Abstract: A strawberry treatment platform includes an outer housing with at least one UV-C light array enclosed in the outer housing, and at least one strawberry plant manipulating assembly that extends downwardly from the outer housing. The strawberry treatment platform is structured so that, as the strawberry treatment platform moves across a strawberry plant bed, the plant manipulating assembly combs through the strawberry plants and creates a canopy gap in the strawberry bed plant canopy so that radiation from the UV-C light array treats the strawberry plants in the strawberry plant bed.

Abstract: Strawberries are available year-around from production in the field or from controlled environments (e.g. high and low tunnel culture and greenhouse). Diversity of production conditions results in challenges in controlling diseases before, during, and after harvest. Fungicides, traditionally used to control diseases, have limitations. UV-C irradiation followed by a dark period was used to kill two major pathogens of strawberry, Botrytis cinerea and Colletotrichum acutatum. The UV-C irradiation and dark period was followed by repopulation with beneficial biocontrol microorganisms. The 4 hr dark period prevented activation of a light-dependent UV-C damage repair mechanism in the pathogens. This combination protocol makes it possible to use a lower dose of UV-C for reduction and/or elimination of pathogens. A mobile treatment apparatus was designed to provide the appropriately timed UV-C doses, dark period, and sprayable doses of biocontrol microorganisms.

Abstract: The berry catcher system has an elastic catcher sheet that is sandwiched between upper and lower endless hollow rims. A protector sheet is deployed below the catcher sheet. The system is structured so that as berries are dislodged from their respective vines, the catcher sheet catches the berries as the protector sheet simultaneously protects (at least) the underside of the catcher sheet.

Abstract: The berry catcher system has an elastic catcher sheet that is sandwiched between upper and lower endless hollow rims. A protector sheet is deployed below the catcher sheet. The system is structured so that as berries are dislodged from their respective vines, the catcher sheet catches the berries as the protector sheet simultaneously protects (at least) the underside of the catcher sheet.

Abstract: The primocane management apparatus enables an operator to manipulate primocane-fruiting blackberries so that the primocanes are periodically bent into a horizontal configuration. The primocanes of the primocane-fruiting blackberries are managed so that the horizontally-grown primocanes produce an increased amount of fruit relative to conventionally-grown vertical primocanes.

Abstract: Strawberries are available year-around from production in the field or from controlled environments (e.g. high and low tunnel culture and greenhouse). Diversity of production conditions results in challenges in controlling diseases before, during, and after harvest. Fungicides, traditionally used to control diseases, have limitations. UV-C irradiation followed by a dark period was used to kill two major pathogens of strawberry, Botrytis cinerea and Colletotrichum acutatum. The UV-C irradiation and dark period was followed by repopulation with beneficial biocontrol microorganisms. The 4 hr dark period prevented activation of a light-dependent UV-C damage repair mechanism in the pathogens. This combination protocol makes it possible to use a lower dose of UV-C for reduction and/or elimination of pathogens. A mobile treatment apparatus was designed to provide the appropriately timed UV-C doses, dark period, and sprayable doses of biocontrol microorganisms.

Abstract: Blackberries are grown so that an additional blackberry crop can be harvested after the normal blackberry growing season has ended. During the normal growing season a distal portion of a blackberry plant is rooted in a planting medium. After the conclusion of the growing season the distal portion is severed from the original plant so that the distal portion is independent form the original plant. After subjecting the distal portion to a chilling period, the distal portion is moved to a warmer climate (or simply warmed) and thereby produces a second harvest of blackberries in the off-season months of December to May.