Fruit School 2015
Thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s fruit school!
Each participant received handouts that included a thumb-drive preloaded with the abstracts and presentation files. However, Dr. Matt Whiting’s presentations were inadvertently left out. You will find a download link next to the listing for his talks below.
Workshop Information
WSU Extension presented a 2-day workshop at multiple locations simultaneously that focused on the newest scientific information on tree fruit physiology. Session topic areas included:
Session I: Pome Fruit Physiology 101
Objective: Understand basic physiology of apple and pear including growth and development, floral initiation and the role of hormones
- Plant Growth & Development – Matt Whiting, WSU download abstract & slides
- Endogenous Hormones – Duane Greene, Univ. of Massachusetts
- Floral Initiation – Matt Whiting, WSU download abstract & slides
Session II: The Dynamic Nature of Nutrient & Water Relations and Importance of Roots in Modern Orchard Systems
Objective: Understand roots and their relationship with canopy growth and productivity.
- Roots, A General Primer – Lee Kalcsits, WSU
- Nutrient Uptake and Distribution – Massimo Tagliavini, Bolzano
- Irrigation and Nutrient Management – Denise Nielsen, AAFC Summerland
- Managing Soil Microbiology (Ecology) – Mark Mazzola, USDA-ARS
Session III: Manipulation of Tree Growth with Pruning & Plant Growth Regulators
Objective: Understand the applied techniques available to manipulate physiological cycles in fruit trees
- Apple and Pear Tree Architecture – Pierre-Eric Lauri, INRA – France
- Competition Among Vegetative and Reproductive Cycles and Role of Pruning – Stefano Musacchi, WSU
- Plant Growth Regulators in Tree Manipulation – Duane Greene, Univ. of Massachusetts
Session IV: Stress Physiology: The Good and the Bad
Objective: Understand the various environmental factors common in the Pacific Northwest that cause plant stress, their effects on various tree organs, and implications for orchard management strategies.
- Basic Plant Stress Physiology – Lee Kalcsits, WSU
- Heat & Light Stress/Sunburn – Larry Schrader, WSU Emeritus
- Management Strategies to Exploit Stresses – Todd Einhorn, OSU
- Management Strategies to Mitigate Stresses
-Mike Robinson, Double Diamond Fruit
-Del Feigal, Auvil Fruit Company
Session V: Physiology of Fruit Maturation and Quality
Objective: Understand parameters of fruit maturation and pre-harvest practices to maintain high quality fruit from harvest through storage.
- Fruit Maturity and Quality – Jim Mattheis, USDA-ARS
- Optimizing Pre-Harvest Fruit Quality – Sara Serra, WSU
- Pre-Harvest Growth Regulator in Apples and Pears
-Apples: Dana Faubion, Agrofresh
-Pears: Yan Wang, OSU
