TFREC is the research and extension center of Washington State University dedicated to the tree fruit sciences. Located in the primary fruit producing region of the world, the center features a cooperative, multidisciplinary approach to tree fruit production in the 21st century.
Organic Tree Fruit Management in the West
New concepts and techniques are featured in Organic Tree Fruit Pest Management in the West: Bringing New Science to Old Problems. The presentations from this symposium are now available on-line at http://www.tfrec.wsu.edu/pages/tforg/
Domestic apple genome published
An international team of scientists from Italy, France, New Zealand, Belgium and the USA have published a draft sequence of the domestic apple genome in the current issue of Nature Genetics. The availability of a genome sequence for the apple will allow scientists to more rapidly identify which genes provide desirable characteristics to the fruit and which genes and gene variants provide disease or drought resistance to the plant (more...)
Updated cost estimates for producing sweet cherries
WSU economists have released new data in the on-line publication, "2009 Cost estimates of establishing and producing sweet cherries in Washington" along with an Excel spreadsheet for grower use.
Field Day 2010 scrapbook
We've assembled a few of the highlights from the 2010 Sunrise Research Orchard Field Day held July 29 into an online scrapbook (and the TFREC Facebook page)
Spotted Wing Drosophila – A New Fruit Pest
Update: new article in Orchard Pest Management
Spotted wing drosophila (SWD), Drosophila suzukii, is a new pest of fruit in the US. It was first found in California in 2008, and has since been found in Washington and Oregon. Known host include caneberries, blueberries, and other small fruits; among tree fruits, stone fruits (cherries, nectarines, plums) are also attacked.. More work needs to be done to determine the host status of grapes, apples and pears. This pest is different from the common “vinegar fly” or “fruit fly”, Drosophila melanogaster, in that it can attack healthy, undamaged, ripening fruit. For more information, visit http://swd.hort.oregonstate.edu. (WSU press release)
Apple sunburn model available for testing
Dr. Larry Schrader, TFREC Horticulturist, released for the web an empirical model predicting apple sunburn. The model allows users to test online different combinations of factors leading to sunburn of apples. Predictions from this model using NOAA forecats are generated for DAS users. However, at this time growers should not use it for actual orchard management. (more...)
Pest Management Transition 2010 Handbook
The PMTP Handbook underwent a major update. The new edition added new pages including an explanation of Degree Days, more pest monitoring, updated web resources (indluding DAS 4.0), as well as changes to pages containing references to the Codling Moth model to reflect the no-biofix model. And, a Spanish edition of the Handbook is now available (more...)
Community Education Garden dedication
The Chelan-Douglas Master Gardeners dedicated the new Community Education Garden to the communities of Chelan and Douglas Counties on Thursday, May 20, 2010. This project is located at the Tree Fruit Research & Extension Center (more...)
El Nino conditions dimishing
NOAA-National Weather Service is reporting that the end of El Niño and predicting the development of a La Nina conditions this summer. Growers and other affected agricultural interests should be prepared for more typical growing conditions this summer followed by cooler than normal weather thsi fall. Links to various NWS forecasts are available on the TFREC Climate Prediction page.
Irrigators will also be interested in the new gridded evapotranspiration forecast from the Spokane National Weather Service office.
WA 2: first WSU apple variety
After 15 years, the WSU apple breeding program has released its first apple cultivar. Currently known as ‘WA 2’ was released because of its outstanding eating quality, appearance and productivity and therefore it’s potential to be a successful cultivar in Washington State.
It is attractive with an orange-red to pinkish-red blush over a yellow background and has large and conspicuous lenticels which usually make it easily distinguishable from other cultivars and add to its overall pleasing appearance. The fruit has outstanding texture, being very firm, crisp and juicy and loses very little firmness in storage and on the shelf (more...)
Establishing and Producing Gala Apples in Washington
Since the first commercial plantings of Gala apples in the 1980s, the popularity of this cultivar has grown exponentially until today Gala is the second largest cultivar grown in Washington. This new WSU Extension Fact Sheet identifies typical practices and corresponding costs of a modern, well-managed Gala apple orchard. It indicates current trends in the industry, and as such, can be helpful in estimating the physical and financial requirements. (fact sheet)
Orchard Pest Management on web
OPM: a Resource for the Pacific Northwest is now available on the web. This valuable reference for anyone concerned with tree fruit arthropod pests includes 98 species and other accounts and a new gallery of over 900 photographs. Go to OPM...
Impact: the value of research & extension
Washington State University's Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center is well situated to meet the immediate and future needs of Washington's fruit industry. More...
Consumer Horticulture
The Consumer Horticulture Community at eXtension has a new web site to provide resources on backyard horticulture with such topics as composting, pollinators, and tree selection (go to eXtension).
WSU-TFREC Sites of Interest
Plant breeding
Integrated Pest Management
- Pest Management Transition Project
- Western Orchard Pest & Disease Management Conference
- Enhancing Western Orchard Biological Control
- Survey results: pest management practices 1990 & 2000
- IPM Decision Aid System (DAS)
Orchard Management
- EB0419: Crop Protection Guide for Tree Fruit (web page format)
- Orchard Pest Management: a Resource for the Pacific Northwest
- Evapotranspiration predictor
- Soils & Fertilizers: a Presentation
- Cullage Assessment & Education Program
- Peshastin Creek Areawide Organic Project
and More
- Climate prediction
- A Field Guide to Experimental Designs
- Additional online resources
- Jobs at TFREC