Volume 61 Number 1 Article 1 Pages: 3-13
Year 2007 Month 1
Title: Cultural Methods for Beach Plum (Prunus maritima) Fruit Production
Authors: R.H. Uva and T.H. Whitlow
Citation
Abstract:
Beach plum (Prunus maritima Marsh.) is a shrub native to Atlantic coastal sand dunes from Maine to Maryland
where it is subject to drought, nutrient and salt stress.
Traditionally, beach plum fruit has been collected from
the wild to make preserves, an activity that endures as a cultural tradition and cottage industry.
Currently, the
supply of fruit from wild stands does not meet the market’s demand; hence, beach plum shows promise as a new
crop for growers in the Northeast U.S. In this report, we present results of a factorial experiment evaluating the
effects of irrigation, mulch, and fertilizer on growth and yield of wild collected seed-grown beach plum.
Growth
and yield were greater in fertilized treatments and within fertilizer regime; irrigation and mulch did not increase
growth or yield.
Yield component analysis indicated that branches per plant, buds/branch, flowers/bud, fruit set,
and diameter/fruit all had significant positive direct effects on yield (dry weight). When two seed sources were
compared, precocity and the significance and magnitude of yield components differed.
Buds/branch and fruit set
had the strongest significant positive effects on yield, indicating that these may be traits to select for either through
genetic or cultural manipulation.
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