She’s got the low-down on high bush profile
It didn’t take long for researcherMartine Dorais to learn a lot about the differences between Quebec and B.C. blueberries. By Grant Ullyot
M
artine Dorais joined the staff at the Agassiz Research and Development Center (ARDC) in the summer of last year, coming from Quebec, where her focus was primarily on greenhouse crops and strawberry and raspberry research. At Agassiz, Dorais will be working in blueberry research. She noted she did not have a lot of experience with high bush blueberries in Quebec. “We grow mainly low bush blueberries in Quebec and some of those grow in wild conditions.”
However, as the leader of an important national study on small fruits, involving 34 c0-applicants and 10 agricultural research centres, “I am now deeply involved with high bush blueberry production in B.C., which is very sophisticated and quite different from what I have been used to.” Dorais is a plant physiologist specializing in plant growth and development. Much of her work concentrates on the impact cultural practices have on crop sustainability and fruit quality in terms of taste and nutritive value.
Her hands-on experience began early.
“I had just started my bachelors in agronomy in plant science course when I got a summer job at the Ag. Canada research centre in Saint-Jean- sur Richelieu, Quebec, where I worked for three summers,” Dorais said. “I was working in research and decided to get my doctorate in horticulture, focusing on lighting in greenhouse vegetable crops. Then I got moved to UBC as a post-doc working on the biochemical plant adaptation to potassium starvation and that time I was working on barley. “I then returned to Quebec City
information. “I am using genotypes developed by Michael and the objective is to develop a variety to be grown in different conditions, and better understand the impact of cultural factors and climactic conditions on bud flower development, productivity and quality.”
Firm and tasty berries are really important attributes for the
Martine Dorais
where Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada had a job for me at Laval University in the greenhouse industry working to improve productivity and fruit quality of greenhouse crops. In 2002 she was transferred to Saint-John-sur-Richelieu and was there until the move to Agassiz. “During my time in the Fraser Valley what I would like to do is develop a soilless blueberry cultivated under high tunnels with the prime objective to develop high-quality fruit. “It must be tasty, good-looking firm fruit with a long shelf life good for the export market.
“We also need to be able to control the quality of the blueberries we grow. Moreover, under high tunnels and in greenhouses berries can be harvested out of season (fall-winter) providing new market opportunities for growers.”
Dorais says she also wants to work on reducing risks for organic blueberry growers. Growing in containers and under high tunnels helps to control pests and contributes to achieving profitable productivity to fulfill consumer demand for organic berries.
She describes fellow researcher Michael Dossett as a fountain of
British Columbia Berry Grower • Fall 2016 7
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