MINUTES NC-140 1998 ANNUAL MEETING
November 12-21, 1998
Hood River, Oregon


In Attendance:

AR Curt Rom
NY H. Aldwinckle, B. Andersen, P. Forsline,
BC C. Hampson, F. Kappel W. Johnson, T. Robinson
CA S. Johnson NC M. Parker
CO A. Gaus, C. Stushnoff
NS C. Embree
IL M. Kushad
OH D. Ferree
IN P. Hirst
ONT J. Cline, B. Lay
IA P. Domoto
MA W. Autio
MI R. Perry, I. Gray
MN D. Bedford
OR A. Azarenko, G. Mielke
SC G. Reighard
UT J. L. Anderson, T. Lindstrom
VT E. Garcia
MO M. Kaps
VA R. Marini
NJ B. Belding, J. Compton, W. Cowgill
WA B. Barritt, G. Lang
WI T. Roper

Administrative Advisor CSREES Representative
Dr. Ian Gray Dr. Cecil Stushnoff
Director, Michigan Agric. Exp. Station Dept. Hort & LA
Michigan State University Colorado State University
East Lansing, MI 48824 Fort Collins, CO 80523

Meeting was called to order at 8:05 by Chairman Mielke who introduced a tentative agenda--Moved and seconded that agenda be adopted, passed. The chairman requested that state reports be e-mailed to him, preferably in Microsoft Word.

Executive Reports and Comments
Dr. Gray indicated that it is becoming increasingly difficult to get regional projects approved, especially for very large groups. Next year, NC-140 must submit a mid-term review and this report needs to emphasize how states depend on each other. Minutes of this meeting are due in 30 days and the annual report is due by mid-March in Washington and is limited to 3 pages. The annual report should show NC-140’s influence on the following: impact on the fruit industry and community; how funds were leveraged; accomplishments--money, publications, etc.

Dr. Gray indicated Hatch funds have been increased by 7% and this was coupled with an increase in funds for the National Research Initiative. Extension funds were increased 3%. He discussed the pressures being applied to change from formula funds to competitive funds and the difficulties it would cause because many personnel are paid through formula funds.

Dr. Stushnoff announced that Dr. Marcia Stanton has been appointed National Program Leader of CSREES. A search is underway for a horticulturist to serve CSREES in Washington.

Future Meetings
1999 Gettysburg/Biglerville, PA
2000 Wooster, OH
2001 CA, moved and seconded that CA at Kearney to be the location in 2001-- approved
2002 SC

Announcement:
George Green indicated that long time member of NC-140, Dr. Loren Tukey had passed away.

Special Presentations:
Mr. Cheng Lai Liang , a PhD student at Oregon, made a presentation on “Producing and Handling Nursery Stock”, which was part of his dissertation. He stressed the importance of fall nitrogen content to tree growth the year the trees were planted in the orchard.

Dr. Herb Aldwinkle presented some of the recent work at Geneva on “Genetic Engineering for Fireblight Control”. He presented data showing successful reduction in fireblight lesion length in transformed M.7, Galaxy, Royal Gala and M.26.

Dr. William Johnson, the newly appointed USDA-ARS/New York rootstock breeder, outlined his apple rootstock breeding program and stressed the national focus. He presented 10 steps that rootstock candidates would progress through and suggested selection criteria for each step.

Committee Reports

1988 Pear Rootstock Trial - Anita Azarenko
Each cooperator is requested to submit an analyzed summary table of their data, plus a description of their results. The deadline for this material is March with the goal of compilation by June.

1990 Plum Rootstock Trial - Bob Andersen
Since the trees were planted in different years and initial tree quality was poor, developing a summary report will be difficult.

1990 Gala Apple Rootstock Trial - Rich Marini
He reviewed data from all 9 trials. Since 1999 will be the last year for this trial, he indicated that tree height and spread will be needed at the end of the 1999 season.

1990 Apple Cultivar/Rootstock Trial - Wes Autio
Wes indicated that 1999 will be the last year for this trial and the committee discussed additional data that should be included as follows:

1. calculate yield/ha data
2. black heart - Paul Domoto will develop criteria
3. growth proliferation on Mark - Wes Autio and Ron Perry will develop criteria
4. tree height and spread — maximum spread parallel and perpendicular to row

A long discussion developed on terminology to use when cumulative yield is divided by TCA.

The following motion was made and seconded that the following terms be used:
Annual yield/TCA
Cumulative yield/TCA
vote tied--no decision.

Subsequently moved and seconded that the second term above be changed to “cumulative yield efficiency”.

Vote again was a tie.

1992/93 Liberty CG Rootstock Trial - Terence Robinson
After discussion, it was decided to submit number of picks and number of drops separately and yield (weight) will be the weight of the picks.

1994 Gala Semi-dwarf Rootstock Trial - Rich Marini
Data should be submitted by February 15, 1999, and sending through e-mail has worked well. Cooperators should eliminate CG13 and CG11, as they are not correct and not submit data on
these trees. Height and spread should be included this year. Rich will provide directions for rating for burr knots.

1994 Gala Dwarf Rootstock Trial - Rich Marini
Tree height and spread are needed this year and should be submitted on time by February 15, 1999. Rich will forward instructions on how to rate burr knots and union height. He also requested that the reasons for tree death be provided by each cooperator for the 5-year write-up of this data.

1984 Peach Rootstock Trial - Ron Perry
Ron presented some summary tables of data and a brief introduction and indicated the paper on this trial would be written and submitted to Fruit Varieties Journal in 1999.

1994 Peach Rootstock Trial - Greg Reighard
He requested that data be submitted early (January 1999) so that he could complete the write-up this winter. He indicated that e-mail submission worked well. After discussion, it was decided to submit tree spread as an average of the within and across row spread this year.

1998 Cherry Rootstock Trial - Frank Kappel
Tree quality and first year growth varied among cooperating sites.

1998 Apple Rootstock Trial - Terence Robinson
Terence asked that cooperators send data annually and include the Geneva number, so he can relate to original trunk circumference.

Future Cooperative Plantings

Pear 2002/2003
OH97 would serve as the control and it would include 14-15 new rootstocks. Anjou or Bosc would be a common cultivar with a possible second cultivar by site. People interested in this planting should contact Gene Mielke.

Plum Trial
Bob Andersen indicated that he had talked to several people about becoming leaders for cooperative rootstock projects on the smaller prunus crops and couldn’t identify anyone. Committee requested that Bob continue to try to find leaders.

Motion was made and seconded that Greg Land and Curt Rom write a letter on behalf of the committee to secure the assistance of NRSP5 in helping import promising potential rootstocks. Approved.

Suggestions to include in the letter:


Cherry Trial
Frank Kappel indicated that the cherry committee was proposing a new planting in 2003. Presently they have identified 30 potential rootstock candidates which includes Dresden and Russian material. The committee will attempt to secure material and see what can be available for 2003.

1999 Apple Rootstock Trial - Terence Robinson
Terence passed out a report showing a list of the rootstock and available tree numbers with most being less than cooperators interested in having the trial. The committee decided that there would be 4 McIntosh sites and 3 Fuji sites with complete sets and incomplete trials at 9 additional sites. Sites were chosen with unique climatic conditions to provide the best test conditions for these new Geneva rootstocks.

2002 Apple Rootstock
Terence Robinson presented a long list of stocks that are possible and indicated that this list would be reduced by testing for fireblight at Geneva by Bill Johnson. After much discussion, the group decided that they would try to accommodate all who wanted to be involved. Terence will send out an inquiry by e-mail to see who might be interested in this planting.

Motion made and seconded that subcommittee meeting minutes be included as part of the regular meeting minutes. Approved.

Motion made and seconded that the report that Terence submitted be accepted as the report of the apple rootstock subcommittee. Approved.

The committee suggested that all trial coordinators and committee members prepare a summary of the major problems they have had dealing with their data sets. Rich Marini agreed to coordinate a request to IDFTA requesting support for NC-140 trial coordinators.

Discussion of Contributions Toward Project Objectives:

Objective 2. To assess and improve asexual propagation techniques of pome and stone fruit rootstocks.

MI - MS student working on propagation protocols for new cherry rootstocks.



OR - Bill Proebsting working on non-tissue culture techniques for the most promising Gisla stocks. Research on factors that control orchard growth of nursery trees was presented to the committee.

Committee requested that secretary write a letter to Bill Proebsting to see if he would be willing to be an official part of NC-140.

NY - Working on the best propagation techniques for the CG rootstocks. G.65 is very difficult. Present focus is on G.11 because of very limited material.

AR - Working on propagation techniques for red-leafed peach rootstocks developed in AR both through seed and cuttings as well as stooling potential.

Objective 3. To improve the ability to identify pome- and stone-fruit rootstocks through morphological, biochemical and genetic differences.

NY - Performed RAPIDS on CG material with a focus to make sure what was released was true to name and not misidentified. Bill Johnson plans to develop a profile for each of their genotypes that are to be released in the future. This system may not be foolproof because many of the bands are similar so more markers are needed.

CO & CA - Also have program trying to identify genetic markers

NS - Charlie Embree is developing a collection of individual specimens of the new rootstocks to study and identify their above ground characteristics.

Objective 4. To develop new and better pome- and stone-fruit rootstocks through breeding and genetic engineering, and to acquire new rootstocks from breeding programs in other parts of the world.

NH - Bill Johnston made a presentation on the USDA-ARS/New York apple rootstock breeding program.

Terence Robinson has initiated plans to import 5 more Morioka apple rootstocks this year. He is attempting to import them into a quarantine block where they could be screened for fireblight resistance and any that have resistance could the be processed through quarantine for field testing.

Bob Andersen is working with some Russian contacts in cooperation with co-workers to identify both scion and rootstocks material with promise for our needs.


OH - Received provisional release of Morioka 1,2,5,7 and 8 apple rootstocks from plant quarantine. These have been budded on rootstocks in hopes that developing rooted plants this year.

MI - Amy Iezzoni has found 3 selection of P. fruticosa that have some virus resistance.

Objective 5. To determine biotic and abiotic stress tolerance of pome and stone fruit trees in relation to new and existing rootstocks.

NY - Initiated a field test of the CG rootstocks for fireblight with initial results showing good resistance. A new technique of cutting young leaves was being used for this trial.

G.16 was found to be sensitive to latent viruses that are common in apple. Virus infected Gala trees grew well initially, but died by end of season with no loss of virus-free Gala. Since all these latents are graft transmitted, this sensitivity of G.16 may be only a nursery problem. ELISA techniques did not appear to be successful in identifying this problem. The graft union strength of G.30 was tested and shown to have a weaker union than some other rootstocks.

MA - As part of an IPM project, they are evaluating tree architecture as it interacts with insect and disease infection.

WA - Greg Lang reported that NRSP5 was looking for a better cherry virus test. The bud test shows hypersensitivity, while the liner test looks like it translates well with field results. May be able to get test results before mature tree stage.

Web Site Report

Win Cowgill indicated that site hosted NE-183, NC-140 and IDFTA pages. Win appealed to committee members provide material to improve content.

A motion was made and seconded that the NC-140 site be an official function of NC-140 to disseminate information to nurserymen and orchardists in a manner that was useful and timely. Approved.

The following communication committee was appointed to develop appropriate information: Win Cowgill (Chair), W. Autio, A. Azerenko, B. Belding, J. Clements, R. Crassweller, E. Garcia, C. Rom, T. Roper.

A motion was made and seconded that any excess money from the 1998 meeting be forwarded to Win to support web site development rather than returned to individual participants. Approved.

Secretary was directed to write to Australian and Mexican cooperators to determine if they want to have continued involvement in NC-140 and do they have information to share with the committee.

Motion was made and seconded that Dr. Ian Gray be requested to see how our committee could support a consultant statistician to attend our annual meeting. Approved.

Motion was made and seconded that secretary write a letter to Kim Hummer to express the thanks for NC-140 for organizing the workshop and the improvement in the response of the Beltsville Plant Quarantine people. Approved.

Motion was made and seconded that secretary write a letter of appreciation to Oregon administrators for the much appreciated work of Anita Azerenko and Gene Mielke for arranging and organizing the meeting. Approved.

Respectfully submitted



D.C. Ferree
Secretary to NC-140