Location: Fruit and Tree Nut Research
Project Number: 6042-30500-001-000-D
Project Type: In-House Appropriated
Start Date: Feb 6, 2025
End Date: Feb 5, 2030
Objective:
1.Increase pecan nut productivity by analyzing key horticultural issues that
disrupt annual consistency, yield, and quality, and developing new or improved
management strategies for growers [NP305, C1, PS1B].
1.A. (Pisani). Determine if cultural management strategies, in particular
fertilizer amendments can improve overall pecan tree health and longevity.
1.B. (Pisani). Characterize horticultural traits of native pecan germplasm and
identify genes of interest as a resource for development of new and improved
cultivars.
1.C. (Pisani). Characterization of improved pecan rootstocks for uniformity of
yield and enhanced productivity.
2. Reduce impacts of important and emerging pecan diseases such as scab and leaf
scorch, on production, quality, and uniformity of nuts meats [NP 305, C1, PS1B; NP 303, C3, PS 3B].
2.A. (Vacancy). Improve understanding of the temporal development of scab epidemics at different heights in the tree canopy, impacts on component of yield, and determine more economic ways to manage scab.
2.B. (Vacancy). Identify the role of the sexual stage of the pecan scab pathogen in the pathogen lifecycle, and the environmental conditions that result in ascospore production and maturity.
2.C. (Vacancy, Pisani). Improve knowledge of other emerging diseases of pecan as a basis for improved disease control.
Approach:
This research aims to provide pecan farmers with improved, sustainable tree and
disease management practices that stabilize yield in pecan (Carya illinoinensis)
orchards. The project will aim to obtain a better understanding of how crop
nutrient management practices affect flowering, fruit-set, and canopy and root
health of pecan trees, and how cultivar and rootstock selection affects tree
growth, flowering and crop load, and thus orchard productivity. The project will
also aim to better understand how fungicide spray application can be optimized in regard to sprayer parameters (speed and volume) to control scab caused by Venturia effusa. Epidemic development will be studied in trees to better understand dynamics in response to waning fungicide efficacy with height in the canopy.
