COMMERCIAL PROPAGATION OF RASPBERRIES HAS BEEN HAMPERED BY HARMFUL VIRUSES WHICH SEVERELY REDUCE PRODUCTION.

COMMERCIAL PROPAGATION OF RASPBERRIES HAS BEEN HAMPERED BY HARMFUL VIRUSES WHICH SEVERELY REDUCE PRODUCTION. NURSERYMEN ARE FORCED TO PROTECT HEALTHY STOCK BY MEANS OF EXPENSIVE SCREENHOUSES, CHEMICAL TREATMENT OF SOIL AND INTENSIVE PESTICIDE PROGRAMS. LABORATORY TISSUE CULTURE, USING A STERILE, ARTIFICIAL CHEMICAL MEDIUM, COULD PROVIDE MASSIVE NUMBERS OF HIGH-QUALITY PLANTS. PUBLICLY-SUPPORTED RESEARCH HAS NOT YET PROVIDED ENOUGH DATA TO MAKE THIS TECHNOLOGY COMMERCIALLY FEASIBLE. THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO DETERMINE THE CHEMICAL AND CULTURAL REQUIREMENTS OF 12 RASPBERRY VARIETIES OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE. WE HAVE DEVELOPED COOPERATIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH NEW YORK STATE REGULATORY AND RESEARCH AGENCIES IN SUPPORT OF THIS PROJECT.