Tree Fruit Research and Extension
WSU Tree Fruit Research and Extension develops and applies research-based information for sustainable tree fruit production in Washington and the world.
Recent News
Help Needed — Fire Blight Samples
A cold spring may not favor fire blight development, but late planting with late bloom as well as a severe thunderstorm, hail, and excessive rain…
Monitor and Manage Vectors of X-disease phytoplasma
Both leafhopper population numbers and X-disease phytoplasma concentration in the tree are likely to be higher after harvest. When phytoplasma concentration in the tree is…
Consider Trapping for Spotted-Wing Drosophila
Pressure from spotted-wing drosophila (SWD) varies from year to year. Some years (like 2015) with mild winters and early springs can produce high levels of…
Little Cherry Disease Q&A With The Experts
When researchers talk about ‘Little Cherry’ they are using a colloquial term for three different pathogens: Little cherry virus-1 (LChV-1) and Little cherry virus-2 (LChV-2)…
#BeHeatSmart
High temperatures this summer put agricultural workers at increased risk for heat illness, a medical condition that if left unchecked could lead to death. The…
Progress Towards Leafhopper Degree-Day Model Slow but Steady
TFREC researchers are building a tool for growers to predict leafhopper populations in cherry orchards. It’s a long process, but the work will lead to…
Upcoming Events
19
Sep
Sep
Field Day Prevention of Little Cherry Virus and X-disease Phytoplasma in Nursery Operations
Gold Crown Nursery 15010 Road 8 NW, Quincy, WA
17
Jan
Jan
Apple Day – North Central Washington Tree Fruit Days
Wenatchee Convention Center
18
Jan
Jan
Stone Fruit Day – North Central Washington Tree Fruit Days
Wenatchee Convention Center
Featured Videos
Understanding the carbon footprint of tree fruit
These video series correspond to an educational forum hosted by WSU Tree Fruit Extensio, Washington Soil Health Initiative (WaSHI) and the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission (WTFRC). We bought in global, national, and regional expertise…
2022 Virtual Orchard Meetup Series – Technology
This is the fourth presentation in the 2022 Virtual Orchard Meetup series, recorded on July 14, 2022. The 2022 series theme is Orchard Efficiencies: Labor and Technology. This fourth webinar focused on academic researchers with…
2022 Virtual Orchard Meetup Series – Technology panel
This is the third presentation in the 2022 Virtual Orchard Meetup series, recorded on June 30, 2022. The 2022 series theme is Orchard Efficiencies: Labor and Technology. This third webinar focused on grower experiences with…
2022 Virtual Orchard Meetup Series – Labor session 2
This second webinar included legal considerations and labor efficiency, with emphasis on the H2a program. Panelist included Dr. Brooke Duer, Dr. Philip Martin, and Dr. John Van de Vegte
Climate: Why Does it Matter? with Dr. Nicholas Bond
Dr. Bond, from the Office of the Washington State Climatologist, share with us insights into the heatwave and drought of 2021, as well as the observed trends in heat, cold snaps, floods, and air pollution,…
Recent Publications
Soil Health Indicators for Central Washington Orchards
To help growers in Central Washington orchards, Washington State University scientists demonstrated that all soil health indicators should include measurements of water availability and root health in addition to standard fertility indicators to meet stakeholder…
Field scale application of Brassica seed meal and anaerobic soil disinfestation for the control of apple replant disease.
Study published June 2021 in Applied Soil Ecology shows potential of anaerobic soil disinfestation and biorenovation with mustard meals for mitigation of replant disease.
Towards rapid detection and mapping of powdery mildew in apple orchards
Chandel, Khot, Sallato Dec 2020. Powdery mildew (PM) in apples is a critical fungal disease that adversely affects yield and fruit quality. Conventional PM identification techniques are laborious. This study evaluated the suitability of non-destructive…
Photoselective Protective Netting Improves “Honeycrisp” Fruit Quality
Sara Serra et al. Dec 2020. High temperatures, wind, and excessive sunlight can negatively impact yield and fruit quality in semi-arid apple production regions. Netting was originally designed for hail protection, but it can modify…
Sweet Cherries
L. Long, G. Lang & C. Kaiser Dec 2020. This new book provides comprehensive coverage of the history, genetic improvements, production physiology of growth and cropping, orchard establishment and management, and harvest considerations for sustainable…
