Tree Fruit Research

The Rutgers Fruit and Ornamental Research Extension Center in Cream Ridge (Monmouth County) conducts and disperses research applicable to the production of high-quality tree and small fruits, including apples, peaches, apricots, nectarines, brambles, strawberries, and ornamental nursery crops. The center increases production efficiency and protects fruit crops against environmental and biological hazards, while decreasing production costs and pesticide use.

Note: Only traditional breeding techniques are used, such as cross-pollination.

Bacterial Spot

Rutgers researchers breed peaches with tolerance to major diseases, such as bacterial spot. Bacterial spot is difficult to control and typically requires the use of antibiotics and copper. Many commercial varieties of peaches have been developed in parts of the country where there is low disease pressure. However, since New Jersey’s climate can be favorable to disease development, tree fruit specialists such as Dr. Goffreda sought out to develop cultivars more suitable for production in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. Other factors considered in the breeding and selection process include tolerance to other major diseases, cold-hardy flower buds, and fruit eating quality.

Apple Scab

Seasonal shifts concern tree fruit yields because of the introduction of diseases and the movement of pests along with warmer temperatures, in addition to early bloom and frost vulnerability associated with season creep. Breeding for resistance is crucially important to prepare farmers for the introduction of new threats brought on by climate change. The PRI disease resistant apple breeding program is cooperative among Purdue University, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, and the University of Illinois. The program was initiated in 1945 to breed apples resistant to scab caused by the fungal pathogen Venturia inaequalis.

Integrated Pest Management

There are a number of reasons why tree fruit breeding is essential to prepare tree fruits for the introduction of pests and diseases. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) helps tree fruit growers with the threat of intensified pest invasions by educating farmers about selecting resistance varieties and taking measures to reduce pesticide use. Breeding is needed to produce disease resistance in fruit trees and tackle associated issues, such as proper drainage, air flow, and other ways to overcome climate changes with regard to soils, storm water, and humidity. Rutgers Cooperative Extension provides education and outreach for techniques to reduce frost damage, increase use of IPM, expanding irrigation, and experimenting with new varieties.

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Sources

Rutgers Fruit and Ornamental Research Extension Center

Rutgers Licensing and Technology: Agricultural Products