Good Fruit Grower

June 1

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GOOD TO KNOW A research report from Lynn Long, Oregon State University Extension, Wasco County. Assessing new cherry varieties Lynn Long reports on new selections in an Oregon State University cherry variety trial that he has maintained for nearly 20 years. s with much of the Pacific Northwest, the 2011 Oregon cherry harvest was far from ideal. A sig- nificant rain event late in the season destroyed much of the Skeena harvest. Yet, when I spoke with growers after harvest, most were opti- mistic about their potential for profit. One thing made this outcome possible, variety diversity. Fifteen years ago, a rain just prior to Bing harvest would have destroyed not only the Northwest cherry crop but also any hope of a profit. Growers have learned that with diversity comes protection. Some varieties escape rain damage by ripen- ing before or after the rain event, while other varieties, such as Regina, have natural resistance to cracking. For this reason, as well as reduced labor needs and the potential for higher profits due to an expanded harvest period, growers are always looking for good, new vari- eties. Of course it is important that any new variety is selected carefully, with as much supporting data as possi- ble to avoid costly mistakes. With this purpose in mind, I have maintained a cherry variety trial in The Dalles since the mid-1990s including many new varieties and selec- tions from around the world. I currently evaluate nearly 80 selections each year for bloom and harvest timing, fruit size and firmness, as well as pedicel-fruit retention force (stem pull force) and other quality attributes. New additions include varieties in the "Star" series from the University of Bologna, Italy breeding program and the "Pearl" series from Cornell University. I hope to have data to report on these varieties soon. This article, however, will focus on several varieties that have been of interest, for one reason or another, to Northwest growers in the last few years. Santina Santina is a variety released by Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre in Summerland, British Columbia, Canada, in the 1990s. Obviously, it is not a new variety but there is renewed interest in this cherry as an early-season variety that can be harvested seven to ten days before Bing. It has been grown for some time in early production areas of Chile and Australia, but until recently, Northwest growers have overlooked it. The tree is self-fertile but moderately productive. The tree will do well on either Mazzard or a productive rootstock such as Gisela 6. The fruit is very large and firm, with an excellent stem pull force. The flavor is only fair to good but acceptable for an early-season variety. Unfortunately, the fruit cracks in the rain. Rain crack percentages in the past have ranged from 20 percent in 2010 to up to 90 percent in 2005. In comparison, 55 percent of the Bing fruit split in 2005. Kiona Kiona is an excellent tasting early variety, released from the Washington State University breeding program a few years ago. Ripening time is similar to Tieton. It is self-fertile but has only moderate productivity, so it performs well on the more precocious rootstocks. Fruit size is large, commonly 9.5 row, with excellent stem pull force. For all of these rea- sons there was hope that Kiona would meet the need for Timing of Benton harvest is around Bing, but fruit size is larger than Bing, and it is more tolerant to cracking than Bing. Highly productive rootstocks should be used, such as Gisela 6 or 12. Kiona is an excellent-tasting early variety but lacks firmness. 30 JUNE 2012 GOOD FRUIT GROWER The early season Santina is large and firm, though flavor is only fair to good—but acceptable for an early variety. Rain cracking is a drawback. www.goodfruit.com PHOTOS cOurTeSy Of Lynn LOng, OSu exTenSiOn

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