U.S. scientists find a way to extend strawberry shelf life

May 12, 2020

By Kate Ayers
Staff Writer
Farms.com

Producers and consumers alike become frustrated when strawberries develop grey fuzz shortly after a retail transaction.

To help mitigate this problem, American scientists are investigating how to keep strawberries fresh for longer without the use of fungicides, an April U.S. Department of Agriculture article said.

Botrytis cinerea, powdery mildew and anthracnose are common strawberry mould-causing pathogens, but ultraviolet-C (UV-C) irradiation is an effective treatment option, American researchers found.

UV-C irradiation on the plants followed by a period of darkness killed the fungal diseases and did not damage the plants’ leaves, flowers or fruits, the release said. The dark period robs the fungal pathogens of the light they need to initiate DNA-repair mechanisms, the scientists hypothesized.

This technique also reduced spider mite populations. So, producers might be able to decrease pesticide use.

The researchers are collaborating with an industry member to create a robot that could treat commercial-sized strawberry fields at night, the release said.

iStock/Getty Images Plus photo

Video: Why Invest in Canada’s Seed Future? | On The Brink: Episode 3

Darcy Unger just invested millions to build a brand-new seed plant on his farm in Stonewall, Manitoba so when it’s time for his sons to take over, they have the tools they need to succeed.

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That number matters.

When fusarium hit Western Canada in the late 90s, it was Canadian breeders who responded, because they understood Canadian conditions. That ability to react quickly to what’s happening on Canadian farms is exactly what’s at risk when breeding programs lose funding.

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On The Brink is a year-long video series traveling across Canada to meet the researchers, breeders, farmers, seed companies, and policymakers shaping the future of Canadian plant breeding. Each week, a new story. Each story, a piece of the bigger picture.

Episode 3 is above. Follow Seed World Canada to catch every episode, and tell us: Do you think the next generation will have the tools they need to success when they takeover? How is the future going to look?