Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Byron, Georgia » Fruit and Tree Nut Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #201920
Title: Beneficial effects of nickel in pecan production

Author
item Reilly, Charles
item Wood, Bruce
item Bai, Cheng

Submitted to: Pecan Grower
Publication Type: Trade Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/20/2006
Publication Date: 12/4/2006
Citation: Reilly, C.C., Wood, B.W., Bai, C. 2006. Beneficial effects of nickel in pecan production. Pecan Grower. 17(4):26-27.

Interpretive Summary: Pecan scab disease is a major pest reducing orchard yields of pecan. A study of tree nutritional status in regards to nickel found that disease resistance was affected by nickel usage. Nickel treatment of foliage and developing fruit reduced damage by pecan scab. This indicates that increased usage of nickel in pesticide sprays may possess potential for reducing crop losses to pecan scab disease.

Technical Abstract: Nickel was combined with standard fungicide sprays and applied to foliage and fruit of Wichita, Apache, Desirable, Oconee, and Kiowa Pecan. Treatments reduced scab severity on all varieties, with those best most susceptible to scab being most influenced. The preliminary data indicates that nickel can be used as a management tool to be combined with other disease management tools to reduce tree susceptibility to scab disease.