For 2026, the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission (WTFRC) approved $228,176 to help fund six (6) new projects. The Oregon Sweet Cherry Commission (OSCC) is co-funding three (3) new projects, and the Northwest Nursery Improvement Institute (NNII) contributed $10,000 to one (1) new project.
2026 New Cherry Project Details:
Project Title: Pesticide Residues of PNW Cherries
Organization(s): Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission
Principal Investigator(s): Schmidt, T.
Total Funding Amount for All Years: $21,750
Length: 3 Years
As Northwest cherry production increases, growers are more reliant on export markets where pesticide residue limits are often more restrictive than U.S. standards. While labeled pesticide use typically meets domestic requirements, differences in international MRLs create potential risks for export shipments. This project aims to provide practical, field-based residue data that reflects real-world commercial orchard practices, helping growers understand residue outcomes from commonly used pesticides and make informed management decisions to reduce the risk of market rejection. Commonly used pesticides will be applied in a commercial cherry orchard using standard industry equipment, rates, and timings. Fruit will be collected near harvest and analyzed for residues. Results will be summarized and shared widely with the cherry industry to support informed decision-making related to export compliance.
Objectives
- Determine chemical residues left by commonly applied pesticides on commercially grown PNW cherries.
- Incorporate new treatment protocols to rapidly address emerging residue concerns for producers.
- Report results broadly to the PNW cherry industry in a timely manner.
Project Title: X-Disease Transmission Threshold – Measuring the Moment of Spread
Organization(s): USDA-ARS, Washington State University
Principal Investigator(s): Cooper, R.; Marshall, A.; Northfield, T.; Pitt, J.
Total Funding Amount for All Years: $150,000
Length: 3 Years
This project is designed to strengthen X-disease management by identifying when infected trees pose a transmission risk and by defining measurable targets for treatment success. By determining the phytoplasma infection level at which leafhoppers can acquire and transmit X-disease, the research will clarify how early trees must be detected and removed to prevent spread. The study will evaluate how phytoplasma titer influences acquisition rates, transmission success, and the time required for leafhoppers to become infective, providing practical thresholds to guide scouting sensitivity and removal decisions. Results will also inform the required speed and effectiveness of control strategies, including pesticides, repellents, and in-tree treatments, and will support ongoing early detection efforts by establishing biologically meaningful benchmarks that reduce the likelihood of missed infections contributing to disease spread.
Objectives
- Determine the infection threshold (Ct 40–35, 34–30, 29–25, <25) at which Colladonus reductus can acquire X-disease phytoplasma.
- Assess the latency period and proportion of Colladonus reductus capable of transmission after acquisition from different phytoplasma titer levels.
- Evaluate the feeding time required for acquisition and transmission of X-disease by Colladonus reductus using EPG.
Project Title: Early Detection Field Kit for X-Disease in Cherries
Organization(s): USDA-ARS, Washington State University
Principal Investigator(s): Pitino, M.; Marshall, A.; Harper, S.
Total Funding Amount for All Years: $100,000
Length: 3 Years
This project aims to deliver a rapid, field-deployable diagnostic tool for early detection of X-disease in cherry orchards, addressing a critical gap in current management strategies. Because infected trees can remain asymptomatic for years, early and reliable detection is essential to prevent unnoticed disease spread. The approach focuses on detecting phytoplasma effector proteins that are highly expressed and systemically distributed throughout infected trees, making them more reliable diagnostic targets than unevenly distributed pathogen DNA. By targeting these abundant, mobile protein signals, the method reduces the need for extensive sampling and lowers labor and testing costs compared to standard DNA-based diagnostics. Successful development of high-affinity antibodies will enable the creation of lateral flow assays that provide rapid, consistent results in field conditions, ultimately allowing growers and consultants to quickly identify and remove infected trees before further transmission occurs.
Objectives
- Characterize four highly expressed phytoplasma effectors identified in infected cherry plants for antibody generation.
- Generate and optimize polyclonal antibodies targeting these effectors for diagnostic purposes.
- Develop a lateral flow assay (LFA) for detecting phytoplasma effectors in insect vectors and plant tissues, with initial validation of antibody performance.
- Validate the diagnostic tools using field samples from Washington cherry orchards, assessing sensitivity, specificity, and practicality relative to established molecular methods.
- Explore the development of nanobodies to further improve assay sensitivity, stability, and scalability for future applications.
Project Title: Cherry Powdery Mildew: Fungicide Resistance and Management Options
Organization(s): Washington State University
Principal Investigator(s): Amiri, A.
Total Funding Amount for All Years: $232,996
Length: 3 Years
Cherry powdery mildew is one of the most serious diseases affecting cherries in the Pacific Northwest and can impact both tree health and fruit quality, including postharvest outcomes. Management has traditionally relied on frequent fungicide applications across multiple chemical groups, but growers, especially those producing highly susceptible cultivars, have reported increasing control failures in recent years. The causes of these failures remain uncertain and may involve high cultivar susceptibility, fungicide resistance, or other factors. Evaluating fungicide resistance in the pathogen is particularly challenging due to its reliance on living host tissue, leaving many reports of resistance anecdotal and unconfirmed. At the same time, there is a need to better assess the effectiveness of existing and newer fungicides, including organic options, as many commonly used products lack clear efficacy ratings. Addressing these gaps is essential to improving disease control, optimizing spray programs, and reducing the risk of resistance development.
Objectives
- Develop and validate biological and molecular assays to characterize fungicide resistance in cherry powdery mildew across multiple fungicide classes.
- Evaluate the efficacy of current and novel conventional and organic fungicides for controlling cherry powdery mildew.
- Assess the performance of different spray programs across cherry cultivars with varying levels of disease susceptibility.
- Share findings with cherry stakeholders through targeted extension activities.
Project Title: Product Development of Crimson Tea Proposal
Organization(s): Washington State University
Principal Investigator(s): Camerino, N.; Nyquist, B.; Carrera, A.; Waters, H.; Zhang, L.
Total Funding Amount for All Years: $10,000 (most costs are covered by apple, cherry will be charged proportionally)
Length: 1 Year
Crimson Tea is a proposed line of value-added, shelf-stable tea products made from Washington-grown tree fruits and complementary crops, designed to transform excess or lower-grade fruit into a premium consumer product. The concept focuses on fruit-forward loose-leaf teas, instant tea powders for convenience, and potential ready-to-drink options that appeal to health-conscious consumers seeking sustainable alternatives to traditional teas. By highlighting signature Washington fruits such as apples, cherries, peaches, and grapes, Crimson Tea aims to showcase agricultural innovation while creating new market opportunities for surplus fruit. Support for this project would enable product development, testing, and early market positioning, helping demonstrate how Washington tree fruit can be successfully leveraged into profitable, consumer-ready products.
Objectives
- Develop and refine fruit-forward loose-leaf tea and instant tea powder formulations using Washington-grown crops.
- Evaluate product variants for flavor, sweetness options, caffeine content, and consumer appeal.
- Explore the feasibility of ready-to-drink, shelf-stable tea products as a future expansion.
- Position Crimson Tea as a sustainable, value-added outlet for excess and lower-grade Washington tree fruit.
Project Title: Optimizing the Use of GA to Improve Fruit Quality in Sweet Cherry
Organization(s): Oregon State University
Principal Investigator(s): Galimba, K.; Thompson, A.
Total Funding Amount for All Years: $102,854
Length: 3 Years
Gibberellic Acid (GA) is widely used in sweet cherry production to improve fruit size and firmness, but current recommendations vary significantly between GA3 and GA4+7 products, and direct comparisons between them are limited. Differences in application timing and number of sprays make it difficult for growers to optimize GA use for fruit quality and return bloom. While early GA applications may improve fruit size and later applications may enhance firmness, optimal timing, product selection, and spray strategies are not well defined. This project aims to generate updated, practical recommendations by evaluating GA type, application timing, and single versus split applications across key cherry cultivars to improve harvest and postharvest fruit quality and guide more consistent, data-driven use of GA in commercial orchards.
Objectives
- Compare the effects of GA3 and GA4+7 on harvest and postharvest fruit quality and return bloom in Bing and Regina.
- Evaluate different GA3 application timings (early, middle, and late) on fruit quality and return bloom in Bing and Regina.
- Assess the benefits of single versus split GA3 applications on fruit quality in self-fertile cultivars Skeena and Lapins.
- Develop and share an updated, practical roadmap for GA use, including product comparisons and timing recommendations.
Contact
Paige Beuhler
Administrative Officer, WTFRC
paigeb@treefruitresearch.com
(509)665-8271 ext. 2
Ines Hanrahan
Executive Director, WTFRC
hanrahan@treefruitresearch.com
(509)669-0267
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