During their stay, the visiting professors will be working closely with Dr. Leoncia A. Tandang, Dean of College of Agriculture; Dr. Danilo D.Padua, BSU faculty and expert on strawberry research and development; and Dr. Janet P. Pablo, chairperson of the Department of Plant Breeding.
Dr. Pedro Palencia Garcia and Dr. Fatima Martinez Ruiz from Universidad de Oviedo and Universidad de Huelva, respectively, will be holding special lectures about their strawberry research and nursery management to graduate students, researchers, and faculty members.
Last April 11, Dr. Martinez 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.
She said that strawberry is one of the most important crop in Huelva, Spain with more than 7,000 hectares planted with it, yielding 261,263 metric tons, and 80% of which is exported. This is the primary reason why most of her published researches focused on strawberries.
Accordingly, Huelva’s strawberry cropping system uses the most modern techniques of cultivation such as localized irrigation, fertigation, and optimum density of plantation.
Further, she said that strawberry varieties in Huelva are extremely susceptible to 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.
Dr. Martinez Ruiz also put emphasis on the advantages of soilless growing systems as it is being practiced in Huelva. She said that this system contributes to the improvement of crop yields and quality; conserves energy and water, and reduces the application of chemicals; collection of the fruit is very comfortable as the fruit remains at a comfortable height for picking, among others.
Moreover, the lecture highlighted various techniques in handling postharvest problems of strawberry, especially in addressing physiological disorders and mechanical damage. 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 derived from them.
Also, the reduction of fruit transpiration, minimizing loss of weight, glossiness loss, and shriveling was listed as an effective postharvest strategy.
During the lecture, Dr. Palencia Garcia, additionally, said that the average farm size of one strawberry farmer in Huelva is 10 hectares so as to optimize profits.
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 will conceptualize possible future projects with local experts.
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Juman Kevin Tindo
