Date of Graduation

Summer 2016

Degree

Master of Science in Plant Science (Agriculture)

Department

College of Agriculture

Committee Chair

William McClain

Abstract

Raspberries (Rubus idaeus) are a perennial crop with increasing consumer demand. While this highly perishable crop has not proven to be a commercially viable field grown crop in the Midwest, it does show increased yields when grown in a high tunnel. High tunnel construction in Missouri has increased partly due to the NRCS grant program. However, high tunnel production permanently utilizes that space. Bagged culture allows growers the ability to maximize high tunnel space and produce other annual crops, while testing the performance of the crop for their production. This 4 year trial evaluates 5 primocane bearing red raspberries cultivars in grow bags rotated in and out of the high tunnel with vegetable crops. The first 2 years of the trial are complete and all cultivars used in this production method were established and overwintered successfully. In 2014, all cultivars produced commercially acceptable yield with Polka bearing the most fruit and Crimson Giant producing the largest berry. In 2015, all cultivars produced commercially acceptable yield with Joan J. bearing the most fruit and Crimson Giant producing the largest berry. The results of this study provides breeders, growers and researchers an evaluation of these five cultivars in high tunnel bagged culture, and it will provide growers with an efficient system to test cultivars while maximizing high tunnel space, and the option to add a profitable crop to their high tunnel operation.

Keywords

Rubus idaeus, primocane bearing red raspberry, high tunnel production, containerized production, Crimson Giant, Himbo Top, Joan J., Josephine, Polka

Subject Categories

Plant Sciences

Copyright

© Jennifer Sue Morganthaler

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