Chapter 3 Berries

by Eduardo Fernandez and Christa Lankes

3.1 Materials

For this week’s session, you are required to take a look at the presentation and supplementary materials by Dr. Christa Lankes. Your task is to complement the content of the presentation with the script provided by Dr. Lankes. Additionally, we offer three videos recorded in Köln-Auweiler regarding production of berries. You can find these documents here:

• Slides
• Script
• Cultivation of blueberry
• Cultivation of raspberry
• Cultivation of currants

3.1.1 Questions

1. Describe the structure of the training system normally used for producing cane fruits
2. What is the main soil requirement for the cultivation of blueberries? What would it be the advantage of using containers for growing blueberries considering the soil requirement?

3.2 Instructions

This week, we also expect to take you for a short field trip to visit a demonstrative cane production plot in Endenich. So, make sure to dress appropriately!

3.3 Literature for discussion

For the berry week, we will discuss on a conference paper by Krüger, E. and Josuttis, M. 2014. Effects of growing and climate conditions on berry yield and nutritional quality. Acta Horticulturae 1017: 351-362.

3.4 Term paper topics

1. Enhancing the nutritional value of super foods - Current cultivation techniques to maximize the content of antioxidants and flavonoids in currants

Berries have substantially gained attention due to the benefits for human health. In this term paper, you will review the current literature regarding techniques applied to enhance the content of substances usually associated with good fruit quality.

2. Advantages and disadvantages of a long cane based raspberry production system

In this term paper, you will work on comparing two raspberry production systems. The focus of the work can be put into the growing consequences as well as other farm-related aspects (i.e. economical, labor intensiveness, etc.).