FRUIT CROPS PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT PROGRAM Department of Horticulture and Crop Science The Ohio State University Home  Programs

FRUIT CROPS PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
I. Statement of Purpose
	The mission of the OSU Fruit Crops Program is to develop and disseminate research-based information to students, agricultural clientele and consumers. The adoption of this information will enhance the efficiency of fruit production and help insure wholesome and high quality fruit products for midwest consumers. This mission will be achieved by: Determining fruit research and extension efforts in surrounding midwest states and developing and prioritizing research and outreach programs that compliment these efforts. Provide leadership and disseminate research-based information through effective classroom instruction and extension programs. Strengthen outreach programs through small fruit and tree fruit teams with input from growers, county and state extension personnel across all disciplines that impact fruit production. Academic programs designed to provide students with a thorough knowledge of basic and applied principles of fruit production and integrated management.
II. Goals/Objectives
	The primary goal of the fruit research and extension efforts is to develop techniques and practices that maximize profitability while enhancing fruit quality which are sustainable. These efforts will establish a reputation for innovation and excellence for our faculty. Current Objectives Small Fruit: 1. Evaluate harvest mechanization as a means of expanding raspberry and blueberry industries 2. Utilization of compost for berry production. 3. Provide programs that result in acceptable levels of disease, insect and weed control, while reducing overall dependency on pesticides. 4. Develop strawberries with enhanced flavor and quality; elucidate aroma constituents of ripening berries. 5. Explore the physiological determinants of small fruit quality before and after harvest. 6. Elucidate the components of flavor and aroma of berries and determine when they are produced. Grapes and Wine: 1. Evaluate the adaptability of Pinot Gris as a quality wine grape for Ohio. 2. Determine the suitability and wine quality of new cultivars with hardiness for Ohio conditions . 3. Determine the influence of rootstocks and training systems on wine quality. Tree Fruit: 1. Evaluate high quality pear selections from the USDA fireblight resistance program for adaptability to midwest conditions. 2. Determine the factors that influence cider quality. 3. Develop efficient management techniques utilizing rootstocks and pruning and training techniques and determine their physiological influence. 4. Determine the influence of flower and canopy position on fruit quality and management practices. Information Delivery: 1. Determine best means to deliver new information to potential new growers as well as new techniques for established producers. 2. Evaluate current publications for their adequacy in meeting clientele needs and prioritized updating. 3. Respond to information needs prioritized by teams and work toward more computer and internet delivery.
III. Undergraduate and Graduate Teaching
	Current Scope and Goals of the Teaching Program The primary objective of the undergraduate program in pomology is to prepare students for decision-making positions within the current fruit industry and for the opportunities and challenges facing the industry in the 21st Century. Central to this effort, we have recently strengthened and concentrated the fruit curriculum into a redesigned, 5 credit course entitled "HCS 460 - Fruit Crop Physiology and Production". HCS 460 explores contemporary fruit crop production principles/practices and the interaction among the economic, environmental, genetic morphological, and/or physiological factors which subtend them. The goal of the course is to give students the ability to predict production outcomes, to solve production problems through horticultural means and to develop improved fruit crop management strategies which improve growth, fruit production and fruit quality and marketability of fruit crops. The initial offering of HCS 460 is scheduled for Fall Quarter 1998, and will be taught on alternate (even) years thereafter. The course will have at least three instructors, taking advantage of the expertise among current faculty. Enrollment is anticipated to be less than 15 students. In addition to formal course work, students interested in fruit crops may enroll a pomologically-based internships HCS 489, group studies HCS 494 or independent studies HCS 593 with specific instructors. Funding for viticultural internships are available through the Lonz Foundation. There is no formal graduate curriculum emphasizing pomology, but faculty continue to serve as major advisors and committee members for graduate students engaged in pomology research. Following are graduate students who have finished in the fruit program since 1990: Rose Gimenez-Ferrer MS 1992 Dow Chemical, Mexico City Yu (Gary) Gao PhD 1993 Clermont Co. Extension, Ohio Peter Hirst PhD 1994 Purdue Univ., Indiana Ann Hummell MS 1996 USDA, Kearneysville, Virginia Tilak Ponappa PhD 1993 Case Western Reserve, Ohio Powan Srivastave PhD 1995 Floral Life, Inc., Indiana
IV. Current Personnel in Fruit Program and Their Distribution of Effort Current FTE Distribution of Fruit Crops Faculty: Name Extension Research Teaching Distribution of Research Time Breeding Ecophysiology Biochem Enviro. Weed Ferree -- 1.00 -- -- .75 .25 -- -- Funt .85 .15 -- -- .85 -- .10 .05 Knee -- .70 .30  -- -- .40 -- -- D. Miller .75 .25 -- -- 1.00 -- -- -- Riesen -- 1.00 -- -- -- 1.00 -- -- Scheerens -- .70 .30 .60 -- .40 -- -- Total 1.60 3.80 .60 .60 2.60 2.05 .10 .05
V. Collaborators
	OSU Departments: Hort. & Crop Sci. Entomology Plant Path. Food, Ag. & Bio. Eng. Jim Gallander, Frank Hall, Mike Ellis, Ross Brazee, Tim Rhodus, Celeste Welty, R. Mac Riedel, Larry Brown, Ray Miller, Hal Wilson, Larry Madden, Bob Fox, Roger Williams, Jim Tew College of Medicine, REAL, Statistics, Home Hort Gary Stoner, Maurice Watson, Bert Bishop, Marianne Riofrio Food Industries Center Piketon Winston Bash, Tom Wall County Extension Agents (Fruit Specialty) Lanny Anderson, Ted Gastier (chair, tree fruit team), Hank Bartholomew, Jack Kerrigan, Gary Bauer, Hal Kneen, Charles Behnke, Mark Mechling, Brad Bergefurd, Norm Moll, Joe Boggs, Ron Overmeyer, Jim Chatfield, Steve Prochaska, Sonja Debolt, Howard Siegrist, Eric Draper, Randy Zondag Farm Managers Technicans Philip Dotson (Ripley) Greg Brenneman, John Elliott (Wooster) John Schmid, Gred Johns (Kingsville) Dave Scurlock, Mark Schmittgen (Columbus) Graduate Students Hank Bartholomew, Steve McArtney, Ellen McComb Allied Industry Groups and/or Government Ohio Fruit Growers Association - Mike Pullins Fruit Growers Marketing Association - Dave Gress Ohio Department of Agriculture - Wulf Hurst Ohio Proud Promotion - Willis Brown Ohio Grape Industries Program - Ida Froehle Ohio Wine Producers Association - Donnie Winchell Regional and National Participation NC-140 - Rootstock NCR-22 - Small Fruits and Viticulture Midwest Fruit Workers Blueberry Germplasm Evaluation on Mineral Soils (PA, MI, OH) Heartland Grape-Wine Coalition (MI, IN, OH) USDA-Pear Breeding - Kearneysville, WV USDA-Strawberry Breeding - Beltsville, MD

Programs People Feedback Internet Links Search Awards
Home Gardening Crop Science Turfgrass Science Landscape Horticulture