INTRODUCTION

The primary goals of the Agricultural Research and Education Center, Dover are
to: (A) develop high yielding, disease and pest resistant strawberry varieties
adapted to Florida; (B) study the occurrence, distribution, severity, and control
of diseases of strawberries and vegetables (primarily strawberries); (C) develop
information on improved methods of fertilization and culture of strawberries;
(D) add to the worldwide body of scientific information in the above specific
areas of study; (E) cooperate with researchers in other disciplines to solve
problems on strawberries in Florida; and (F) serve as technical resource support
to County and State, agricultural extension staff.


Some of the accomplishments of the research programs at AREC-Dover during the
past 16 years that the programs have been in effect are: (A) correlation of leaf
number at transplanting to fruit yield response of 4 strawberry cultivars; (B)
demonstrated that strawberry plants receiving no chilling in the nursery require
adequate foliage to establish in the fruiting field and produce acceptable early
and total yields; (C) demonstrated that cycling of irrigation for strawberry plant
establishment and the use of a tail water recovery system can reduce water
consumption from the aquifer without any detrimental effect on strawberry plant
establishment and fruit production; (D) showed that strawberry plant stress before
or after transplanting can reduce early growth and fruit yields; (E) demonstrated
that storing strawberry plants in a cooler for longer than 2 to 3 weeks or
setting plants in late October or November will delay fruit production; (F)
demonstrated timing and the quantity of each plant nutrient taken up by the
strawberry plant; (G) demonstrated the proper placement of fertilizer in plant
beds and developed information on slow release fertilizers for strawberry; (H)
discovery of 2 new strawberry diseases; (I) discovery of a Benlate resistant strain
of powdery mildew on some northern grown strawberry transplants; (J) publication
of bulletin 841 "Strawberry Production In Florida" and bulletin 857 "Diseases,
Nematodes, Mites, and Insects Affecting Strawberries In Florida"; and (K) assisted
with the registration of one fungicide, one miticide, and one herbicide for use on
strawberries in Florida.


Abstracts of publications and presentations at scientific meetings by AREC-Dover
researchers during the six year period from 1982 to 1987 are presented below.