Strawberry fields forever

According to USDA, the United States is the world’s largest producer of strawberries. From farms to fields, growers are discovering ways to perfect the quality and taste of the flavorful fruit. "The Favored Strawberry" is a new documentary that highlights the immigrants, scientists, and extension specialists whose work affects all aspects of strawberry production. The film, overseen by the University of Arkansas, is part of the National Strawberry Sustainability Initiative. The documentary highlights USDA and NIFA investments in strawberry breeding and research. The USDA recently hosted a screening with special guests Curt Rom of the University of Arkansas, Ben Butler of Butler’s Orchard in Germantown, Maryland, and John Lea-Cox of the University of Maryland. Lea-Cox appears in the film and discusses his wireless irrigation system, funded by NIFA’s Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI).

The film notes that strawberries are often cultivated with methyl bromide, a pesticide that has been used for over 50 years for a range of pest management purposes from farming to storage, to shipment and quarantine. NIFA’s Methyl Bromide Transition (MBT) supports research on new, environmentally friendly pesticides and innovative tools and strategies to replace the older methyl bromide treatment option.

The film also mentions the RosBreed project, managed by Michigan State University and involving researchers and institutions from all over the U.S. Funded through NIFA Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI), RosBreed develops genomic tools to help breeders identify genes for traits such as drought tolerance and disease resistance.These tools can shorten the time required to develop new cultivars by years and save hundreds of thousands of dollars.   

Listen to USDA's Radio interview with Curt Rom of the University of Arkansas.

Making a refuge for crops

For 20 years, growers have used Bt crops to minimize damage from pests. Bt crops, including corn, are genetically engineered to produce proteins from the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) bacterium. These proteins are harmless to vertebrates, but toxic to a specific class of invertebrate crop pests.

To date, these Bt crops have been remarkably successful. However, insects have shown the ability to resist Bt proteins. To help slow the development of Bt-resistant pests, farmers who plant Bt crops are urged to plant a certain percentage of their fields with non-Bt crops – called refuge crops. In the case of Bt corn, farmers are required by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to plant a section of their fields with refuge crops.

A study at North Carolina State University (NCSU) revealed a significant shortfall in the amount of refuge cropland being planted in North Carolina, likely increasing the rate at which pests evolve the ability to eat Bt crops. The study also surveyed several hundred corn growers in eastern North Carolina. They identified factors, such as financial incentives, that may increase farmers’ willingness to plant refuge crops in the future. NIFA funded the research through the Southern Regional Integrated Pest Management Center.

Read the NCSU article.

From slime to fuel and medicine

Plant biologists and biochemists from University of California at Berkeley and other partners have produced a gold mine of data by sequencing the genome of a type of green algae called Chromochloris zofingiensis (C. zofingiensis) with funding from NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) grant program.

In the past decade, scientists have learned that the tiny, single-celled organism could be used as a source of sustainable biofuel. Algae absorb carbon dioxide and derive their energy from sunlight, and C. zofingiensis in particular can be cultivated on non-arable land and in wastewater. Harnessing it as a source for renewable and sustainable biofuels could lead to new ways to produce clean energy.

C. zofingiensis also shows promise as a health remedy. The alga is an abundant, natural source of astaxanthin, an antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties which may be useful for treating certain diseases. Astaxanthin is being tested in treatments for cancer, cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative diseases, inflammatory diseases, diabetes and obesity.

Read more about the power of algae.

Time for safer home tips

Time magazine cited researchers at Drexel University who published two studies on food safety hazards. As part of the research, they checked 100 Philadelphia homes and found that most homes had evidence of pest infestations and these residents did not store raw meat correctly. On top of that, samples showed that almost half of the kitchens contained at least one foodborne disease-causing organism, with listeria and E. coli found in 15 percent of homes.

“Most of the conditions we saw would compromise a restaurant’s health score or be considered a critical code violation,” said Jennifer Quinlan, PhD, associate professor in the Drexel’s College of Nursing and Health Professions, one of the leaders of the two new studies.

“We were able to find actual pathogens that we know people get sick from,” says Quinlan, citing common pathogens such as staphylococcus aureus, salmonella, campylobacter, and listeria. “We were able to isolate these pathogens from essentially all over kitchens, including inside refrigerators, on refrigerator door handles, on counters, in sinks and on sponges.”

Read the Time magazine article.

Plants in outer space

NIFA support for multistate research projects at land-grant universities brings together scientists and extension specialists to develop controlled environment technologies that allow food to grow in harsh climates – like space.

Researchers from 23 institutions are designing growth systems and hardware that hold up during space travel. They are recommending growth system settings that produce smaller plants that meet the strict size and weight limits on spaceflights. The new technology allowed the crew of the International Space Station to enjoy a meal featuring fresh lettuce.

Learn more about the development of controlled environment technologies at Multistate Research Impacts.

New invention aimed at killing microbes

Researchers at Rutgers University invented an inexpensive, successful way to kill bacteria and sanitize surfaces with devices made of paper. Testing proved the paper-based sanitizers killed more than 99 percent of the yeast species Saccharomyces cerevisiae and more than 99.9 perfect of E. coli bacteria.

“Paper is an ancient material, but it has unique attributes for new, high-tech applications,” said Aaron Mazzeo, an assistant professor in Rutgers Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. “We found that by applying high voltage to stacked sheets of metallized paper, we were able to generate plasma, which is a combination of heat, ultraviolet radiation and ozone that kill microbes.” 

The study was motivated by the need to create personal protective equipment to contain the spread of infectious diseases, such as the 2014 outbreak of Ebola in West Africa. 

Watch the Rutgers University video.