In Search of the Perfect Cultivar

I attended the International Plant Management Variety Showcase in Lawrence, Michigan on September 11, 2003 hosted by Wally Heuser and was overwhelmed by the sea of peaches, nectarines, plums, pears and apples. The researchers and breeders showcased each cultivar and provided brief descriptions about them. There are several selections that hold promise but may be several years away from being commercialized due to plant patenting and virus testing requirements. I will attempt to highlight only those cultivars that may have an impact on our fruit industry in the near future. The comments made by each presenter reflect "their" professional opinion and experience with the cultivar.

Bob Anderson, Cornell University

• Bob identified by definition that a processing peach had a non-melting flesh and a clingstone type pit
• A474 and A249 are Arkansas clings that fit in a season between Virgil and Babygold 5
• Goldjim, recently introduced is not as good as the other numbered selections
• Virgil appears to be the hardiest of the earlier processing peaches
• NY 101 plum is a small plum similar to green gauge but high in sugars
• Emerald Beaut is a yellowish-green, medium sized, firm Japanese plum that is 3 weeks later than Shiro and has very high sugars (19% brix)
• Fortune is a large Japanese type red/blue plum with yellow flesh with some winter hardiness
• Blake’s Pride and Potomic are two new fire blight resistant pear cultivars

Bob Anderson also described several selections from the New Jersey program

• A new all yellow, flat peach, D91-134, will soon be introduced
• Many selections have the stoney hard gene from China
• K56-4 is a great nectarine with lots of potential
• NJD 90-4 is another

Tom Callaghan – Adams County Nursery

• John Boy is large, better than Redhaven and is their best seller
• Klondike (white flesh) is new and follows White Lady (sub acid type)
• Sugar Giant is outstanding
• Newer selections from California just keep getting darker in colour
• Two new pillar selections, Crimson Spire and Snow Fire could be the future of white flesh peaches
• Emeraude, a French cultivar is a high acid white flesh peach

Bill Shane, Michigan State University

• Sureprince is a good peach from Dick Okie’s program ripening in Aug11 at Michigan
• Redstar sometimes has irregular shape
• PF 12B looks good, is firm but does have some bacterial spot
• PF15 (now P 14 New Jersey) looks good but may have some winter tender issues
• PF 15A is ok but needs good thinning
• Starfire has a stable colour but needs good thinning
• Blazingstar is productive and also needs good thinning
• Blushingstar is a good white peach
• Coral star is ok
• Harrow Fair has good appearance, however sometimes has a peak
• KV 930278 is a pillar shape tree and has some potential
• PF 17 seems to be a "workhorse" for Michigan
• PF 23 is firm, attractive but sometimes has a lighter crop
• Glowingstar is good, productive and a firm shipper
• PF 27A is very late

Ralf Ruder, Michigan grower

• Sugarlyn harvested on Sept 1 in Michigan
• Flavour improves with storage
• Non-melting texture

Ken Slingerland, OMAFRA

• Described pear selections Harrow Gold and Harrow Crisp
• Valor plum is one of the best cultivars for Ontario for early-mid September
• Samples and descriptions included in ripening order; Vulcan, Vinegold, Virgil, Veecling, Goldnine, Babygold 5, Venture, Babygold 7
• OMAFRA Fruit Cultivar factsheets on apricots, peaches, pears, plums and cherries were distributed

Paul Friday, Flamin Fury Series, Michigan

• Lucky means firm
• 007 means large size
• C means cold hardy
• Focused on the new peach PF Lucky 24-C, mid September for Ontario, very hardy especially to spring frosts
• Featured several new selections including PF 22-007, which ripens between Glowingstar and Coralstar
• Several new selections will be introduced in 2004 including PF 9A-007 and PF Lucky 13 both ripening near Redhaven

Phil Schwallier, MSU

• Featured many apple cultivars and selections including Gingergold and several sports of Gala

Stan Peterson, Employed by Peterson Farms, processor of IQF peaches - Michigan

• Did not like Goldnine (Arkansas 9) because of the split pits
• Likes Vineland selections but cautious on Vinegold because of split pits

Annette Bjorge – Stellar peach series, private breeder Michigan

• Thinks Redstar will replace Redhaven
• Blazingstar size is only medium and this will not likely get propagated in the future
• Starfire post Redhaven, heavy cropper that needs 4-5 picks
• FA 106 is post Redhaven, watch it in the future, same time as Coralstar
• FA107 and FA109 are promising and near Cresthaven season
• Very late cultivars include Autumstar and New Jersey cultivar, Laurell

Keeping on top of the variety picture is a challenge not only for the grower but for extension and researchers as well. Increased knowledge of new fruit cultivars allows me to better transfer appropriate information to fruit growers through newsletters, meetings, schools and demonstration trials. Growers’ efforts to improve the present variety picture can be better addressed by having a first hand look at cultivars that are on trial elsewhere with similar growing conditions. I will continue to help bridge the gap between what I think is the average and outstanding cultivar - in search of the perfect cultivar!

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