Location: Vegetable Research
Project Number: 6080-22000-032-021-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Sep 1, 2024
End Date: Aug 31, 2029
Objective:
1. Screen the USDA germplasm collection and along with select commercial cultivars of vegetables crops and small fruit (example: strawberry) for accessions with high quality and suitability for controlled environment cultivation.
2. Conduct phytonutrient analysis to identify compounds with human health and nutritional benefits.
Approach:
1. Screen the USDA germplasm collection and along with select commercial cultivars of vegetables crops and small fruit (example: strawberry) for accessions with high quality and suitability for controlled environment cultivation. Identify and collect genetic materials of high value vegetables crops with special horticultural characters that can include; dwarf, compact, early flowering, high fruiting, early maturity and good flavor, for production in controlled indoor vertical farming containers. Replicated experiments will be conducted to compare the environmental conditions (light intensity and spectrum, temperature, fertilizers, CO2) for crop production.
2. Develop methods for rapid propagation of selected material for nursery production to support field crop production. The indoor vertical farming system is suitable for rapid propagation of high value nursery materials that could be used for planting of traditional field conditions. Using cuttings generated for self-rooting or by grafting, optimum environment conditions will be identify to support propagation of high-quality virus-free cuttings useful for field production.
3. Conduct phytonutrient analysis to identify compounds with human health and nutritional benefits. There is little information available for healthy benefits of vegetables and small fruits, especially grown under artificial lighting conditions. Comparative experiments will be conducted to manipulate the indoor environment conditions to promote crop production with better experience on food flavor and health benefit. Tissue materials will be used for phytonutient analysis in collaboration with ARS scientists or service providers.