Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/489844
www.goodfruit.com GOOD FRUIT GROWER APRIL 15, 2015 29 Researchers study Amelanchier and quince selections as pear rootstocks for Pacifi c Northwest. by Geraldine Warner A n Oregon State University researcher is testing pear rootstocks that might have the potential to improve early bearing of pear trees, control tree vigor, and enhance pro- duction of high-quality fruit in the Pacifi c Northwest. There is not currently a dwarfi ng, precocious root- stock available for pears as there is for apples. Old Home by Farmingdale 87, the industry standard, reduces pear scion vigor by 30 percent compared to a seedling root- stock. The industry would like to have a rootstock that is about 50 percent the size of a seedling rootstock and is more precocious, particularly for d'Anjou, which takes a long time to come into production. Commercially available dwarfi ng quince rootstocks, which are commonly used for pears in Europe, are reputed to not be hardy enough for the Pacifi c Northwest. A multi-year evaluation of the freeze resistance of these selections confi rmed this suspicion. Dr. Todd Einhorn, horticulturist at the Mid-Columbia Agricultural Research and Extension Center (MCAREC) in Hood River, says some quince selections, however, are hardy, but other issues associated with quince—such as graft incompatibility, iron chlorosis, pear decline, and fi re blight susceptibility—have not been evaluated for these selections. Einhorn obtained a large number of quince acces- sions from the National Clonal Germplasm Repository at Corvallis, Oregon, and tested them for cold hardiness. He found 22 quince selections that were as hardy or hardier than the commonly used rootstocks OHxF 87 or OHxF 97 and could withstand temperatures down to -22°F (-30°C). In 2016, he will put the top ten of the quinces from his D'Anjou trees on Amelanchier rootstocks (in the foreground) are being evaluated in an OSU trial. The larger trees in the background that have few flowers are on OHxF 87. COURTESY TODD EINHORN, OSU APPLE • PEAR • CHERRY • PLUM • APRICOT Our pollen is viability tested to assure quality. Exclusive distributor of SCUMBY PUFFERS®. Accurate on any planting. 800-322-8852 www.firmanpollen.com 301 N. 1st Avenue • Yakima, Washington 98902 509-452-8063, fax 509-453-6838 Quality Firman Pollen Improves: Fruit Set Bee Efficiency Pollination Timing Quality Pollination Improves: Yield Consistency Fruit Quality Fruit Storability Trust Quality Firman Pollen Viability And Virus Tested Compatibility Matched Leaders in Application Technology j j j j j j j j j FIRMAN Since 1933 Pollen Co. QUALITY & VALUE you can TRUST WASHINGTON: CALIFORNIA: AREA REPRESENTATIVES: Columbia Basin and Yakima Valley Brad Moore 509-452-8063 bradm@firmanpollen.com Wenatchee/ Okanogan area Tom, Kyle & Linda Batch 509-687-9670 Bleyhl Farm Service Grandview 509-882-1225 Zillah 509-829-6922 Linden John DeMartini 209-484-8502 Tulare & Kern Counties Bob Cademartori 209-601-0754