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: Residue Management

Residue Management conservation practice manages the amount, orientation, and distribution of crop and other plant residue on the soil surface year-round while limiting soil-disturbing activities used to grow and harvest crops in systems where the field surface is tilled prior to planting. This video explores how Ryan McKenzie implemented this conservation practice on his farm in Samson, Alabama.

Practice benefits:

• Increases organic matter

• Improves air quality

• Decreases energy costs

• Reduces erosion

• Improves soil health

The Conservation at Work video series was created to increase producer awareness of common conservation practices and was filmed at various locations throughout the country. Because conservation plans are specific to the unique resource needs on each farm and also soil type, weather conditions, etc., these videos were designed to serve as a general guide to the benefits of soil and water conservation and landowners should contact their local USDA office for individual consultation.