomato ‘Tasti-Lee’ with select vigorous rootstocks to increase marketable yield without sacrificing fruit quality for high tunnel production.
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
5. Reducing Postharvest Losses of Spinach Stored at Nonoptimum Temperatures with the Implementation of Passive Modified Atmosphere Packaging
- Author
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Konstantinos G. Batziakas, Shehbaz Singh, Kanwal Ayub, Qing Kang, Jeffrey K. Brecht, Cary L. Rivard, and Eleni D. Pliakoni
- Subjects
food loss ,food waste ,map ,quality ,shelf life ,spinacia oleracea ,temperature abuse ,Plant culture ,SB1-1110 - Abstract
Postharvest losses of fresh produce constitute the biggest portion of the total food losses occurring in food chains globally. The main driver behind the postharvest losses of fresh fruits and vegetables is temperature abuse occurring mainly during transportation and storage. This is a particular problem for small-acreage producers, who frequently have limited access to postharvest handling resources like optimum refrigeration conditions. Passive modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) is a relatively inexpensive intervention that does not require specialized equipment and has demonstrated some potential for maintaining the quality and extending the shelf life of fresh produce stored in nonoptimum temperatures. Our objective was to determine the effect of passive MAP on the quality and storage life of spinach (Spinacia oleracea cv. Corvair) when stored in nonoptimum temperatures. Mature spinach leaves (≈320 g) were packaged in passive MAP bags, developed using the BreatheWay technology, and non-MAP produce bags and subsequently stored at 13 or 21 °C. Spinach physical and nutritional quality was evaluated throughout its storage life in terms of overall quality, water loss, leaf tenderness, surface color, chlorophyll content, electrolyte leakage, chlorophyll fluorescence, antioxidant capacity, total phenolic content, and vitamin C content. Spinach that was stored in MAP bags reached headspace equilibrium at ≈6% Ο2 and 11% CΟ2 at 13 °C and ≈4% Ο2 and 8% CΟ2 at 21 °C after 2 days of storage for both temperatures. The spinach stored in passive MAP at 13 or 21 °C demonstrated significantly higher overall quality during storage and 2 and 1 day longer storage life, respectively, when compared with the control. The spinach in passive MAP demonstrated a slower rate of yellowing and water loss during storage. The limiting factor for the spinach stored in MAP was decay due to condensation at 13 °C and yellowing at 21 °C. There were no statistical differences in the examined nutritional quality parameters between the spinach stored in MAP and produce bags. This study shows that passive MAP can be a valuable tool for reducing the food losses occurring in small-acreage fruit and vegetable operations that have limited access to cooling and refrigerated storage.
- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
6. Yield, Quality, and Performance of Organic Sweetpotato Slips Grown in High Tunnel Compared with Open Field
- Author
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Zachary N. Hoppenstedt, Jason J. Griffin, Eleni D. Pliakoni, and Cary L. Rivard
- Subjects
ipomoea batatas ,polytunnel ,vegetative propagation ,seed systems ,alternative crops ,local agriculture ,Plant culture ,SB1-1110 - Abstract
Sweetpotatoes (Ipomoea batatas) are nutritious, easily stored, and well adapted to a variety of organic farming operations. This widely consumed root crop is propagated through the use of cuttings, known as slips. Slips are commercially grown primarily in the southeastern United States, and growers in the central United States still have limited access to sweetpotato planting material. Production of organic slips in high tunnels (HTs) could be a profitable enterprise for growers in the central United States given the season extension afforded by controlled-environment agriculture, which could allow growers to diversify their operations and facilitate crop rotation. In trials conducted in 2016 and 2017 at two research stations in northeast and south central Kansas, a systems comparison was used to evaluate the yield and performance of organic sweetpotato slips grown in HT as compared with the open field (OF), with four to six replications at each location. Propagation beds planted with ‘Beauregard’ seed roots in 2016 and ‘Orleans’ in 2017 were established in HT and OF under similar cultural methods and planting schedules. Slips were harvested from both treatment groups and transplanted to field plots to investigate the impact of production system on transplant establishment and storage root production. Slip yield from HT was greater than OF at both locations in 2016 (P ≤ 0.001), but this trend was inconsistent in 2017. Slips grown in HT were on average 12% less compact (slip dry weight per centimeter length) with fewer nodes than their OF counterparts in 2016. Nonetheless, mean comparisons for vine length, stem diameter, and total marketable storage root yield were not significant between HT and OF treatments (1.7 and 2.1 lb/plant, respectively). Similarly, the number of marketable storage roots for HT and OF groups was comparable (3.4 and 3.8 storage roots/plant, respectively). Although more research is needed to evaluate the feasibility of slips grown in HT and to determine recommendations for seed root planting densities, results from this study suggest that HT organic sweetpotato slip production could be a viable alternative to OF production as it relates to slip performance. According to this study, HT production could be a useful mechanism for growing sweetpotato slips, which could provide regional growers more control over planting material. Furthermore, HT slip production could promote the adoption of an underused vegetable crop that can be grown throughout many parts of the United States.
- Published
- 2019
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
7. Effect of Light Characteristics on the Sensory Properties of Red Lettuce (Lactuca sativa)
- Author
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Kelly Gude, Martin Talavera, Audra M. Sasse, Cary L. Rivard, and Eleni Pliakoni
- Subjects
sensory lexicon ,visible light ,ultra-violet light ,hoop-house ,Chemical technology ,TP1-1185 - Abstract
Leafy green production in high tunnels (HTs) results in increased yields, improved visual quality, and extended production with polyethylene (poly) film and/or shade cloth coverings. However, altering visible and ultra-violet light with HT coverings may reduce phytochemicals, thus influencing plant pigmentation and taste. The objective of this study was to examine various HT coverings on the sensory perceptions, soil temperature, color, and anthocyanin accumulation of red leaf lettuce. The coverings included standard poly, standard poly with removal two weeks prior to harvest (movable), diffuse poly, clear poly, UV-A/B blocking poly (block), standard poly with 55% shade cloth, and the open field. A highly trained descriptive panel evaluated the samples using a scale from 0 (none) to 15 (extremely high) and determined a list of 20 sensory attributes. The color intensity attribute had the most differentiation between coverings, and the open field was higher (i.e., darker) than the others at 7.5 (p < 0.0001), followed by clear and movable coverings at 6.8, and the shade covering scored a 2. Strong relationships existed between both colorimetric (hue°) and anthocyanin analysis to panelist-based scores (R2 = 0.847 and 0.640, respectively). The initial crispness was similar for movable, standard, diffuse, and block coverings at 5.3 on average, which was higher than the open field at 4 (p < 0.01). The open field lettuce grew under cooler soil temperatures, which may have slowed down maturation and resulted in softer tissue. Based on this study, HT growers can implement specific coverings to cater to markets that value visual quality.
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
8. Effect of High Tunnel Coverings on Antioxidants of Breaker and Light Red Tomatoes at Harvest and during Ripening
- Author
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Kelly M. Gude, Channa B. Rajashekar, Brianna Cunningham, Qing Kang, Weiqun Wang, Myungjin Lee, Cary L. Rivard, and Eleni D. Pliakoni
- Subjects
spectral quality ,light intensity ,UPLC–MS ,hoop-house ,season extension ,Agriculture - Abstract
(1) Background: We assessed the impact of high tunnel coverings and harvest maturity (breaker and light red) on antioxidant capacity, ascorbic acid (AsA), lycopene, β–carotene, and phenolic compound (flavonoid and phenolic acid) accumulation in tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) at harvest and postharvest. (2) Methods: The two-year study in Olathe, KS, included six different coverings: a standard polyethylene (standard poly), diffuse poly (diffuse), clear poly (clear), UV-A/UV-B blocking poly (block), 55% shade cloth + standard poly (shade), and removal of standard poly two weeks prior to harvest (movable). (3) Results: Antioxidant capacity increased in fruit grown under the clear covering, compared to the shade covering (p < 0.05); similarly, AsA accumulation increased under the standard and clear coverings, relative to the movable and shade coverings (p < 0.001). Postharvest, at the point of consumption (POC), rutin increased in fruit harvested at light red stage versus breaker stage (p < 0.001), and chlorogenic acid increased in light red harvested fruit by 60% under movable, 55% under shade, and 43% under block covering than breaker harvested fruit (p < 0.01). (4) Conclusions: Based on these results, we conclude that both high tunnel covering and postharvest maturation alter antioxidant capacity, AsA, lycopene, and phenolic compound accumulation profiles by the POC.
- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
9. Grower Experience Affects Business Education Needs for a Profitable Specialty Crop Farm Operation in the Central United States
- Author
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Megan C. McManus, Cary L. Rivard, Londa Nwadike, and Candice A. Shoemaker
- Abstract
Beginning and small-scale growers face significant challenges to maintain their economic sustainability, including maintaining a sufficient level of income. Despite this growing problem, there is little information currently available on what kind of education and/or skills beginning farmers need in order to make their operations profitable. The primary objective of this study was to conduct a needs assessment based on grower feedback to inform business education curricula for beginning small-scale specialty crop producers. We also compared the business skills, resources and obstacles that experienced and beginning small-scale specialty crop farmers viewed as necessary to be successful. A mixed-methods design was conducted in Kansas and Missouri. Electronic survey (n=106) results suggested that farmers place high emphasis on all standard business education curricula. However, perception of resources surrounding these skills were mostly neutral to unsatisfied. Responses differed among the types of farmers, indicating years of experience, status and ownership can impact the perception of skill importance and satisfaction of resources. Furthermore, a series of four asynchronous and synchronous online focus groups (n=24) revealed themes on business skills, obstacles to profitability, resources and desired courses surrounding business education. These findings can help provide educators a better idea of what beginning small-scale specialty crop farmers need for business education. Curricula developed from this data could promote farmer business literacy and ultimately improve farm business viability.
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
10. Conservation systems influence on soil properties in pumpkin production
- Author
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Cathryn J. Davis, DeAnn R. Presley, Cary L. Rivard, Jason J. Griffin, and Peter J. Tomlinson
- Subjects
Soil Science - Published
- 2022
11. Supplemental UV-A and UV-B Affect the Nutritional Quality of Lettuce and Tomato: Health-Promoting Phytochemicals and Essential Nutrients
- Author
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Myungjin Lee, C. B. Rajashekar, Cary L. Rivard, Eleni D. Pliakoni, and Weiqun Wang
- Subjects
chemistry.chemical_classification ,Lutein ,biology ,Chemistry ,fungi ,food and beverages ,Lactuca ,General Medicine ,biology.organism_classification ,Lycopene ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Nutrient ,Chlorogenic acid ,Caffeic acid ,Food science ,Solanum ,Carotenoid - Abstract
UV radiation plays an important role not only in plant growth and development but also in the accumulation of essential nutrients and health-promoting phytochemicals in plants. The main objective of this study was to examine the effects of supplemental UV-A, UV-B, and UV-AB on the nutritional quality of lettuce (Lactuca sativa, cv. red leaf “New Red Fire” and green leaf “Two Star”) and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L., cv. BHN-589) grown in a greenhouse. Supplemental UV radiation was provided by UV lamps 5 - 6 days prior to harvest. Supplemental UV-A produced higher accumulation of total phenolic compounds and higher antioxidant capacity in red leaf lettuce compared to other treatments. Overall, supplemental UV-A produced a stronger response than other UV treatments and control in the accumulation of many phenolic compounds including luteolin-7-glucoside, quecetin-3-glucoside, and apigenin-3-glucoside in red leaf lettuce. However, UV-B and UV-AB had a negative response in the accumulation of many phenolic compounds including chlorogenic acid, luteolin-7-glucoside, quercetin-3-glucoside, and apigenin-3-glucoside in both red and green leaf lettuce varieties. In tomato fruits, supplemental UV-A had no effect on their total phenolic concentration. However, supplemental UV-B radiation for 3 h or UV-AB radiation for 9 h exposure produced higher total phenolic concentration in the fruits compared to other supplemental UV treatments. Supplemental UV-AB (3 hexposure) was generally more effective than other UV treatments in increasing the accumulation of a number of phenolic compounds including chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, chicoric acid, luteolin-7-glucoside, and other flavonoids in ripe tomato fruits. Supplemental UV-A produced higher accumulation of carotenoids including lutein and β-carotene than other supplemental UV treatments, while supplemental UV-AB increased the accumulation of lycopene in fully ripe tomatoes. With regard to the essential nutrients, green leaf lettuce was more responsive to the supplemental UV treatments than red leaf lettuce. All the supplemental UV treatments produced an increase in protein concentration in the leaves of green leaf lettuce. However, supplemental UV-AB produced a stronger response compared to the control and other UV treatments in increasing the accumulation of many nutrients including protein, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, and zinc in green leaf lettuce “Two Star”. Supplemental UV-treatments did not affect the accumulation of any essential nutrients in fully ripe tomato fruits. The results show that supplemental UV enhances the nutritional quality of lettuce in relation to both health-promoting phytochemicals and essential nutrients. Similarly, supplemental UV enhances nutritional quality in tomato fruits with higher accumulation of both phenolic compounds and carotenoids than does the control treatment.
- Published
- 2021
12. Reducing Postharvest Losses of Spinach Stored at Nonoptimum Temperatures with the Implementation of Passive Modified Atmosphere Packaging
- Author
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Jeffrey K. Brecht, Qing Kang, Cary L. Rivard, Shehbaz Singh, Konstantinos G. Batziakas, Eleni D. Pliakoni, and Kanwal Ayub
- Subjects
food loss ,food waste ,map ,quality ,shelf life ,spinacia oleracea ,temperature abuse ,Materials science ,biology ,Modified atmosphere ,Postharvest ,food and beverages ,Spinach ,lcsh:SB1-1110 ,lcsh:Plant culture ,Horticulture ,biology.organism_classification ,Pulp and paper industry - Abstract
Postharvest losses of fresh produce constitute the biggest portion of the total food losses occurring in food chains globally. The main driver behind the postharvest losses of fresh fruits and vegetables is temperature abuse occurring mainly during transportation and storage. This is a particular problem for small-acreage producers, who frequently have limited access to postharvest handling resources like optimum refrigeration conditions. Passive modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) is a relatively inexpensive intervention that does not require specialized equipment and has demonstrated some potential for maintaining the quality and extending the shelf life of fresh produce stored in nonoptimum temperatures. Our objective was to determine the effect of passive MAP on the quality and storage life of spinach (Spinacia oleracea cv. Corvair) when stored in nonoptimum temperatures. Mature spinach leaves (≈320 g) were packaged in passive MAP bags, developed using the BreatheWay technology, and non-MAP produce bags and subsequently stored at 13 or 21 °C. Spinach physical and nutritional quality was evaluated throughout its storage life in terms of overall quality, water loss, leaf tenderness, surface color, chlorophyll content, electrolyte leakage, chlorophyll fluorescence, antioxidant capacity, total phenolic content, and vitamin C content. Spinach that was stored in MAP bags reached headspace equilibrium at ≈6% Ο2 and 11% CΟ2 at 13 °C and ≈4% Ο2 and 8% CΟ2 at 21 °C after 2 days of storage for both temperatures. The spinach stored in passive MAP at 13 or 21 °C demonstrated significantly higher overall quality during storage and 2 and 1 day longer storage life, respectively, when compared with the control. The spinach in passive MAP demonstrated a slower rate of yellowing and water loss during storage. The limiting factor for the spinach stored in MAP was decay due to condensation at 13 °C and yellowing at 21 °C. There were no statistical differences in the examined nutritional quality parameters between the spinach stored in MAP and produce bags. This study shows that passive MAP can be a valuable tool for reducing the food losses occurring in small-acreage fruit and vegetable operations that have limited access to cooling and refrigerated storage.
- Published
- 2020
13. Effects of Various High Tunnel Coverings on Color and Phenolic Compounds of Red and Green Leaf Lettuce (Lactuca Sativa)
- Author
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Kelly M Gude, Eleni D Pliakoni, Channa B Rajashekar, Weiqun Wang, Kanwal Ayub, Qing Kang, and Cary L Rivard
- Published
- 2022
14. Descriptive Analysis and Consumer Acceptability of Locally and Commercially Grown Spinach
- Author
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Eleni D. Pliakoni, Marianne Swaney-Stueve, Konstantinos G. Batziakas, Cary L. Rivard, and Martin Talavera
- Subjects
030309 nutrition & dietetics ,Organoleptic ,Color ,Sensory analysis ,Toxicology ,Food Preferences ,03 medical and health sciences ,0404 agricultural biotechnology ,Spinacia oleracea ,Humans ,Consumer behaviour ,Flavor ,Mathematics ,0303 health sciences ,biology ,Descriptive statistics ,High intensity ,Consumer demand ,04 agricultural and veterinary sciences ,Consumer Behavior ,Kansas ,biology.organism_classification ,040401 food science ,Flavoring Agents ,Taste ,Odorants ,Spinach ,Food Science - Abstract
The consumer demand for locally grown fresh produce is continuously increasing in the United States. The high tunnel systems have been successfully utilized by small acreage growers for local production. Consumers are typically assessing appearance, freshness, flavor and aroma when purchasing produce. A common perception is that locally grown produce tastes better than nonlocal. However, there is not much evidence for supporting this claim. The objective of this study was to identify consumer acceptability and the sensory characteristics/differences of locally grown spinach in open field or in high tunnel and nonlocal commercially grown spinach. Spinach, Spinacia oleracea cv. "Corvair" was grown in open field and in high tunnel at Kansas State Univ. Olathe Horticulture Research and Extension Center (OHREC) in spring 2017 and the commercially grown spinach was purchased at a local retail store. A consumer study (n = 205) was conducted at Kansas State Univ., Olathe campus, and a descriptive sensory analysis was conducted by a highly trained descriptive analysis panel in the Center for Sensory Analysis and Consumer Behavior at Kansas State Univ., Manhattan campus, in spring 2017. The consumer test showed that high tunnel spinach scored significantly higher in overall liking (P < 0.0001), flavor liking (P < 0.0001), and texture liking (P < 0.05) when compared to open field and store purchased spinach. Descriptive analysis showed that locally grown spinach had higher intensity of attributes that indicate premium quality, such as green color and green/spinach flavors. Our results indicate that locally grown spinach was preferred from the consumers for its high organoleptic quality. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Locally grown spinach demonstrated high intensity in a set of sensory attributes that suggest a product with premium organoleptic quality. Correspondingly to these results, consumers liked spinach produced locally in high tunnels the most. The results of this study can be used for developing marketing strategies that are aiming specifically to the consumer niche that is seeking fresh produce of high organoleptic quality.
- Published
- 2019
15. Yield, Quality, and Performance of Organic Sweetpotato Slips Grown in High Tunnel Compared with Open Field
- Author
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Cary L. Rivard, Zachary N. Hoppenstedt, Eleni D. Pliakoni, and Jason J. Griffin
- Subjects
Yield (engineering) ,Quality (physics) ,Agronomy ,alternative crops ,vegetative propagation ,seed systems ,lcsh:SB1-1110 ,Horticulture ,local agriculture ,lcsh:Plant culture ,ipomoea batatas ,polytunnel ,Mathematics - Abstract
Sweetpotatoes (Ipomoea batatas) are nutritious, easily stored, and well adapted to a variety of organic farming operations. This widely consumed root crop is propagated through the use of cuttings, known as slips. Slips are commercially grown primarily in the southeastern United States, and growers in the central United States still have limited access to sweetpotato planting material. Production of organic slips in high tunnels (HTs) could be a profitable enterprise for growers in the central United States given the season extension afforded by controlled-environment agriculture, which could allow growers to diversify their operations and facilitate crop rotation. In trials conducted in 2016 and 2017 at two research stations in northeast and south central Kansas, a systems comparison was used to evaluate the yield and performance of organic sweetpotato slips grown in HT as compared with the open field (OF), with four to six replications at each location. Propagation beds planted with ‘Beauregard’ seed roots in 2016 and ‘Orleans’ in 2017 were established in HT and OF under similar cultural methods and planting schedules. Slips were harvested from both treatment groups and transplanted to field plots to investigate the impact of production system on transplant establishment and storage root production. Slip yield from HT was greater than OF at both locations in 2016 (P ≤ 0.001), but this trend was inconsistent in 2017. Slips grown in HT were on average 12% less compact (slip dry weight per centimeter length) with fewer nodes than their OF counterparts in 2016. Nonetheless, mean comparisons for vine length, stem diameter, and total marketable storage root yield were not significant between HT and OF treatments (1.7 and 2.1 lb/plant, respectively). Similarly, the number of marketable storage roots for HT and OF groups was comparable (3.4 and 3.8 storage roots/plant, respectively). Although more research is needed to evaluate the feasibility of slips grown in HT and to determine recommendations for seed root planting densities, results from this study suggest that HT organic sweetpotato slip production could be a viable alternative to OF production as it relates to slip performance. According to this study, HT production could be a useful mechanism for growing sweetpotato slips, which could provide regional growers more control over planting material. Furthermore, HT slip production could promote the adoption of an underused vegetable crop that can be grown throughout many parts of the United States.
- Published
- 2019
16. Reducing postharvest food losses in organic spinach with the implementation of high tunnel production systems
- Author
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Cary L. Rivard, Helena Stanley, Asterios G. Batziakas, Eleni D. Pliakoni, Jeffrey K. Brecht, Konstantinos G. Batziakas, Kansas State University, Centre of Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH), and University of Florida [Gainesville] (UF)
- Subjects
0106 biological sciences ,Spinacia ,Environmental Engineering ,Preharvest factors ,[SDV.SA.AGRO]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Agricultural sciences/Agronomy ,Shelf life ,01 natural sciences ,Leafy greens ,Spinacia oleracea ,Quality characteristics ,Water content ,2. Zero hunger ,biology ,food and beverages ,Food security ,04 agricultural and veterinary sciences ,Protected agriculture ,biology.organism_classification ,Horticulture ,040103 agronomy & agriculture ,Postharvest ,0401 agriculture, forestry, and fisheries ,Spinach ,Environmental science ,Storage quality ,Preharvest ,Respiration rate ,Agronomy and Crop Science ,010606 plant biology & botany - Abstract
International audience; Fresh produce constitutes 44% by weight of the global food losses and waste. Postharvest losses of fresh produce are closely related to the preharvest field conditions during growth. In the Central US, many small acreage vegetable growers are utilizing high tunnels, which have been successful in increasing the yield of several crops. Little is known about the effect of this production system on the postharvest losses. This study tested the hypothesis that the production system will affect the postharvest losses of organic spinach (Spinacia oleracea, “Corvair”) when stored at 3 or 13 °C. Comparative open field and high tunnel trials were conducted from 2015 to 2017. Postharvest losses were evaluated with regard to the spinach quality characteristics and shelf life. During storage at 3 °C, there were no major quality differences between the spinach grown in the two production systems. During storage at 13 °C, in both years, spinach grown in the high tunnels had 1.2 to 2.3% higher water content than spinach grown in the open field. In the second year, high tunnel spinach stored at 13 °C had a lower respiration rate (P
- Published
- 2020
17. Integration of system phenotypes in microbiome networks to identify candidate synthetic communities: a study of the grafted tomato rhizobiome
- Author
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Ravin Poudel, Cary L. Rivard, L. Gomez-Montano, Megan M. Kennelly, Ari Jumpponen, and Karen A. Garrett
- Subjects
Rhizosphere ,Taxon ,Abundance (ecology) ,business.industry ,Species richness ,Microbiome ,Internal transcribed spacer ,Biology ,Rootstock ,business ,Phenotype ,Biotechnology - Abstract
Understanding factors influencing microbial interactions, and designing methods to identify key taxa, are complex challenges for achieving microbiome-based agriculture. Here we study how grafting and the choice of rootstock influence root-associated fungal communities in a grafted tomato system. We studied three tomato rootstocks (BHN589, RST-04-106 and Maxifort) grafted to a BHN589 scion and profiled the fungal communities in the endosphere and rhizosphere by sequencing the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS2). The data provided evidence for a rootstock effect (explaining ~2% of the total captured variation, p < 0.01) on the fungal community. Moreover, the most productive rootstock, Maxifort, supported greater fungal species richness than the other rootstocks or controls. We then constructed a phenotype-OTU network analysis (PhONA) using an integrated machine learning and network analysis approach based on sequence-based fungal Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) and associated tomato yield data. PhONA provides a graphical framework to select a testable and manageable number of OTUs to support microbiome-enhanced agriculture. We identified differentially abundant OTUs specific to each rootstock in both endosphere and rhizosphere compartments. Subsequent analyses using PhONA identified OTUs that were directly associated with tomato fruit yield, and others that were indirectly linked to yield through their links to these OTUs. Fungal OTUs that are directly or indirectly linked with tomato yield may represent candidates for synthetic communities to be explored in agricultural systems.IMPORTANCEThe realized benefits of microbiome analyses for plant health and disease management are often limited by the lack of methods to select manageable and testable synthetic microbiomes. We evaluated the composition and diversity of root-associated fungal communities from grafted tomatoes. We then constructed a phenotype-OTU network analysis (PhONA) using these linear and network models. By incorporating yield data in the network, PhONA identified OTUs that were directly predictive of tomato yield, and others that were indirectly linked to yield through their links to these OTUs. Follow-up functional studies of taxa associated with effective rootstocks, identified using approaches like PhONA, could support the design of synthetic fungal communities for microbiome-based crop production and disease management. The PhONA framework is flexible for incorporation of other phenotypic data and the underlying models can readily be generalized to accommodate other microbiome or other ‘omics data.
- Published
- 2019
18. Day-neutral Strawberries for High Tunnel Production in the Central United States
- Author
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Eleni D. Pliakoni, Sara E. Gragg, Petros Xanthopoulos, Kelly Gude, Cary L. Rivard, and Kimberly Oxley
- Subjects
0106 biological sciences ,0404 agricultural biotechnology ,Agronomy ,Crop yield ,Environmental science ,Production (economics) ,04 agricultural and veterinary sciences ,Cultivar ,Horticulture ,040401 food science ,01 natural sciences ,010606 plant biology & botany - Abstract
Specialty crop production in high tunnel systems has greatly expanded in the central United States. Strawberry (Fragaria ×ananassa) may be a viable high-value crop for high tunnel growers, but fall-planted production systems have a high opportunity cost in regard to winter production space. This study investigates the feasibility of spring-planted day-neutral strawberry cultivars in a high tunnel production system in Kansas. Furthermore, the goals of this report are to identify day-neutral cultivars that are successful in this production system and investigate the utility of evaporative cooling (EC), as they relate to fruit yield and marketability as well as incidence of gray mold (caused by Botrytis cinerea). High tunnel trials were conducted at the Kansas State University Olathe Horticulture Research and Extension Center during 2014 and 2015. Six commercially available cultivars were evaluated: Albion, Evie 2, Monterey, Portola, San Andreas, and Seascape in both years. Mature fruit (90% to 100% red) were harvested twice weekly for total and marketable (fruit with no defects) fruit yield. The results indicate that ‘Portola’ had the highest total fruit weight in both years at 0.60 and 0.51 kg/plant, respectively, and was significantly higher than ‘Monterey’, ‘Albion’, and ‘San Andreas’ in both years (P < 0.05). In 2014, ‘Portola’, ‘San Andreas’, and ‘Albion’ produced the largest total fruit average weight (grams/fruit) and were significantly larger than ‘Seascape’ and ‘Evie 2’ (P < 0.05). In 2015, ‘Portola’ had significantly larger fruit than all the other cultivars except San Andreas (P < 0.05). Marketability percent by weight ranged from 76.5% to 88.6% across both years and the highest marketability was observed with ‘Albion’ (89% and 83%) and ‘Monterey’ (85% and 84%) in 2014 and 2015, respectively. An examination of fruit production during the early, mid-, and late seasons was used to determine seasonal dynamics of each cultivar and the high tunnel system. The overall trend was that total fruit weight was highest during the midseason and total average fruit weight was largest in the early season. However, ‘San Andreas’ and ‘Seascape’ had similar levels of production between the early and midseason and had the lowest level of production in the midseason, particularly in the 2015 trial. In our trials, the use of EC did not affect fruit weight or gray mold incidence on strawberry fruit. Based on the crop productivity observed in our study, this production system has the potential to extend the season for strawberry growers in the central United States or provide a high-value rotational crop for existing high tunnel growers that does not require winter production space.
- Published
- 2018
19. Spectral Blocking of Solar Radiation in High Tunnels by Poly Covers: Its Impact on Nutritional Quality Regarding Essential Nutrients and Health-Promoting Phytochemicals in Lettuce and Tomato
- Author
-
Cary L. Rivard, Eleni D. Pliakoni, Weiqun Wang, Myungjin Lee, Kelly Gude, and C. B. Rajashekar
- Subjects
Lutein ,Lactuca ,spectral quality ,Plant Science ,Horticulture ,SB1-1110 ,Crop ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Secondary metabolism ,Carotenoid ,chemistry.chemical_classification ,high tunnel ,biology ,fungi ,essential nutrients ,phytochemicals ,poly cover ,Plant culture ,food and beverages ,biology.organism_classification ,Lycopene ,chemistry ,Solanum ,Essential nutrient - Abstract
Spectral characteristics of solar radiation have a major role in plant growth and development and the overall metabolism, including secondary metabolism, which is important for the accumulation of health-promoting phytochemicals in plants. The primary focus of this study was to determine the effect of spectral characteristics of solar radiation on the nutritional quality of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L., cv. red leaf ‘New Red Fire’ and green leaf ‘Two Star’ and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L., cv. BHN-589) grown in high tunnels in relation to the accumulation of essential nutrients and phytochemicals. Solar spectrum received by crops was modified using photo-selective poly covers. Treatments included commonly used standard poly, luminescence poly (diffuse poly), clear poly, UV blocking poly, exposure of crops grown under the standard poly to full sun 2 weeks prior to harvest (akin to movable tunnel), and 55% shade cloth on the standard poly. All the poly covers and shade cloth reduced the PAR levels in the high tunnels, and the largest reduction was by the shade cloth, which reduced the solar PAR by approximately 48%. Clear poly allowed the maximum UV-A and UV-B radiation, while standard poly allowed only a small fraction of the solar UV-A and UV-B (between 15.8% and 16.2%). Clear poly, which allowed a higher percentage of solar UV-A (60.5%) and UV-B (65%) than other poly covers, increased the total phenolic concentration and the antioxidant capacity in red leaf lettuce. It also increased the accumulation of flavonoids, including quercetin-3-glucoside, luteolin-7-glucoside, and apigenin-3-glucoside in red leaf lettuce, compared to the standard poly. Brief exposure of crops grown in high tunnels to full sun prior to harvest produced the largest increase in the accumulation of quercetin-3-glucoside, and it also resulted in an increase in luteolin-7-glucoside and apigenin-3-glucoside in red leaf lettuce. Thus, clear poly and brief exposure of red leaf lettuce to the full sun, which can increase UV exposure to the plants, produced a positive impact on its nutritional quality. In contrast, shade cloth which allowed the lowest levels of solar PAR, UV-A and UV-B relative to the other poly covers had a negative impact on the accumulation of the phenolic compounds in red leaf lettuce. However, in green leaf lettuce, luminesce poly, clear poly, UV-block poly, and shade treatments increased the accumulation of many essential nutrients, including protein, magnesium, and sulfur in green leaf lettuce compared to the standard poly. Poly cover treatments including shade treatment did not affect the accumulation of either carotenoids (lutein, β-carotene, and lycopene) or essential nutrients in mature tomato fruits. The results show that clear poly cover can enhance the accumulation of many phenolic compounds in red leaf lettuce, as does the brief exposure of the crop to the full sun prior to harvest. Thus, UV radiation plays an important role in the accumulation of phenolic compounds in red leaf lettuce while the overall spectral quality of solar radiation has a significant influence on the accumulation of essential nutrients in green leaf lettuce.
- Published
- 2021
20. Effect of Light Characteristics on the Sensory Properties of Red Lettuce (Lactuca sativa)
- Author
-
Eleni D. Pliakoni, Kelly Gude, Cary L. Rivard, Martin Talavera, and Audra M. Sasse
- Subjects
ultra-violet light ,Health (social science) ,Green production ,biology ,Chemistry ,Chemical technology ,Ultra violet light ,Color intensity ,sensory lexicon ,visible light ,hoop-house ,Lactuca ,Sensory system ,TP1-1185 ,Plant Science ,biology.organism_classification ,Health Professions (miscellaneous) ,Microbiology ,Article ,Horticulture ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Soil temperature ,Anthocyanin ,Food Science - Abstract
Leafy green production in high tunnels (HTs) results in increased yields, improved visual quality, and extended production with polyethylene (poly) film and/or shade cloth coverings. However, altering visible and ultra-violet light with HT coverings may reduce phytochemicals, thus influencing plant pigmentation and taste. The objective of this study was to examine various HT coverings on the sensory perceptions, soil temperature, color, and anthocyanin accumulation of red leaf lettuce. The coverings included standard poly, standard poly with removal two weeks prior to harvest (movable), diffuse poly, clear poly, UV-A/B blocking poly (block), standard poly with 55% shade cloth, and the open field. A highly trained descriptive panel evaluated the samples using a scale from 0 (none) to 15 (extremely high) and determined a list of 20 sensory attributes. The color intensity attribute had the most differentiation between coverings, and the open field was higher (i.e., darker) than the others at 7.5 (p < 0.0001), followed by clear and movable coverings at 6.8, and the shade covering scored a 2. Strong relationships existed between both colorimetric (hue°) and anthocyanin analysis to panelist-based scores (R2 = 0.847 and 0.640, respectively). The initial crispness was similar for movable, standard, diffuse, and block coverings at 5.3 on average, which was higher than the open field at 4 (p < 0.01). The open field lettuce grew under cooler soil temperatures, which may have slowed down maturation and resulted in softer tissue. Based on this study, HT growers can implement specific coverings to cater to markets that value visual quality.
- Published
- 2021
21. Leaf removal reduces scion adventitious root formation and plant growth of grafted tomato
- Author
-
Lani J. Meyer, Megan M. Kennelly, Eleni D. Pliakoni, and Cary L. Rivard
- Subjects
0106 biological sciences ,Root formation ,Plant growth ,fungi ,food and beverages ,Biomass ,Humidity ,04 agricultural and veterinary sciences ,Horticulture ,Biology ,Grafting ,01 natural sciences ,Poor quality ,040501 horticulture ,Agronomy ,Shoot ,0405 other agricultural sciences ,Rootstock ,010606 plant biology & botany - Abstract
Although grafting tomato with vigorous rootstocks provides the potential for higher yield, grower adoption of this technology has been relatively slow in the United States. One way to help facilitate this transition is to develop simple propagation techniques that yield high quality grafted transplants for small-batch propagators to graft their own plants. Formation of adventitious roots (AR) from the scion can result in poor quality plants and loss of rootstock function/benefit. In this study, a series of greenhouse experiments was performed to investigate how leaf removal (LR) during the grafting procedure affects AR formation and plant growth post-grafting. We applied three treatments, 0% LR, 50% LR, and 90% LR, to the ‘BHN 589’ scion and then grafted them onto ‘Maxifort’ rootstock. The experiment included 4 replicated blocks and was conducted in three different healing chambers. Our results indicate that both 50% and 90% LR significantly decreased AR formation in the low (68% RH) humidity chamber, but only 90% LR reduced AR formation in the chambers with high (95% RH) humidity (P < 0.05). Using a second experimental design, we measured plant growth (height, leaf area, shoot and root biomass, stem diameter, and incidence of flowers) 24 to 52 days post-grafting to understand how leaf removal affects transplant quality (as defined by Vu et al., 2013), growth, and development. Plants with 90% LR had significantly lower leaf area and shoot biomass at day 24, but by day 52, only had reduced stem diameter and height compared to 0% LR. Leaf removal during grafting may be a viable method for propagating high quality, grafted transplants and our report indicates that the desired product (plant for sale vs. plant for use) could dictate the use of 50% vs. 90% LR as the higher leaf removal level reduced transplant quality at the estimated time of sale, but did not affect subsequent plant growth.
- Published
- 2017
22. Building a new graduate program as a model for collaboration between institutions and industry
- Author
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E. D. Pliakoni, Cary L. Rivard, C. A. Shoemaker, and R. Janke
- Subjects
New graduate ,Engineering management ,Engineering ,Higher education ,Food industry ,business.industry ,Agricultural education ,Food processing ,Horticulture ,Urban agriculture ,business - Published
- 2016
23. The Growing Growers Farmer Education program
- Author
-
M.J. Fusselman, Cary L. Rivard, K.M. Nixon, and M.A. Bates
- Subjects
Horticulture - Published
- 2016
24. Grafting Tomato with Interspecific Rootstock to Manage Diseases Caused by Sclerotium rolfsii and Southern Root-Knot Nematode
- Author
-
Mary M. Peet, Cary L. Rivard, Frank J. Louws, and Suzanne O’Connell
- Subjects
Agronomy ,biology ,Crop yield ,Root-knot nematode ,Blight ,Plant Science ,Cultivar ,Plant disease resistance ,Solanum ,biology.organism_classification ,Rootstock ,Agronomy and Crop Science ,Terra incognita - Abstract
Southern blight (Sclerotium rolfsii) and root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) cause severe damage to fresh-market tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) throughout the southeastern United States. Grafting is an emerging technology in U.S. tomato production, and growers require information regarding the resistance characteristics conferred by rootstocks. In this study, southern blight (SB) and root-knot nematodes (RKN) were effectively managed using interspecific hybrid rootstocks. During 2007 and 2008, field trials were carried out at two locations that had soils naturally infested with S. rolfsii. At the end of the growing seasons, the mean SB incidence of nongrafted plants was 27 and 79% at the two sites. SB incidence among plants grafted onto rootstock cultivars Big Power (one location only), Beaufort, and Maxifort ranged from 0 to 5%, and area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) values were lower than for nongrafted and self-grafted controls (P < 0.01). At one location, soils were naturally infested with RKN, and all three rootstocks reduced RKN AUDPC and RKN soil populations at first harvest (P < 0.01). Big Power was particularly effective at reducing RKN galling and RKN soil populations at final fruit harvest (P < 0.01). Fruit yield was higher when resistant rootstocks were utilized (P < 0.05), and in our study grafting was effective at maintaining crop productivity in soils infested with S. rolfsii and M. incognita.
- Published
- 2019
25. Grafting Tomato to Manage Bacterial Wilt Caused by Ralstonia solanacearum in the Southeastern United States
- Author
-
Mary M. Peet, Suzanne O’Connell, Frank J. Louws, Cary L. Rivard, and R. M. Welker
- Subjects
Ralstonia solanacearum ,Bacterial wilt ,fungi ,food and beverages ,Plant Science ,Biology ,biology.organism_classification ,Grafting ,Horticulture ,Agronomy ,Crop loss ,Solanum ,Disease progress ,Rootstock ,Agronomy and Crop Science - Abstract
Bacterial wilt, caused by Ralstonia solanacearum, can result in severe losses to tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) growers in the southeastern United States, and grafting with resistant rootstocks may be an effective strategy for managing this disease. However, R. solanacearum populations maintain considerable diversity, and little information is known regarding the efficacy of commercially available rootstocks to reduce bacterial wilt incidence and subsequent crop loss in the United States. In this study, tomato plants grafted onto ‘Dai Honmei’ and ‘RST-04-105-T’ rootstocks had significantly lower area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) values compared with nongrafted plants (P < 0.05). Across three locations in North Carolina, final bacterial wilt incidence for non- and self-grafted plants was 82 ± 14 to 100%. In contrast, bacterial wilt incidence for the grafted plants was 0 to 65 ± 21%. Final bacterial wilt incidence of plants grafted with Dai Honmei rootstock was 0 and 13 ± 3% at two locations in western North Carolina but 50 ± 3% at a third site in eastern North Carolina. Similarly, grafting onto RST-04-105-T rootstock significantly reduced AUDPC values at two of the three locations (P < 0.05) compared with that of the nongrafted plants, but performed poorly at the third site. Total fruit yields were significantly increased by grafting onto resistant rootstocks at all three sites (P < 0.05). Regression analyses indicated that yield was significantly negatively correlated with bacterial wilt AUDPC values (R2 was 0.4048 to 0.8034), and the use of resistant rootstocks enabled economically viable tomato production in soils naturally infested with R. solanacearum.
- Published
- 2019
26. Quality of day-neutral strawberries grown in a high tunnel system
- Author
-
Kelly Gude, Eleni D. Pliakoni, Helena Stanley, Cary L. Rivard, Qing Kang, and Brianna Cunningham
- Subjects
0106 biological sciences ,0301 basic medicine ,Plasticulture ,Growing season ,Titratable acid ,Horticulture ,Season extension ,Biology ,01 natural sciences ,03 medical and health sciences ,030104 developmental biology ,Postharvest ,Cultivar ,Respiration rate ,Water content ,010606 plant biology & botany - Abstract
Spring-planted, day-neutral strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) production within a high tunnel system could provide growers with season extension and enhanced postharvest quality. This study identified which spring-planted, day-neutral strawberry cultivars are successful in a plasticulture, high tunnel system, while investigating the utility of an evaporative cooling system (EC), with regard to quality at harvest and throughout storage. The trial was conducted at Kansas State University Olathe Horticulture Research and Extension Center (OHREC) during the 2014 and 2015 growing seasons. Six commercially-available cultivars were evaluated, ‘Albion’, ‘Evie 2’, ‘Monterey’, ‘Portola’, ‘San Andreas’, and ‘Seascape’. Mature fruit (90–100 % red) were harvested twice weekly and three harvests were evaluated for the quality. Respiration rate, moisture content, and overall visual quality, using a scale from 5 (excellent) to 1 (poor), were monitored every 24 h. Flesh firmness, color, soluble solids content (SSC), and titratable acidity (TA) were evaluated at harvest and every other day throughout storage. Nutritional quality (total phenolic and antioxidant capacity) was evaluated at harvest. ‘Monterey’, ‘Seascape’, and ‘Albion’ had the highest SSC (P
- Published
- 2021
27. Scion Shoot Removal and Rootstock Cultivar Affect Vigor and Early Yield of Grafted Tomatoes Grown in High Tunnels in the Central United States
- Author
-
Cary L. Rivard, Megan M. Kennelly, Sarah A. Masterson, and Rhonda R. Janke
- Subjects
0106 biological sciences ,Crop yield ,fungi ,food and beverages ,04 agricultural and veterinary sciences ,Horticulture ,Biology ,Grafting ,01 natural sciences ,Yield (wine) ,Shoot ,Botany ,040103 agronomy & agriculture ,0401 agriculture, forestry, and fisheries ,Cultivar ,Rootstock ,010606 plant biology & botany ,Heirloom tomato - Abstract
Grafting with interspecific hybrid rootstock is effective for tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) growers looking to reduce soilborne disease in the southeastern United States. However, production with grafted tomato has not been tested in the central United States, where soilborne disease pressure is low. Small-acreage growers would like to produce grafted plants themselves, but many have difficulty with propagation due to water stress in the scion postgrafting and/or high temperatures. Removing the upper portion of the scion to reduce leaf area during the grafting procedure [shoot removal (SR)] could help to reduce water stress postgrafting, but there are no data available that indicate what effect this practice has on tomato yield. Five high tunnel trials and one open-field trial were conducted in 2011 and 2012 to investigate potential yield effects related to the use of two rootstocks and SR during the grafting procedure. The implementation of grafting with rootstocks significantly increased fruit yield in five of the six trials (P < 0.05). The average yield increases by ‘Maxifort’ and ‘Trooper Lite’ tomato rootstocks were 53% and 51%, respectively, across all trials. SR during the grafting process may penalize tomato yield and our results suggest that rootstock vigor plays a role. Plants grafted with ‘Maxifort’ across all of the trials consistently increased shoot biomass in four of five of the high tunnel trials compared with nongrafted plants (P < 0.05), whereas plants grafted with ‘Trooper Lite’ rootstock increased shoot biomass in one trial. Similarly, the SR method penalized the total fruit yield of plants grafted with ‘Trooper Lite’ more often than those that were grafted with ‘Maxifort’. Our results suggest that plant growth and ultimately tomato fruit yield is affected negatively by using the SR grafting technique, particularly when less vigorous rootstock is used.
- Published
- 2016
28. Microclimate and Scion Leaf Removal to Improve the Success of Grafted Tomato Seedlings
- Author
-
Rhonda R. Janke, Cary L. Rivard, Megan M. Kennelly, and Sarah A. Masterson
- Subjects
0106 biological sciences ,0301 basic medicine ,fungi ,Microclimate ,food and beverages ,Horticulture ,Biology ,01 natural sciences ,03 medical and health sciences ,030104 developmental biology ,Botany ,Rootstock ,010606 plant biology & botany - Abstract
The utilization of grafted tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants in the United States shows significant promise, particularly as intensively managed production systems like high tunnels and greenhouses become more popular. However, the availability of grafted plants in the United States is currently a major barrier and a large portion of farmers who would like to use grafted plants would prefer to propagate their own. The objectives of this study were to determine how healing chamber design affects graft survival and microclimate, and to investigate how scion leaf and shoot removal affects graft survival in various healing chambers. Similar experiments were repeated at two locations in Kansas and a split-plot, randomized complete block design (RCBD) was used in each, with three and four replications being conducted over time at each of the locations. Five chamber treatments were tested including a negative control (none) as well as shadecloth alone, white vinyl mesh, polyethylene film and shadecloth, and polyethylene film with shadecloth and a cool-mist humidifier. No statistically significant effects of chamber design were seen on grafted plant success. However, microclimate data from the various healing chambers offer valuable data toward determining the best management practices for grafted plants. Shadecloth alone showed significant promise as this covering provided cooler temperatures during the afternoon when the healing chambers were prone to excessive heat buildup. Three tube-grafting methods were tested, including standard tube-grafted plants (no leaves removed), leaf removal (LR) plants (≈75% of the leaf surface area was removed from the scion), and shoot removal (SR) plants (the apical meristem and all true leaves were removed). The SR method did not affect graft survival, but the LR method increased grafting success from 78% to 84% and was significant as compared with the other methods (P < 0.05). The long-term goals of this work are to develop successful propagation systems that can be used by small-acreage growers with limited greenhouse facilities. The data presented here indicate that high-humidity healing chambers (>85% relative humidity) may not be necessary for tomato, and LR can increase the grafting success rate.
- Published
- 2016
29. Effect of seedling shoot removal on the yield of grafted tomatoes in high tunnels in the central United States
- Author
-
Cary L. Rivard, Megan M. Kennelly, Sarah A. Masterson, and Rhonda R. Janke
- Subjects
Horticulture ,Yield (engineering) ,biology ,Seedling ,Shoot ,Grafting ,biology.organism_classification ,Rootstock - Published
- 2015
30. Effect of High Tunnel Coverings on Antioxidants of Breaker and Light Red Tomatoes at Harvest and during Ripening
- Author
-
Brianna Cunningham, Kelly Gude, Cary L. Rivard, Qing Kang, Myungjin Lee, Eleni D. Pliakoni, Weiqun Wang, and C. B. Rajashekar
- Subjects
0106 biological sciences ,season extension ,spectral quality ,01 natural sciences ,lcsh:Agriculture ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Rutin ,0404 agricultural biotechnology ,Chlorogenic acid ,hoop-house ,fungi ,lcsh:S ,Ripening ,04 agricultural and veterinary sciences ,Phenolic acid ,Ascorbic acid ,light intensity ,040401 food science ,Lycopene ,Light intensity ,Horticulture ,UPLC–MS ,chemistry ,Postharvest ,Agronomy and Crop Science ,010606 plant biology & botany - Abstract
(1) Background: We assessed the impact of high tunnel coverings and harvest maturity (breaker and light red) on antioxidant capacity, ascorbic acid (AsA), lycopene, &beta, &ndash, carotene, and phenolic compound (flavonoid and phenolic acid) accumulation in tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) at harvest and postharvest. (2) Methods: The two-year study in Olathe, KS, included six different coverings: a standard polyethylene (standard poly), diffuse poly (diffuse), clear poly (clear), UV-A/UV-B blocking poly (block), 55% shade cloth + standard poly (shade), and removal of standard poly two weeks prior to harvest (movable). (3) Results: Antioxidant capacity increased in fruit grown under the clear covering, compared to the shade covering (p <, 0.05), similarly, AsA accumulation increased under the standard and clear coverings, relative to the movable and shade coverings (p <, 0.001). Postharvest, at the point of consumption (POC), rutin increased in fruit harvested at light red stage versus breaker stage (p <, 0.001), and chlorogenic acid increased in light red harvested fruit by 60% under movable, 55% under shade, and 43% under block covering than breaker harvested fruit (p <, 0.01). (4) Conclusions: Based on these results, we conclude that both high tunnel covering and postharvest maturation alter antioxidant capacity, AsA, lycopene, and phenolic compound accumulation profiles by the POC.
- Published
- 2020
31. Reducing preharvest food losses in spinach with the implementation of high tunnels
- Author
-
Konstantinos G. Batziakas, Cary L. Rivard, Helena Stanley, Eleni D. Pliakoni, and Asterios G. Batziakas
- Subjects
0106 biological sciences ,0301 basic medicine ,biology ,food and beverages ,Growing season ,Organic production ,Horticulture ,Vegetable crops ,biology.organism_classification ,01 natural sciences ,Toxicology ,Crop ,03 medical and health sciences ,Food chain ,030104 developmental biology ,Yield (wine) ,Environmental science ,Spinach ,Preharvest ,010606 plant biology & botany - Abstract
Preharvest losses of fruits and vegetables constitute a considerable amount of the total food losses that occur in the food chain. Preharvest losses are typically related to a decrease and/or loss of marketable yield due to reduced crop performance and/or crop damage related to weather and/or pests and plant diseases. However, physical and nutritional quality are also important parameters that can contribute to food losses. There are numerous reports in the literature that indicate that small-acreage farmers in the U.S. can utilize high tunnels to increase the yield of various fruit and vegetable crops. However, it is unclear if the high tunnel production system affects the preharvest food losses of spinach, particularly in regard to physical and nutritional quality. The goal of this study was to examine the effect of the high tunnel production system on preharvest food losses of fall-planted spinach, Spinacia oleracea, cv. ‘Corvair’. Comparative open field and high tunnel trials were conducted at the Kansas State University Olathe Horticulture Research and Extension Center from 2014 to 2017 (three growing seasons). A systems approach was utilized, consisting of six replications per production system. The experiments were conducted using organic production practices. Spinach quality was assessed on the day of harvest during years 2 and 3 of the experiment. Spinach leaves were harvested at full maturity and the preharvest losses were evaluated in regards to yield, percent marketability and physical and nutritional quality. Spinach grown in the high tunnels had 126 %–528.6 % higher marketable yield (P
- Published
- 2020
32. IS VEGETABLE GRAFTING ECONOMICALLY VIABLE IN THE UNITED STATES: EVIDENCE FROM FOUR DIFFERENT TOMATO PRODUCTION SYSTEMS
- Author
-
Cary L. Rivard, Olya Rysin, and Frank J. Louws
- Subjects
Agronomy ,Economic viability ,business.industry ,Protected cultivation ,Crop yield ,Grafting (decision trees) ,Cost analysis ,Organic farming ,Production (economics) ,Horticulture ,Biology ,business ,Biotechnology - Published
- 2015
33. Growing Organic Heirloom Tomatoes in the Field and High Tunnels in North Carolina: Comparative Economic Analysis
- Author
-
Christopher D. Harlow, Mary M. Peet, Suzanne O’Connell, Cary L. Rivard, Olha Sydorovych, and Frank J. Louws
- Subjects
Agricultural science ,Payback period ,Agriculture ,business.industry ,Price point ,Market price ,Environmental science ,Economic analysis ,Production (economics) ,Horticulture ,business ,Heirloom plant ,Heirloom tomato - Abstract
In this study, we conducted an economic analysis of high tunnel and open-field production systems of heirloom tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) based on a two-year study at the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) located in Goldsboro, eastern North Carolina. The research site was transitional organic using organically certified inputs and practices on land not yet certified. Production costs and returns were documented in each system and provide a useful decision tool for growers. Climatic conditions varied dramatically in 2007 compared with 2008 and differentially affected total and marketable yields in each system. Profits were higher in the open-field system and the high tunnels in 2007 and 2008, respectively. Sensitivity analysis was conducted using a range of market prices from $1.60/lb to $3.60/lb and a range of fruit marketability levels from 35% to 80%. Both systems were profitable except at the lowest price point and the lowest percent marketability level in high tunnel in 2007. At $2.60/lb, seasonal average sale price reported by growers for this region, and depending on percent marketability levels, the payback period for high tunnels ranged from two to five years. Presented sensitivity tables will enable decision makers to knowledgably estimate economic potential of open-field and high tunnel systems based on expected local prices and fruit quality parameters.
- Published
- 2013
34. High Tunnel and Field Production of Organic Heirloom Tomatoes: Yield, Fruit Quality, Disease, and Microclimate
- Author
-
Mary M. Peet, Suzanne O’Connell, Cary L. Rivard, Frank J. Louws, and Christopher D. Harlow
- Subjects
Irrigation ,biology ,Microclimate ,Horticulture ,Season extension ,biology.organism_classification ,Heirloom plant ,Cherokee purple ,Agronomy ,Leaf spot ,Environmental science ,Solanum ,Heirloom tomato - Abstract
Organic and heirloom tomatoes are high-value products with growing demand but there are many challenges to successful cultivation. A systems comparison study was carried out to evaluate the production of the popular heirloom tomato ‘Cherokee Purple’ (Solanum lycopersicum L.) under high tunnel and open field systems in North Carolina from 2007 to 2008. Management of the high tunnel (i.e., temperature and irrigation), weather events as well as pest and disease pressure influenced crop quality and yield. The high tunnel and field systems achieved similar total yields (100 t·ha−1) the first season but yields were 33% greater in the high tunnel system than the field system in the second year (100 t·ha−1 and 67 t·ha−1, respectively). Both years, the tomatoes were planted in high tunnels 1 month earlier and harvested 3 weeks earlier than the field. The accumulation of ≈1100 growing degree-days (GDD) was required in both systems before 50% of the fruit was harvested. Fruit cracking, cat-facing, blossom-end rot, and insect damage were the major categories of defects in both systems. Incidence of both Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (TSWV) and Gray Leaf Spot (GLS) were lower in the high tunnel compared with the field in 2007 and 2008, respectively. Results of this study suggest that with proper management techniques, high tunnels can optimize yields, increase fruit quality, and provide season extension opportunities for high-value horticultural crops.
- Published
- 2012
35. Grafting fruiting vegetables to manage soilborne pathogens, foliar pathogens, arthropods and weeds
- Author
-
Cary L. Rivard, Chieri Kubota, and Frank J. Louws
- Subjects
Oomycete ,Integrated pest management ,education.field_of_study ,biology ,business.industry ,fungi ,Population ,Pest control ,food and beverages ,Horticulture ,Biotic stress ,biology.organism_classification ,Verticillium ,Agronomy ,Phytophthora ,business ,Rootstock ,education - Abstract
Grafting is an important integrated pest management strategy to manage soilborne pathogens and other pests of solanaceous and cucurbitaceous crops. Important diseases managed by grafting are caused by fungal pathogens such as Verticillium, Fusarium, Pyrenochaeta and Monosporascus; oomycete pathogens like Phytophthora; bacterial pathogens, particularly Ralstonia; root knot nematodes and several soil-borne virus pathogens. Rootstocks can include intraspecific selections that utilize specific major resistance genes and interspecific and intergeneric selections that exploit non-host resistance mechanisms or multigenic resistance. Rootstock selection has also been documented to impact foliar pests including pathogens, arthropods and viruses. Over-reliance on specific rootstocks in production systems has led to the emergence of new pathogens or shifts in the host specificity of the pathogen population, emphasizing the need for multi-tactic approaches to manage soilborne pathogens. One advantage and associated challenge of grafting is that rootstock selection for disease management is site specific depending on the presence, population structure and dynamics of the pathogen, as well as edaphic, environmental and anthropogenic factors. The use of grafting as an Integrated pest management tool to manage biotic stress will be most successful when carried out with increasing knowledge about the biology, diversity, and population dynamics of the pathogen or other pests and when complemented with sustainable farming system practices. This review highlights major uses of grafting to manage soilborne pathogens, provides some novel information on managing foliar or other soilborne pests (insects, mites, weeds) and offers discussion on future research and applications.
- Published
- 2010
36. An Economic Analysis of Two Grafted Tomato Transplant Production Systems in the United States
- Author
-
Cary L. Rivard, Mary M. Peet, Frank J. Louws, Suzanne O’Connell, and Olha Sydorovych
- Subjects
Toxicology ,Indirect costs ,surgical procedures, operative ,Economic production ,Vegetative reproduction ,Intensive farming ,Grafting (decision trees) ,Economic analysis ,Production (economics) ,Horticulture ,Biology ,health care economics and organizations ,Variable cost - Abstract
The grafting of herbaceous vegetables is an emerging development in the United States. This report provides an estimate of the variable costs of grafting within U.S. tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) transplant production systems. Grafted and nongrafted plants were propagated at two commercial farming operations in Ivanhoe, NC (NC) and Strasburg, PA (PA) and the farm in NC produced certified organic transplants. Detailed economic production sequences were generated for each site, and grafted and nongrafted transplant production costs were $0.59 and $0.13 in NC, and $1.25 and $0.51 in PA, respectively. Direct costs associated with grafting (e.g., grafting labor, clips, chamber, etc.) accounted for 37% to 38% of the added cost of grafting, and grafting labor was 11.1% to 14.4% of the cost of grafted transplant production. Seed costs represented 52% and 33% of the added cost of grafting at the two sites, and indirect costs (e.g., soil, trays, and heating) accounted for 10% and 30% of the added cost of grafting. Our findings suggest that under current seed prices and with similar production practices, the feasibility of grafting in the United States is not disproportionately affected by domestic labor costs. Additionally, the economic models presented in this report identify the cost of production at various transplant stages, and provide a valuable tool for growers interested in grafted tomato transplant production and utilization.
- Published
- 2010
37. Grafting to Manage Soilborne Diseases in Heirloom Tomato Production
- Author
-
Frank J. Louws and Cary L. Rivard
- Subjects
Ralstonia solanacearum ,Horticulture ,Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici ,biology ,Agronomy ,Bacterial wilt ,Fusarium oxysporum ,biology.organism_classification ,Rootstock ,Heirloom plant ,Fusarium wilt ,Heirloom tomato - Abstract
Organic heirloom tomato production is limited in the southeastern United States by foliar and soilborne diseases, thermal stress, and weathered soil structure. Heirloom cultivars command a premium market, but tolerance to disease and abiotic stress is often poor. Organic growers need research that supports the advantages of market niches afforded by heirloom tomatoes through the development of integrated systems to manage pests and reduce risks of associated crop losses or low yields. Two major soilborne diseases common in the southeast, bacterial wilt (caused by Ralstonia solanacearum) and fusarium wilt (caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici), were effectively managed using susceptible heirloom scions grafted onto resistant rootstock. In naturally infested soil, bacterial wilt incidence for nongrafted ‘German Johnson’ was 79% and 75% in 2005 and 2006, respectively. ‘German Johnson’ showed no symptoms of bacterial wilt in either year when grafted onto the resistant genotypes CRA 66 or Hawaii 7996. Fusarium wilt incidence was 46% and 50%, respectively, in nongrafted and self-grafted ‘German Johnson’ controls. When ‘Maxifort’ rootstock was grafted with ‘German Johnson’, no symptoms of fusarium wilt were seen, and plants with ‘Robusta’ rootstock had an intermediate level of disease (29%). An evaluation of commercially available rootstock was carried out in three separate experiments in diverse organic production systems to determine yield impacts with low disease pressure. ‘Maxifort’ rootstock significantly increased yield in one location (P = 0.05), but ‘Maxifort’ and ‘Robusta’ rootstock did not consistently impact yield at the other two locations. Grafting is an effective management tool for organic growers in the southeast United States to reduce risk of crop loss resulting from soilborne diseases and will be a valuable component in an integrated pest management program.
- Published
- 2008
38. Introduction to Abiotic Disorders in Plants
- Author
-
Cary L. Rivard, Damon L. Smith, Megan M. Kennelly, G. Lee Miller, and Judith O'Mara
- Subjects
Abiotic component ,Botany ,Biology - Published
- 2012
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