Research
Our Mission
Our lab’s primary focus is to improve cranberry production and quality by determining the physiological and molecular bases of processes that underlie soil nutrient dynamics and water relations. We want to use multidisciplinary approaches to research unresolved questions concerning cranberry growth, development, nutrition, water relation, and environmental interactions to benefit cranberry industry. The multidisciplinary strategies include physiological, molecular, bioinformatics, gene editing, phenomics, and machine learning tools.
Microbiome – Community composition in different cranberry soils
The soil microbiome plays a critical role in nutrient cycling processes, nutrient transportation, plant immune responses, and numerous other soil characteristics that affect plant growth. The majority of soil microorganisms remain unidentified, and their roles in cranberry are mostly unexplored. Using metagenomics, we are documenting the microbial community composition of cranberry in conventional, organic, and wild cranberry bogs. We want to examine soil biogeochemistry and its relationship with microbiome in cranberry soils, rhizosphere, and endosphere since these soils contain diverse minerals, plant roots, and decaying organic matter. We aim to use this information to better understand plant-microbe interactions, symbiotic associations, and the relationship between soil nutritional composition and the microbiome in cranberry production. Because so little is known about the microbial content and function of cranberry soils, we want to uncover foundational knowledge for a wide array of applications.

Cranberry image-based phenotyping – Developing DIY cameras and machine algorithms
It is important to examine cranberry cultivar variability at both the phenotypic and genetic levels in order to understand cranberry adaptability to changing climate conditions and develop superior cultivars. We are developing image-based phenomics tools using low-cost Raspberry Pi computers to track cranberry development and growth non-destructively. Throughout the growing season, we will use phenocams to take images of diverse cranberry cultivars and quantify plant traits to understand their phenology better. Additionally, we are employing multi-spectral drones to study cranberry phenology and stress responses. We are developing machine algorithms to analyze the images and identify the developmental stages. This research will help characterize the phenological responses of several cranberry cultivars to various environments and management strategies to increase productivity. The outcomes of this study will help growers make better management decisions and help in the deployment of precision farming techniques, all of which will benefit the Cranberry Industry.
Isolation and characterization of beneficial microbes: Phosphorus Solubilizing and Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria; Mycorrhizae and fungal endophytes
Microbes such as bacteria, archaea, and fungi are naturally occurring in every soil. These microbes perform many different roles vital to the soils, everything from decomposers breaking down organic matter, nitrogen fixers that can pull nitrogen from the atmosphere and into the soils, phosphorus solubilizers which make phosphorus more available to the roots and even produce synthetic plant hormones to promote healthy root growth. Healthy populations of beneficial bacteria and fungi can help to suppress pathogens, promote plant growth, and even form soil structure. We have isolated more than 100 potentially beneficial strains of phosphorus solubilizing, nitrogen fixing, and plant growth promoting bacteria from cranberry soils and roots around the state. We isolated >25 different strains of ericoid mycorrhizae belonging to five different species. We are testing their ability in plant growth promotion and yield improvement.

Deciphering Molecular Signaling Pathways – Ericaceae Symbiosis
Plants in the Ericaceae family, like cranberry, tend to grow in nutrient-poor soils in the wild. To survive in these conditions, they often rely on mutualistic partnerships with mycorrhizal fungi in the soil, which pass on vital nutrients to the plant in exchange for carbohydrates. Chemical signaling vis-à-vis root and fungal exudates are responsible for this symbiosis. Even though signaling pathways have been explored in more common types of mycorrhizae, the highly selective mycorrhizae exclusive to Ericaceae plants – Ericoid mycorrhizae (ErM) – have yet to be thoroughly investigated. We aim to discover chemical signaling components preserved across plant and fungal phylogenies and development of ErM’s colonization process. This information could then be used to breed new cranberry cultivars or produce biofertilizers that would increase plants’ capacities to uptake available nutrients in the soil, thereby increasing yields.

Soil pH – Nutrient availability and absorption in cranberry
The ideal soil pH for cranberry production ranges from 4.2 to 5.5. Nutrient availability and absorption are reduced in soils with pH levels that are below or beyond this range, resulting in severe deficiency symptoms and production losses. Our research is focused on sustainable and cost-effective solutions for balancing cranberry nutritional needs under unfavorable soil pH conditions. We are exploring various methods for plants to absorb nutrients more efficiently, such as foliar sprays and promoting naturally occurring plant-microbe associations. Beyond soil pH, we are also determining the optimal timing, amount, and method for administering and optimizing nutrients in cranberries.

Abiotic stresses – Identification and functional analysis of genes involved in stress tolerance
Abiotic environmental stresses, such as fluctuating springs, hotter summers, drought, floods, etc., are prevalent in nature and provide challenges for cranberry growers. Individually or in combination, these stresses can have an impact on growth, development, and productivity. To improve the profitability of the cranberry industry, it is critical to identify stress-resistant cultivars and increase cranberry productivity to environmental stresses. Plants have evolved sophisticated mechanisms to detect environmental cues and send these signals to regulate plant development and defense. We seek to investigate the mechanisms using various approaches such as electrolyte leakage analysis, metabolite, proteome, and transcriptome analysis. Identifying the genes and components involved in stress tolerance can be used to screen varieties and identify tolerant cultivars. This research provides an overview of the abiotic stress-responsive genes and their potential functional roles in cranberries under environmental stress conditions. Understanding the mechanisms underlying stress responses will help breeders identify and develop stress-tolerant cranberry varieties to improve productivity.

Nutrient Management – New beds with recent hybrids
Growers are beginning to experiment with newly developed cranberry hybrids. Little is known about the optimal management practices that these new hybrids respond to. Since bogs generally remain in production for 25 plus years, this information is vital to the success of new varieties. Beginning with the 2022 growing season, we aim to record the management practices that various marshes employ on newly planted beds. We will phenotype the beds throughout the season, taking measurements related to growth parameters and yield. A database consisting of the performance of the varieties under various management practices will be made available for growers to reference as they begin utilizing the newly released cultivars.
