News about MSU

$325,000 grant for a revolutionary biopesticide against Drosophila suzukii

Crop protection

18 Nov 2024

Michigan State University aim to create a yeast-based biopesticide modeled after approaches proven effective against other species of flies and mosquitoes. The product works by disrupting the protein translation of the pests' ribonucleic acid (RNA).

Michigan State University creates annotated Montmorency sour-cherry genome

Quality

03 Jun 2024

This discovery will help researchers and breeders find the genes and markers associated with different traits much faster than before. This genetic map will help breeders chart a path to a tart cherry.

Rootstocks to the test, MSU presents 2022 results

Rootstocks

23 Apr 2024

Since 2017, the MSU team has been comparing the performance of early dwarfing rootstocks (all from the Corette® series), developed by the university itself, with reference rootstocks Gisela 5, Gisela 12, Gisela 3 (sweet cherry only) and Maxma14.

Bacterial canker in cherries, bacteriophage viruses as allies

Crop protection

05 Apr 2024

Researchers from the Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences Department at Michigan State University have been investigating the possibility of deploying bacteriophage viruses against bacterial canker for a few years now thanks to their specialisation in infecting bacteria.

In Michigan, two species of wasps help entomologists in the battle against Drosophila suzukii

Crop protection

11 Mar 2024

The samba wasp and the ronin wasp have emerged as potential parasitoids. Researchers have studied the wasps and are seeking government approval to release them. The species have been found in the wild in Canada and the United States.

Birds: what if they were also allies in integrated pest management strategies?

Crop protection

02 Feb 2024

Birds, a threat to crops or friends for integrated pest management strategies? At the 'Stone Fruit Day' organised by Washington State University, the focus was on the role of birds in agriculture, looking at pros and cons of the latest research on the subject.

From waste to resource: sour cherry pits as a cosmetic ingredient

Health

08 Jan 2024

The re-use of these by-products thus seems a better alternative to the disposal or annual incineration of millions of tonnes of cherry pits, which not only mitigates environmental pollution, but also adheres to the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations.

Blooming date is decided (at genetic level) before winter dormancy

Breeding

02 Jan 2024

Researchers at Michigan State University (USA) provide a comprehensive analysis of the flower development of sour cherries. Numerous transcriptional studies have shown that the regulation of flower initiation in rosaceous species is significantly influenced by hormonal balance.

Michigan State University proposes research against replanting problems

Tech management Planting systems

21 Nov 2023

The MSU team's goal is to test management practices that can reduce replanting problems, decrease nematode damage and increase cherry tree growth, with the aim of producing 'solid recommendations' for growers.

The CORETTE® series: the new early and dwarfing rootstocks from MSU

Rootstocks

09 Jun 2023

From the cherry breeding conducted by Amy Iezzoni, professor emeritus at Michigan State University, five new dwarfing and early rootstocks have recently been commercially released: the Corette® series. All five rootstocks significantly reduce the size of the tree compared to stan