Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/675334
28 MAY 15, 2016 Good Fruit Grower www.goodfruit.com Fruit Research Commission, said there's still a lot more to learn about where the selections that are currently under evaluation are going to fit — or if they're going to fit — into the current cherry production scheme. "It's just too early to know," he said. Direction change Meanwhile, the breeding program is undergoing a leadership change. Dr. Nnadozie Oraguzie, WSU's cherry breeder for eight years, is stepping away from that role to focus full- time on genetics research, according to a March 28 email to staff by Dr. Kimberlee Kidwell, acting dean of the WSU College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences. Kidwell expressed gratitude to the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission and the Oregon Sweet Cherry Commission for continued support of the program. "We look forward to partnering with you to con- tinue building a world-class cherry breeding program at WSU that serves the needs of producers throughout the Pacific Northwest," she said. T h e e n t i r e P a c i f i c Northwest cherry industry supports continued efforts to breed new varieties and continues to put resources into maintaining the existing germplasm so that the program can be picked up when- ever a new person is hired, Willett said. This year, in addition to maintaining that germplasm, the focus will be to learn more about phenotypes of indi- vidual selections, such as maturity date, size, firmness, color and bloom date. "The industry feels that there is a need to have improved cultivars in both the early season and the late season, and that's the focus that the industry would like to see of any efforts going forward in the breeding pro- gram," Willett said. WSU has hired a research associate, Bernardita Sallato, to work with the directors of the university's Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center in Prosser and the Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center in Wenatchee to manage and advance the breed- ing material for the 2016 crop year. Sallato started April 1. A search for WSU's next cherry breeder will begin in spring 2017, Kidwell said. • Bleaching Cooked On-tree pitting Shrivel Soft shoulder Stem discoloration Photos courtesy of the Washington tree fruit research commission Heat wave T he record temperatures in 2015 afforded research- ers the opportunity to evaluate cherry breeding selections for heat tolerance. A number of selections showed susceptibility to the heat, with pre-harvest symptoms that included shrivel, discolored stems, on-tree pitting, soft or "cooked" shoulders and bleaching, said Dr. Ines Hanrahan, research scientist for the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission. Post-harvest symptoms included shoulder shrivel and a lack of luster on the cherries. The heat also altered the maturation pattern for con- ventional cultivars. Sweethearts and Bings, in particu- lar, showed delayed color development. —S. Dinniny Nnadozie Oraguzie