Major Research Projects

1. The effect of flooding on resource availability in the culture of the American cranberry.

Flooding is a common management tool used by growers to protect the plants from dry winter winds in cold climates (i.e., Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Wisconsin), to harvest fruit and remove fallen leaves, to control pests, and to reduce weed populations. However, lack of research concerning the physiological effects of flood application and duration on cranberry vines has resulted in growers and extension personnel making educated guesses at best management practices. Water temperature, clarity, and dissolved oxygen likely play a large role in the effect of flooding on the vines. We are working towards developing a model to be used as an extension tool that can predict the effect of flooding on yield potential of cranberry.
For updates on our results, click on ‘Information for Growers’ on the left-hand menu.

2. Improving the concentration of phenolic compounds in cranberries and winegrapes.

Phenolic compounds are secondary metabolites produced by most plants, and are particularly evident as compounds involved in fruit color (i.e., red, purple) in berry crops. Phenolic compounds have been linked to health benefits in grapes and cranberries, as well as to fungal resistance, and quality of red wines. In cranberry, financial incentives are given based on fruit color. For these reasons, improved phenolic accumulation in berry crops is of great interest to fruit growers.
Cranberry studies underway include determining the effects of pruning as well as night temperature on the production of total phenolics, flavonols, and anthocyanins.
We’ve also been studying the effects of reflective mulches on Merlot and Pinot noir wine grapes. Click on ‘Information for Growers’ to view some of our results.

3. Source-Sink limitations in the American cranberries.

Cranberries are a challenging crop due to their perennial nature and low productivity. There are several indications that cranberry vines are constantly under carbohydrate stress:
1. fruit set is low, ranging from 30-40%;
2. cranberry uprights tend to bear biennially, providing support for the limited-energy theory based on work in other fruit crops; and
3. carbohydrate concentration in cranberry uprights is lowest at the beginning of fruit set, suggesting that developing fruits compete for resources.
Cranberry researchers and growers are in agreement that strategies must be developed to mitigate resource limitations that result in low fruit set. However, developing these strategies is extremely difficult due to a profound lack of understanding of cranberry vine physiology.
We’re investigating the limitations to carbon gain throughout the season. Once a clear understanding of the effect of the source-to-sink ratio (i.e., the ratio of carbon exporters (ex. leaves) to carbon importers (ex. fruit)) on photosynthesis in cranberry is obtained, practices to improve carbon production and partitioning, thereby increasing fruit set and yield, can be researched in a logical manner.