Application of PGPM in haskap berry production

Haskap was introduced to Nova Scotia agriculture in late 2000 and is now taking the province by storm.*Charley Clerk, owner of Island Beach Company is a haskap producer with over 18 acres of haskap land in*production. The company is looking for the development of innovative agricultural practices that allow for*sustainable and efficient production of high nutritional quality berries. They have plans to significantly and*rapidly increase their production, and efficient plant establishment will be a key component to the success of*Island Beach Company's haskap farm. The company has been experiencing significant inefficiency in current*methods for transplantation of haskap plants into new developed fields, resulting in development of diseases*and delay in plant growth and fruit production. The company is looking to determine the effect of the*application of plant growth promoting microorganisms on efficient establishment of haskap plants within new*field development. The proposed project will evaluate the effect of inoculation of dormant haskap plants with*PGPB isolated from Nova Scotia soils. This will be achieved by inoculating newly planted haskap plants with*the PGPB and evaluating the effect of this inoculation on plant health and dynamic of rhizosphere microbial*communities. The outcome of the proposed research will be the development of new production practices that*will not only increase fruit production but also provide Island Beach Company with the opportunity to increase*their sustainability and profitability as a viable business.