Contacts:
Gail Nonnecke, Horticulture, (515) 294
Susan Thompson, Ag Information, (515) 294-0705

ISU STRAWBERRY RESEARCH BEARS FRUIT FOR GROWERS

AMES -- "Strawberries are one of the most beloved fruits," says Gail Nonnecke. "Iowans in particular enjoy eating strawberries because it means spring has arrived."

Nonnecke, a 10-year veteran of the Iowa State University horticulture faculty, specializes in research on small fruits and berries.

Her early work identified the best production practices for strawberry plants that only bear fruit in June. Her recent work focuses on day-neutral strawberries, which bear fruit throughout the summer.

"Day-neutral varieties allow Iowa growers to sell the fruit at higher prices when they're out-of-season, and it gives them something to complement their fresh-market sales," Nonnecke says.

Nonnecke is working on problems facing Iowa growers of day-neutral strawberries. She has studied the impact of root-zone temperatures on plant flowering and growth. She has found that high temperatures inhibit strawberry plant growth. Now she is studying the effects of root-zone temperature on flowering.

"We want to know why flowering stops when we get warmer weather," Nonnecke says. "Is it root-zone temperature, leaf temperature, crown temperature or something else?"

She is working with other researchers to find a biological control for the tarnished plant bug. "If we can find a control for this bug, and also gain a better understanding of flowering, we'll help not only day-neutral growers, but also growers of June-bearing berries," she says.

Nonnecke also is searching for better weed control options. Her colleague Nick Christians discovered corn gluten meal inhibits seed germination, and has been researching ways to use the meal as a natural "weed and feed" agent. The two are studying its weed control potential in gardens.

"Corn and soybean growers have many weed-control options, but strawberry growers don't," says Nonnecke. "It's difficult to get companies interested in developing effective herbicides because of the small market. And growers are anxious to reduce pesticide use, so there's interest.

"We've found out some practical things so far," she continues. "For instance, the best times to apply corn gluten meal fit well with a June-bearing production system." Growers normally apply nitrogen and weed control in early July and again in mid-August. Nonnecke says applying corn gluten meal during those same times has proven effective.

Nonnecke says she has plenty of ideas for future research. That's good news for those who cherish their strawberries.

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