Digital Commons Network^™

An Investigation Of The Relationship Between Black Soldier Fly Larvae Pathogen Suppression And Growth Substrate In Relation To Maine Agricultural Industries, Haley Morrill

Honors College

Insects are promoted as cost-effective and sustainable protein sources for animal feed. Their utilization may help to avoid a predicted global protein shortage. Black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae (BSFL) grow on organic wastes, converting these wastes into larval biomass which can fulfill this purpose. Potential benefits of using BSFL to remediate organic wastes include reduction of waste mass and bacterial load, along with the sale of larvae as a protein supplement. BSFL suppress the growth of some Gram-positive and Gram-negative human pathogens in these substrates; though suppression of Bacillus cereus, a spore-forming bacterium that causes food-poisoning, …

S3e2: What Does The Future Look Like For Maine’S Wild Blueberries?, Ron Lisnet, Lily Calderwood

The Maine Question

Along with lobsters and lighthouses, wild blueberries are an iconic product from the state of Maine. While the industry has struggled of late, promising developments exist for wild blueberries and the people who grow and make products out of them. UMaine's wild blueberry expert Lily Calderwood shares her thoughts on the work being done at the university to grow the industry and what the past, present and future holds for this delicious, native crop.

What’S Going To Happen To My Pancakes? The Impacts Of Climate Change Upon Blueberries And Sugar Maple, Ashley Kayser

Honors College

The United Nations believes that the foremost challenge of the future will be climate change. Because of human use of fossil fuels, greenhouse gases have been released into the atmosphere at unsustainable rates, which have resulted in an altered climate that will impact weather patterns around the globe. There have already been measurable shifts in precipitation and temperature in many regions; in the state of Maine the general trend has been toward higher temperatures and increased precipitation. This is resulting in impacts to agriculture throughout the state. Blueberries and sugar maple are two culturally and economically valuable crops which will …

Efficacy Of Alternative Sanitization Methods On Wild Blueberries And Fresh Cut Cantaloupe, Selena Callahan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the last decade, outbreaks linked to the consumption of contaminated fresh produce have increased mitigation efforts to minimize the risks associated with these products. Due to the lack of a kill step during processing of ready-to-eat (RTE) foods, good manufacturing practices (GMP’s), and sanitization are the key prevention areas most commonly used to control these risks. Many factors must be considered by processors for successful intervention such as sanitizer type, method of application, duration of application, and concentration. Additionally, product considerations such as water content, pH, and bacterial harborage sites can contribute greatly to how effective an applied treatment …

The Effect Of Wild Blueberry Anthocyanins And Phenolic Acids On Innate Immunity: The Compliment System, Vasiliki Papakotsi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Ingestion of berries containing polyphenols is associated with lower risk of inflammatory, metabolic, cardiovascular and degenerative diseases. Diet has been shown to modulate the activation of the complement system, a set of over 50 proteins present in the circulation and tissues that reacts in response to damage or microbial encounter and is critical for the maintenance of homeostasis. Imbalanced activation is tightly correlated with inflammation and various pathologies. Wild blueberries are a rich source of anthocyanins and phenolic acids, which can be found in plasma shortly after consumption. Given the involvement of both complement and polyphenols in the modulation of …

Where The Blueberries Are, Christina M. Gillis

The Catch

No abstract provided.

Application Of Spatial Modeling Tools To Predict Native Bee Abundance In Maine's Lowbush Blueberries, Shannon J. Chapin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Non-native honeybees historically have been used to pollinate many crops throughout the United States, however, recent population declines have revealed the need for a more sustainable pollination plan. Native bees are a natural resource that can play an important role in pollination. I used spatial modeling tools to evaluate relationships between landscape factors and native bee abundance, with a focus on the wild native bees that pollinate Maine’s lowbush blueberries. I applied the InVEST Crop Pollination ecosystem spatial modeling tool, which predicts pollinator abundance based on available floral resources and nesting habitat, to the Downeast Maine region. The InVEST model …

Ripples From The East Coast Stream: Contributions From Migrant Hispanic Workers To Maine’S Wild Blueberry Industry, Vaishali Mamgain

Maine Policy Review

Interviews with 46 Hispanic migrant workers in the wild blueberry industry in Maine revealed they harvest different crops in several states and come to Maine at the end of the “East Coast Stream.” Although workers varied in productivity (and hence income), overall the group earned good income and contributed significantly to the Maine economy as workers and consumers. Based on these findings, governmental laws and policies are discussed in terms of their potential impact. A consideration of Maine’s aging population and interviews with employers demonstrate these workers’ importance: without them employers say, the wild blueberry industry would not be competitive.

Tb203: Recent Advances In The Biology And Genetics Of Lowbush Blueberry, Daniel J. Bell, Lisa J. Rowland, John Smagula, Frank Drummond

Technical Bulletins

For lowbush blueberries, this publication presents an in-depth look at the biology and genetics of lowbush blueberry. The authors provide details on its genetic composition and the outline the usefulness of various biochemical, genomic, and other markers in studying the plants genetic structure. The authors also provide an overview of the plant’s economic value to Maine, nutritional value, and its life history.

B852: Organic Wild Blueberry Production, Frank Drummond, John Smagula, Seanna Annis, David Yarborough

Bulletins

Recent research carried out under the auspices of a USDA organic transition grant resulted in a better understanding of the interaction of wild blueberry production tactics such as pruning method, soil pH reduction by sulfur (S) application, and organic fertilizer rates on wild blueberry growth, development, and yield. This bulletin is the product of what we have learned over the past four years of this research project.

Mp759: Grower Survey Of Organic Pest Management Practices For Wild Blueberries In Maine With Case Studies, Andrew C. Files, David Yarborough, Frank Drummond

Miscellaneous Publications

This report describes the results of a survey of all known organic blueberry growers in Maine conducted in December 2006. The survey included questions ranging from acreage owned and/or managed to market outlets to pruning techniques to educa­tion level of grower to methods of learning new information and was part of a larger, interdisciplinary project addressing organic pest-management strategies for lowbush blueber­ries.

Tb198: Economic Analysis Of Organic Pest Management Strategies For Lowbush Blueberries Using Enterprise Budgeting, Andrew C. Files, David Yarborough, Frank Drummond

Technical Bulletins

Enterprise budgets were developed for the 12 different pest management treatments of a large-plot organic blueberry transitions project in Maine, covering two prune/harvest cycles (2004–2005 and 2006–2007). Regression analysis of the plot-level yield results for the aggregate of the two prune/harvest cycles indicated that burning fields as compared to mow­ing fields significantly increased blueberry yields over the aggregate of two prune/harvest cycles. Similarly, adding 1,000 lbs of sulfur before the first prune/harvest cycle significantly increased blueberry yields over the aggregate of two prune/harvest cycles as compared to no addition of sulfur. The addition of fertilizer had no significant impact on …

Development Of A Soy-Blueberry Burger And The Changes In Anthocyanins And Phenolics During Storage And Broiling, Pamela Beth Small

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Blueberries are high in phenolic acids and flavonoids, which make them one of the leading sources of antioxidants. When added to foods, antioxidants can increase shelf life, maintain nutritional quality, and retard production of heterocyclic amines in meats during cooking thus having the potential to be of great significance to the food industry. Soy and soy-based foods have been gaining in popularity as a functional food for specific health conditions. Increased media coverage touting the health benefits of soy has generated a rise in consumer awareness. Two soy-blueberry burgers were prepared using 10 and 15% blueberry puree. A soy burger …

The Effect Of Whole Wild Blueberries On Endothelial Function Of The Sprague-Dawley Rat As Related To Cardiovascular Disease, Cynthia Ann Norton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Weanling male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly fed three different diets (n=8 per group), a control diet (AIN '93) (C), a blueberry diet (B) for 13 weeks and a reverse diet (R)(C for 13 weeks, switched to B for 8 weeks). Aortae were excised, rings were prepared, and two intact and two denuded rings were immersed in tissue baths containing physiological salt solution (PSS) at 37OC, aerated with 95% 0 2 and 5% CO2 (pH 7.4). Following equilibration and pre-conditioning under 1 Sgm preload, cumulative dose response curves were generated with six doses of the a-1 adrenergic receptor agonist L- Phenylephrine …

Antioxidant Assessment In Western Maine Elderly Women Following 30 Days Of Wild Blueberry Consumption, John David Bagnulo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Increased fruit and vegetable consumption is the single most protective characteristic of a diet against disease. While the exact mechanism by which this protection is offered remains unclear, the leading theory is centered on the antioxidant content of fruits and vegetables. Recent studies have shown that certain fruits and vegetables have significantly higher antioxidant contents than others. Wild North American blueberries (Vaccinium angustifolium) have one of the highest antioxidant contents of all h i t s and vegetables tested. This thesis investigates the relationship between the consumption of blueberries and blood antioxidant levels in 24 elderly women. In addition, fruits …

Variation In The Severity Of Mummy Berry Disease Among Lowbush Blueberry Clones, Laura Penman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Lowbush blueberry production is important for the economy of Maine and the Maritime provinces, and mummy berry disease, caused by Monilinia vaccinii- corymbosi, often reduces plant stand vigor and fruit production. The severity of mummy berry disease among clones of lowbush blueberry were measured in four fields over a two year period (2001 and 2002). In each of 37 clones,lO flowering stems with and without symptoms of blight were randomly selected at flowering to represent "diseased" and "healthy" stem populations, respectively. The severity of leaf and flower blight and fruit mummification was measured for each of these stems, and the …

Tb172: Evaluation Of Entomopathogens For Biological Control Of Insect Pests Of Lowbush (Wild) Blueberry, Francis A. Drummond, Eleanor Groden

Technical Bulletins

To maintain the economic viability of Maine’s blueberry farms, to offer alternative pest control strategies in light of the implementation of the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996, and to reduce the human health and environmental risks associated with pest management, these researchers have been researching biological control tactics. This technical bulletin outlines protocols and experimental design necessary for evaluation of entomopathogens targeted against the significant direct and indirect pests associated with lowbush blueberry.

Mr415: Why Not Tame The Wild Blueberry, Walter Litten, John M. Smagula

Miscellaneous Reports

A discussion of two studies of different methods of propagating lowbush blueberry plants. These methods could be used for introducing blueberry plants into existing fields to improve field cover, or to start a blueberry field from scratch.

B823: Transporting Fresh Blueberries From Maine To The Boston Market: A Look At The Economic Alternatives, Antonia L. Hoelper, Michele C. Marra

Bulletins

A study was initiated at the University of Maine to investigate various transportation alternatives available to marketers of fresh blueberries and similar fresh-market enterprises to determine economies of size in shipping. Several methods of economic analysis, including partial budgeting and break-even analysis, were used to assess the feasibility of several transportation alternatives. The alternatives analyzed were (1) contract shipping services, while using various percentages of truck capacity, (2) purchase of a truck and large trailer (20,000 Ibs capacity), and (3) purchase of a truck and smaller trailer (10,000 Ibs capacity).

Perspectives On Children In Maine’S Canning Industry, 1907-1911, Jane E. Radcliffe

Maine History

This article discusses the role of young children in the canning and preserving of local fruits, vegetables, and shellfish in Maine during the latter part of the nineteenth century.

B780: A Cost Analysis Of Pruning Procedures In Lowbush Blueberry Production, Eric J. Hanson, Amr A. Ismail, Homer Metzger

Bulletins

Burning fields with fuel oil is currently the most practical method of pruning blueberries but is costly and destructive to the organic material on the surface of the soil. Fuel oil is a nonrenewable resource that is rapidly increasing in cost and, in the future, may become less readily available for this use. The need to develop alternative means of pruning lowbush bleuberries is evident. This bulletin compares the economics of six pruning procedures on operations of three sizes. The budgets are based on certain assumptions and costs which will change over time. The results will allow blueberry growers to …

B738: Costs And Returns In Lowbush Blueberry Production In Maine, 1974 Crop, Homer B. Metzger, Amr A. Ismail

Bulletins

Blueberry production is primarily a part time enterprise with a wide variation in acreages per grower and a modest investment per acre.

Blueberry growers recovered cash costs and most of the variable costs of producing and harvesting the 1974 crop. For a competitive return on investment and a modest wage, the average grower would have had to receive 35 cents rather than 20 cents per pound, considering the yields obtained in 1974. To be reasonably assured of adequate returns, a grower should achieve yields of over 1,000 pounds per acre.

Tb70: Physical And Chemical Changes Associated With The Development Of The Lowbush Blueberry Fruit Vaccinium Angustifolium Ait., Amr A. Ismail, Walter J. Kender

Technical Bulletins

The objective of this investigation was to determine the growth characteristics, changes in the soluble solids, pH, and titratable acidity for the purpose of defining and describing stages in the growth of the blueberry fruit.

Tb59: Soil Characteristics Of Nesting Sites Of Solitary Bees Associated With The Low-Bush Blueberry In Maine, E. A. Osgood

Technical Bulletins

During the course of ecological studies of certain native bees which pollinate the low-bush blueberry in Maine, it was noted that several species chose particular areas in which to construct their nests. It is the object of this bulletin to describe the characteristics of these chosen sites and to compare them to areas that are not conducive to nesting. This study was carried out in Deblois, Washington County, on areas known as "blueberry-barrens." The predominant soil in the area is Colton gravelly sandy loam.

Tb26: Native Bees Associated With The Low-Bush Blueberry In Maine And Eastern Canada, L. W. Boulanger, G. W. Wood, E. A. Osgood, C. O. Dirks

Technical Bulletins

Native bees are particularly important pollinators of lowbush blueberry. Changes in certain cultural practices since the 1930s, however, have caused substantial reductions in the native bee populations. Recent observations, however, have shown that adjustments in these practices can have a beneficial effect on native bees with accompanying increases in their numbers. Collections of native Apoidea were made in various areas of Maine and eastern Canada from 1961 through 1965 to determine the species present and their relative abundance in blueberry fields. Of the 89 species collected, 59 were taken on lowbush blueberry blossoms, and 10 in close association with lowbush …

Blueberries & Leathery Ice, Lindsey Smallidge

Maine Song and Story Sampler

A pair of tall tales from Mount Desert Island.