Faculty

KIRK LARSON University of California South Coast Research and Extension Center  7601 Irvine Blvd. Irvine, CA 92618  (949) 857-0136 kdlarson@ucdavis.edu

M.S. (1984) Horticulture - Pomology, University of California, Davis. Ph.D.  (1991) Horticulture- Fruit Crops, University of Florida, Gainesville    More Information:  Strawberry Index  UC Strawberry Licensing Program South Coast Field Station

My off-campus appointment (60% research, 40% extension specialist) at the University of California South Coast Research and Extension Center (UC SCREC) in Irvine enables close integration of my research and extension programs with the California strawberry industry, as well as with strawberry producers worldwide.

My strawberry research activities are focused in three complimentary areas: 1) developing an improved understanding of strawberry plant environmental physiology; 2) developing improved crop production management practices and strategies that enhance production efficiency and quality in nurseries and fruiting fields; and 3) strawberry breeding, with the specific goal of developing improved cultivars that have excellent quality and yield, broad environmental tolerance, and adaptation to California's varied climates and markets.

My field research in varietal improvement has resulted in the development or two commercial strawberry cultivars recently patented by the University of California, 'Camino Real' and 'Ventana'. During the past ten years, I have assumed a leading role in researching chemical and non-chemical alternatives to methyl bromide soil fumigation, including use of alternatives in runner plant nurseries. The results of these investigations have enabled the compilation of two unique statistical analyses regarding the effectiveness of methyl bromide alternatives for strawberry nurseries and fruit production fields.

Strawberries are sensitive to small variations in environmental factors such as light, daylength, temperature, and moisture; consequently, much of my research is focused on environmental affects on plant growth and development, and genotype x environment interactions. Some recent investigations in my strawberry field laboratories at U.C. and in grower fields around the state include:

• determining the feasibility of using polyethylene greenhouse "tunnels" for enhancing fruit production and quality while reducing fungicide applications
• identifying environmental and crop management factors that cause a serious fruit bronzing disorder, and developing management guidelines to reduce its occurrence
• developing propagation guidelines (nursery conditioning environment, plant age and size) and performance data for containerized strawberry transplants used as an alternative to methyl bromide soil fumigation in nurseries.

As extension specialist, I organize and participate in a wide range of educational activities that target strawberry producers and affiliated industry groups throughout the state, as well as around the world. Here, the objective is to provide the industry with state-of-the-art-and-science information regarding scientifically, environmentally and economically sound technologies for enhancing production efficiency and product quality. My extension activities include oral presentations, field demonstrations, written reports, industry and UC workgroup and planning committees, and web sites, with presentations and publications in both English and Spanish. Aquí se habla español.

Representative Publications

Polito, V.S., K.D. Larson, and K. Pinney. 2002. Anatomical and histochemical factors associated with bronzing development in strawberry fruit. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci.: 127:355-357.

Shaw, D.V. and K.D. Larson. 2001. Relative performance of strawberry genotypes over four cycles of cultivation in fumigated and nonfumigated soils. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 126:78-82.

Larson, K.D. 2000. Comportamiento y manejo de la fresa: desarollo de programas de producción para máxima calidad y rendimiento en México. In : J.V. Castellanos and F. Guerra O. (eds.). Memorias del Simposium Internacional de la Fresa, Zamora 2000. INCAPA, Celaya, Guanajuato, Mexico.

Larson, K.D. and D.V. Shaw. 2000. Soil fumigation and runner plant plant production: a synthesis of four years of strawberry nursery field trials. HortScience 35: 642-646.

Shaw, D.V. and K.D. Larson. 1999. A meta-analysis of strawberry yield response to preplant soil fumigation with combinations of methyl bromide-chloropicrin and four alternative systems. HortScience 34:839-845.

Larson, K.D. 1997. Nursery soil fumigation regime affects strawberry transplant production, transplant size, and subsequent fruit yield. Proc. 1997 Annual International Research Conference on Methyl Bromide Alternatives and Emissions Reductions, San Diego, Calif., Nov. 1997, pp. 43-1-3.

Larson, K.D. and D.V. Shaw. 1996. Soil fumigation, fruit production and seasonal dry matter partitioning of field-grown strawberry plants. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 121:1137-1141.

Larson, K.D, and D.V. Shaw. 1995. Nursery soil fumigation and runner plant production. HortScience 30:236-237.