1. Varietial Introduction and Evaluation
Objective: To identify ideal
slicer, dicer and cut and peel varieties which are high yielding, of good
quality, exhibit minimal physiological disorders and show a resistance
to pests and diseases. The study also aims to confirm results of
previous years and test new cultivars alongside standard and/or promising
varieties.
Project Leader: Dr. R Lada
Project Cooperators: Angus Ells,
Tom Meredith Jr., Azure Stiles
Funding Sources: Bejo Seeds,
Harris Moran Seed Co., Peto Seeds, Seminis, Vesey's Seeds
 
2. Resource Optimization and Modeling
i Nitrogen X Irrigation
Objective:
Project Leader: Dr. R Lada
Project Cooperators: C. Pettipas, A. Stiles
Funding Source / in kind contributions: Technology
Development, Bragg Lumber Company
Interim Report - December 2004
Posters:
ii. Nitrogen Interaction in Dicer Carrots
Objective: To identify and establish
a relationship between critical tissues and soil nutrient concentration.
Also, to establish a relationship between tissue and soil nutrient concentrations
and yield and quality through the development of yield and quality optimization
models.
Project Leader: Dr. R Lada
Graduate Student: Christine Pettipas
Project Cooperators: C. Caldwell, C. Miller,
P. Warman, K. MacRae
Funding Source / in kind contributions: Technology
Development, T. Meredith Jr., D. Wyllie
Final
Report - March 2005
Awards:
Thesis Successfully Defended October, 2004
iii. A Comparative Evaluation of the Relative Advantage
of Fertilizer Application in a Carrot Based Cropping System
Objective: To understand the relative
advantage of fertilizer application for carrots in a carrot-grain-forage
rotation.
Project Leader: Dr. R Lada
Project Cooperator: Tom Meredith Jr.
iv. Sulphur Nutrition in Processing Carrots
Objective: The overall goal of
the project is to devise a sulphur nutrient management system that will
improve the yield and quality or processing carrots in Nova Scotia.
The hypothesis underlying the research is that application of S fertilizer
will enhance plant S uptake and can increase carrot root yield and quality
in terms of beta carotene, sugar and flavour components. Specifically
the objectives of the study are to i) survey the S status of carrot growing
fields in Nova Scotia, ii) determine the effect of rate and method of application
of S and the source of S on plant growth, root yield amd quality of dicer
and slicer carrot cultivars, iii) examine S uptake and distribution in
carrot plant tissues, iv) establish correlation between S levels in the
tissue, soil and yield and quality, and v) determine the critical soil
sulphur level.
Project Leader: Dr. R Lada
Project Cooperators: S. Kyei-Boahen,C.
Caldwell, A. Ells
Funding Source: Technology Development
Final Report
- March 2005
Interim
Report - December 2003
Posters:
Sulphur
Survey and Evaluation for Processing Carrots
v. Irrigation and Soil Moisture Management
Objective: The long term goal of this
project is to develop and provide irrigation management strategies to processing
carrot growers in order to reduce the risk of yield, quality and crop losses.
The objectives of this trial were to A) Determine the optimum level of
soil moisture tension (cbars) at which to maintain slicer carrot crops
to maximize yield and quality and B) Determine the optimum timing of irrigation
in relation to carrot developmental stage at the level determined in part
A.
Project Leader: Dr. R Lada
Project Cooperators: C. Caldwell,
A. Madani, P. Hicklenton
Funding Source: Technology Development
Irrigation Management Final
Report - March 2002
3. Crop Competition and Yield and
Quality Modeling Go to Project Page
4. Stand Establishment and Seed
Physiology
i. Seed matriconditioning using natural
and synthetic germination promoters on yield and quality of slicer carrots
Objective: This study was developed
to assess the effectiveness of seed matriconditioning using various seed
matriconditioning agents (SMA’s) on both stand establishment as well as
yield and quality changes under field conditions.
Project Leader: Dr. R Lada
Project Cooperators: C. Caldwell,
A. Ells
Funding Source: Technology Development
Publications:
Rajasekaran L.R., Stiles A.D., C.D. Caldwell 2002.
Stand establishment in processing carrots – Effects of various temperature regimes
on germination and the role of salicylates in promoting germination at low temperatures.
Can J. of Plant Sci. 82: 443-450
Rajasekaran L.R.,
Stiles A.D., Surette M.A., Sturtz A.V., Blake T.J., Caldwell C.D., and J. Nowak
2002. Stand Establishment Technologies for Processing Carrots. Acta Horticulturae
631 ISHS 2004.
ii. Carrot Stand Establishment Technologies
III. An intergrated gel seeding technique for stand establishment
in processing carrots
Objective: In order to deal with problems
of low soil temperatures, limiting moisture, and soil crusting during emergence
this study has been designed based on the following objectives: i) evaluate
various anti-crusting agents, ii) develop gel seeding techniques for carrots,
iii) study the emergence dynamics and iv) monitor soil compaction, root
development which includes yield, quality, physiological disorders, and
root composition.
Project Leader: Dr. R Lada
Graduate Student: Rowan Briscoe
Project Cooperators: C. Caldwell,
A. Ells
Funding Source: Technology Development
Germination
and Stand Establishment III - Interim Progress Report - December 2002
Germination
and Stand Establishment III - Interim Progress Report - January 2004
Germination
and Stand Establishment III - Interim Progress Report - January 2005
Posters:
Development
of an 'Artifical Exosperm' for Synchronizing Carrot Seed Germination
5. Physiological Disorders
i. Phenotypic Variation, Physiology of
Greenshoulder (GS) and Agro technologies to control GS in Processing Carrots
Objective: The objectives of this study
are to i) identify phenotypic variations in GS, ii) determine the light
intensity that triggers GS, iii) to evaluate the role of herbicides used
in carrot production in inducing GS, iv) monitor the effect of plant population
densities on the occurrence of GS and v) test the effect of hilling on
the incidence of GS.
Project Leader: Dr. R Lada
Graduate Student: Ravishankar Palanisamy
Project Cooperators: A. Ells, C. Fullerton
Funding Source: Technology Development
Publications/Abstracts:
Ravishankar Palanisamy, Rajasekaran Lada, Claude Caldwell,
Sam Asiedu, Azure Stiles 2003. Effect of varieties and seeding rates on
internal green shoulders (GS) in carrots (Daucus carota var. sativus)
Hort Science Vol 38(5) 787-788 August 2003.
Interim Report - January
2003
Posters:
Effect of Hilling
on Greenshoulders
Varietal
Sensitivity to Greenshoulders
Genotypic
Variation and the Effects of Seeding Rates on Internal Greening
Greenshoulder
and Internal Greening Control in Procesing Carrots
Awards:
Thesis Successfully Defended November, 2004
ii. Physiological Development of Cracks
in Cut & Peel Carrots
Objective: In cut and peel carrot production
a major problem is the development of cracks during processing which lowers
the quality of the frozen product. This project was designed to address
this crack development problem. The objectives include pinpointing
where in the processing line the cracks originate, developing a technique
for monitoring the problem, determining what is happening in terms of crack
development in the freezer, and finally compiling relevant information
and make recommendations to the processor.
Project Leader: Dr. R Lada
Project Cooperators: C. Fullerton, B. Williams,
A. Ells
Funding Source: Oxford Frozen Foods Ltd.
Interim
Report - December 2004
Posters:
Crack
Enhancement of Freezer Stored Cut and Peel Carrots
6. Stress Physiology and Acclimation
i. Genotypic Screening and Developing Drought
Protection Technologies in Processing Carrots
Objective: Carrot production
in Nova Scotia has suffered greatly in recent years due to repeated seasons
of drought conditions. The objectives of this study are to i) identify
carrot varieties which have a natural strong drought tolerance by conducting
a mass screening of varieties under imposed drought and evaluating key
physiological processes which are related with drought tolerance;
ii) study differences in glycinebetaine (GB) accumulation among varieties
under drought, as well as establish a relationship between GB accumulation
and drought tolerance, and iii) investigate the efficacy of application
of natural compounds to enhance drought tolerance and develop techniques
for application in vivo as well as the field.
Project Leader: Dr. R Lada
Project Cooperators: A. Ells, T. Pauly,
Bejo Seeds, Harris Moran Seed Company, Stokes Seeds Ltd.
Funding Source: Technology Development
Interim
Report - December 2002
Interim
Report - December 2003
ii. Effect of Natural and Synthetic Anti-transpirants
on Soil Moisture Conservation, Leaf Transpiration, Yield and Quality of
Slicer Carrots Exposed to Natural Drought on Reducing Soil Moisture Loss.
Objective: i) To determine the effect
of Glycinebetaine at various application times on soil moisture conservation,
leaf transpiration, yield and quality of slicer carrots exposed to natural
drought; ii) To determine the effect of Glycinebetaine, an ABA-analogue,
and Wilt-PrufTM on soil moisture conservation, leaf transpiration, yield
and quality of slicer carrots exposed to natural drought.
Project Leader: Dr. R Lada
Project Cooperators: T.J. Blake,A.
Ells
Funding Source: AWARD 2000
Final Report -
March 2003
iii. The Role of Quaternary Ammonium Compounds
(QACs) in Enhancing Drought Tolerance in Processing Carrots
Objective: The objectives of
the study were to i) identify growth and certain key physiological processes
affected by water deficit, ii) identify, isolate and characterize the nature
and distribution of QACs in carrots, onion and tomato and their accumulation
dynamics in response to water deficit, and iii) investigate the feasibility
of using QACs, through seed preconditioning, to enhance growth and protect
physiological processes in plants experiencing water deficit.
Project Leader: Dr. R Lada
Graduate Student: Treasa Pauly (Caldwell)
Project Cooperators: D. Hooper
Funding Source: Technology Development
Publications/Abstracts:
T. Caldwell and Rajasekaran L.R. 2002 Physiological
responses of onion (Allium capa L.) exposed to drought. Acta
Horticulturae 2002 (In press)
Caldwell T., and Rajasekaran L.R. 2002. The
role and potential of quaternary ammonium compounds in enhancing drought
tolerance. Plant Growth Regulator Society of America, 30:000-000
(In press)
Treasa J. Caldwell 2001. MSc Thesis. Quaternary
Ammonium Compounds and Their Role(s) in Enhancing Drought Tolerance in
Carrot (Daucus carota var. sativus), Onion (Allium capa L.),
and Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) Seedlings.
Poster:
Physiological
Responses of Carrot Seedlings Exposed to Drought
Awards:
Thesis Successfully Defended December, 2001
7. Bulking Physiology
Effect of PGR's on Increasing Bulking in
Dicer Carrots
Objective: The objective of this
research was to examine the effects of plant growth regulators, namely
ethylene protagonists and polyamines on growth of dicer carrots.
Project Leader: Dr. R Lada
Graduate Student: Christine Neuteboom
Project Cooperators: C. Caldwell,
L. Eaton, P. Havard, A. Ells, T. Meredith
Funding Source: Technology Development
Publications/Abstracts:
Neuteboom C.E., Rajasekaran L.R., Caldwell
C., Eaton L., and P. Havard 2002. Ethephon and spermidine enhance bulking
in dicer carrots (Daucus carota var. sativus). Plant Growth Regulator
Society of America, 30:000-000 (In press)
Rajasekaran L.R., Caldwell C., Eaton L.,
and P. Havard 2002. Role(s) of phytohormones in promoting storage root
growth and configuration in processing varrots. Acta Horticulturae 2002
(In press)
Christine E. Neuteboom 2003. MSc Thesis.
The Role of Plant Growth Regulators in Enhancing Bulking of Dicer Carrots
(Daucus carota var. sativus).
Poster:
The
Role of Plant Growth Regulators in Triggering and Enhancing Bulking in Dicer
Carrots
Awards:
Thesis Successfully Defended December, 2002
8. Eco-Physiology
Isolation, Characterization and Role of
Bacterial Endophytes in Processing Carrots (Daucus carota Var. sativus)
Objective: To provide a survey
of bacterial endophyte populations in carrot root tissues, characterize
the species and bioassay to determine their influence on plant growth and
drought tolerance in vivo.
Project Leader: R. Lada
Graduate Student: Monique Surette
Project Cooperators: A.V. Sturtz,
A. Ells, T. Meredith
Funding Source: Technology Development
Publications:
Surette M.A., Sturtz A.V, Rajasekaran L.R.,
J. Nowak 2003. Bacterial endophytes in processing carrots (Dacus carota
L. var. sativus): their localization, population density, biodiversity
and their effects on plant growth in vivo. Plant and Soil 253: 1381-1390
Monique A. Surette 2001. MSc Thesis. Isolation,
Characterization and Role of Bacterial Endophytes in Processing Carrots
(Daucus carota Var. sativus)
Thesis Successfully Defended December, 2001
9. Pest and Disease Forecasting
- CIPRA Calibration
Objective: To develop a pest monitoring
system based on real time weather information for the Nova Scotia processing
carrot industry.
Project Leader: K. Sanderson
Project Cooperators: R. Lada, B. Sanderson,
G. Bourgeois
Funding Source: MII Agriculture
and Agri-food Canada - Charlottetown
10. Ecologically, Environmentally,
Economically Sustainable (EEES) Carrot Based Cropping Systems
Objective: To identify the effects
of preceding crops in rotation on i) carrot growth ii) yield and quality
iii) soil physio-chemical changes iv) weed distribution v) occurrence of
pest and disease including nematodes
Project Leader: R. Lada
Project Cooperators: C. Caldwell, A. Stiles,
Crops Unit NSAC
Funding Source: N/A
11. Good Agricultural Practices
(GAP)
Photo-Physical-Mechanical (PPM) Technologies
to Trigger Plant Defenses Against Key Diseases
Objective: The objectives
of this project are to examine and extend our knowledge of plant defense systems,
by investigating the physiological mechanisms and specific proteins that are
utilized in response to environmental stress. This will be accomplished by assessing
various photo, physical and mechanical (PPM) technologies for their benefit
on reduced disease and pest damage, and carrot quality.
Project Leader: R. Lada
Graduate Student: Kathryn Pickle
Project Cooperators: Dr. S. Asiedu, NSAC, Truro
Mr P. Burgess, IPM Specialist, AgraPoint International, Truro A. Ells, Bragg
Lumber Co. Ltd, Collingwood
Funding Source: Technology Development
Interim
Report - December 2004
12. Maturity, Yield and Quality
Modeling
Maturity, Quality and Yield Modeling for
Processing Carrots II. Predicting Growth, Physiological Maturity and Quality
Using Microclimate Models for Production and Processing Planning.
Objective: The objectives
of this project are to i) study the growth and development of carrots under
differing microclimatic conditions, ii) identify growth and physiological factors
of maturity and quality, iii) establish the relationship between weather parameters,
growth and physiological factors of maturity, root development and quality,
iv) develop appropriate models, v) develop a software program for predicting
optimal yield and quality which would aid harvest decision making, vi) field
calibrate the model.
Project Leader: R. Lada
Project Cooperators: A. Ells, Bragg Lumber
Co. Ltd.
Funding Source: Technology Development
Interim
Report - December 2004
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