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Information About

Muck Crops Research Station




The station's research1 is focussed on several key areas:
  • Crop protection of Muck vegetables

  • Evaluation of vegetable Cultivar s

  • Post-harvest storage and treatment

  • Soil and crop management


The station features greenhouses with a system-controlled environment, a Plant Pathology laboratory, and long-term cold storage. Seven hectares of land are split into plots devoted to researching organic and mineral soils. Local growers also participate in commercial field trials on occasion.2


CROP PROTECTION

Various long-term research projects analyze and assess the impact of indiginous and invasive pests and parasites. Since 1998, the site has studied the over-wintering ability of the Pea Leafminer 3 in southern Ontario, as well as associated parasitoid complexes collected from leafminer pupae.4

Protection from fungi and molds during storage is also studied at this station. For example, the mold Sclerotinia releases Oxalic Acid , a compound that allows the mold to infect carrots. Researchers are studying the use of "calcium formulations to deter Sclerotinia growth".5


VEGETABLE CULTIVARS

One of the site's important functions is to determine the viability and suitability of specific crop cultivars in the Holland Marsh .6 The area is a major producer of onions, carrots, lettuce, celery and Asian vegetables.


STORAGE AND TREATMENT

Tha aim of research into storage of crops is to identify crops that may be grown in the Holland Marsh and stored for eventual winter distribution, so that residents of Ontario may have access to Ontario-grown vegetables year-round.



SOIL AND CROP MANAGEMENT



REFERENCES



EXTERNAL LINKS