TWO visiting professors from Spain will be working closely with Benguet State University (BSU) for the series of lectures on strawberry research.
BSU’s Dr. Leoncia Tandang, dean of College of Agriculture; Dr. Danilo Padua, BSU faculty and expert on strawberry research and development; and Dr. Janet Pablo, chairperson of the Department of Plant Breeding will be collaborating with Dr. Pedro Palencia Garcia and Dr. Fatima Martinez Ruiz from Universidad de Oviedo and Universidad de Huelva for the lectures and nursery management to graduate students, researchers, and faculty members.
On April 11, Dr. Ruiz presented a lecture on the “Strawberry Postharvest Technology in Spain” at the Strawberry Hall, College of Home Economics and Technology. As an assistant professor in the University of Huelva, she specializes in the field of agronomy and plant pathology.
Ruiz said strawberry is one of the most important crops in Huelva, Spain with more than 7,000 hectares, yielding 261,263 metric tons, and 80 percent of which is exported. This is the primary reason why most of her published researches focused on strawberries.
Huelva’s strawberry cropping system uses the most modern techniques of cultivation like localized irrigation, fertigation, and optimum density of plantation.
She added strawberry varieties in Huelva are extremely susceptible with soil borne pathogens since it is grown in the same place year after year, with no rotation. This is the reason why soil disinfection has become an essential technique for controlling such pathogens.
Ruiz also put emphasis on the advantages of soilless growing systems as it is being practiced in Huelva which contributes to the improvement of crop yields and quality; conserve energy and water, and reduce the application of chemicals; collection of the fruit is very comfortable as the fruit remains at a comfortable height for picking; and others.
The lecture highlighted various techniques in handling postharvest problems in strawberry, especially in addressing physiological disorders and mechanical damages. Various strategies employed included the decrease of metabolic activity with a consequent delay of fruit deterioration and maintenance of nutritional value; and the reduction of pathogen activity and a lower incidence of problems deriving from them.
Also, the reduction of fruit transpiration, minimizing loss of weight, glossiness loss, and shriveling was listed as an effective postharvest strategy.
Garcia added the average farm size of one strawberry farmer in Huelva is 10 hectares so as to gain more profit from the farm.
Aside from imparting their knowledge on strawberry research, the Spanish professors will also be sharing their expertise in plant breeding, propagation, and nursery management during their stay. They will be collaborating with BSU’s local experts on current strawberry research undertakings and conceptualize possible future projects with local experts. (Juman Kevin Tindo)