Project Number: 5306-22000-015-21
Project Type: General Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Sep 01, 2012
End Date: Aug 31, 2014

Objective:
Conduct extension efforts that: 1)Deliver disease-resistant rootstocks to stakeholders. 2)Assess emerging threats to walnut rootstocks.

Approach:
Identify commercial walnut orchards adjacent to riparian stands or roadside plantings of J. hindsii exhibiting Thousand Cankers Disease in Solano, Sutter, Tulare and Yolo counties in CA. Conduct focused surveys in these orchards to define gradients in the incidence and distribution of Thousand Cankers Disease relative to the native black walnut trees. Perform forensic analysis via genotyping strains isolated from stands of J. hindsii, and those from adjacent orchards to determine whether infected J. hindsii trees serve as a reservoir of inoculum for the adjacent orchards. Conduct coordinated outreach activities including annual county walnut meetings, and numerous field-day meetings accross the state.