Having heavily rained the night before the order of the day was switched so that the presentations occurred in the morning and the orchard tour would happen in the afternoon. With weather clearing later in the day this worked out very well.
Dr. Bob Bors began the morning sessions at 9:15 a.m., providing a general overview of the haskap program, starting with a brief, historical background, and progressing up to the current/future direction of research.
Next, Bayartugla Lkhagvsuren presented his work on the ecology of wild haskap, which so far has included a review of the available literature on edible blue honeysuckles in Russia. Speaking Russian, he has made an invaluable contribution in translating Russian texts, even though many of these articles are not peer-reviewed. He also spoke to the geographic locales of haskap prototypes, as well as the implications of this for historical haskap biology.
Next, PhD candidate James Dawson presented the developments of his continuing research on haskap neutraceutical compounds, reminding Haskap Day participants of the need to not speak of the benefits of anti-oxidants, but of the specific components contained in the plant and how they actually function in the human body. Additonally, he indicated that these benefits may not come simply from the fruit itself.
Dr. Bors finished the morning presentations with some interesting side-lights on what is generally known: the manner in which haskap flowers can survive freezing temperatures, cautions about how many honeyberries have simply been re-named by vendors, the effects of pruning, and the relationship between hard science and the way in which science is appropriately an art in the continued development of their fruit program.
For the hour following the field tour a forum was held that allowed Haskap Day participants to formally present/interact with one another. The day was over by 4:00 p.m.. Hats and shirts sold well. A few are left over. Shirts are lg/xlg @ $11, hats (red only) @ $12. ...plus shipping. Contact: ebhbasics@gmail.com
Next, PhD candidate James Dawson presented the developments of his continuing research on haskap neutraceutical compounds, reminding Haskap Day participants of the need to not speak of the benefits of anti-oxidants, but of the specific components contained in the plant and how they actually function in the human body. Additonally, he indicated that these benefits may not come simply from the fruit itself.
Danae Frier is a M.Sc. candidate at the University of Regina. She reported on the pollination biology of Lonicera caerulea at this year's Haskap Canada AGM.
The meeting began with a report by the University of Saskatchewan's Dr. Bob Bors. During his presentation he discussed:
Ms. Danae Frier is currently a M.Sc. candidate at the University of Regina, supervised by Dr. Cory Sheffield (Royal Saskatchewan Museum) and Dr. Chris Somers (University of Regina). She is studying the pollination biology of Lonicera caerulea. She will deliver a brief talk on the subject, addressing what is already known about floral pollinators and the research planned for the upcoming summer, which will help identify which bees are the best pollinators of the crop.
