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
Remove Fire Blight Cankers Now to Reduce Risk this Year
Fire blight cankers left in the orchard are the source for new infections next spring. Remove them now!
Survey – Understanding Your Perspective on Apple Fire Blight Management Systems
Researchers at Washington State University, Michigan State University, Cornell University, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, are conducting a survey to learn about your…
Soil and Plant Diagnostic Technology for Orchard Nutrient Management
Effective nutrient management in tree fruit production requires a comprehensive understanding of multiple interacting factors, including soil conditions (physical, chemical, and biological), plant health and…
Survey on Heat and Frost Damages in Pear and Apple
We need your input! Your responses to this 10-minute survey will help us make sure our research into understanding how pear and apple trees respond…
2025 WA Tree Fruit Research Commission Grant Awards for Cherry
For 2025, the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission (WTFRC) approved $424,284 to help fund five (5) new projects. The Oregon Sweet Cherry Commission (OSCC) is…
The Die-Off of Generic Escherichia coli on Preharvest Apples
Key Findings and Recommendations on Time-to-Harvest Intervals for Washington Apple Growers from Two Recent Studies.
Upcoming Events
21
Jan
Jan
Pear Day – North Central Washington Tree Fruit Days – 2025
Wenatchee Convention Center
22
Jan
Jan
Stone Fruit Day – North Central Washington Tree Fruit Days
Wenatchee Convention Center
23
Jan
Jan
Apple Day – North Central Washington Tree Fruit Days 2025
Wenatchee Convention Center
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Featured Videos
Forecasting Station Specific Weather
This presentation is an example of how good quality, local weather data can be used in abiotic stress models for both present and forecasted weather.
Weather Sensing: Adding Private Stations to AWN
AgWeatherNet hosts numerous public weather stations. But reaching every farm and location is challenging. Therefore, many growers have opted for private weather stations. Watch the experts at AWN give expert advice on the proper hardware…
Lacewing and Aphid Scouting
An instructional video describing methods for scouting for aphids and lacewings in apple orchards. This video was produced by Tianna DuPont, WSU Extension and Rebecca Schmidt-Jeffris, USDA-ARS as part of SARE Project SW24-004: Developing best…
Private Network Participation – the Hardware and Software
Presented by Field Meteorologist, Contezac Hill and Sean Hill, Applications Systems Analyst/Developer
WSU Weather School: Soil Moisture Sensors
A presentation by R. Troy Peters, PHD, PE, Professor/Extension Irrigation Engineer, WSU Prosser
Recent Publications
Evaluation of biopesticides for the control of Erwinia amylovora in Apple and Pear
In a recent study, we evaluated non-antibiotic materials for fire blight control in 8 Washington, 3 Oregon, 3 New York and 2 Pennsylvania field experiments conducted between 2013 to 2022.
Investigations of Multiple Approaches to Reduce Green Spot Incidence in ‘WA 38’ Apple
A pre-harvest apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) disorder named “green spot” (GS) was recently identified on ‘WA 38’ apples. Previous work indicated a tentative association between GS and fruit mineral imbalance, and an influence of…
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…
