Progress 10/01/19 to 09/30/20
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for this project are commercial tree fruit growers in New Jersey and throughout North America, in addition to extension faculty and researchers in the field of pomology. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Throughout this unique growing season, I have continued to both maintain and use the NC-140 research project as a training tool. This year I have had one Rutgers University student assist in maintaining and collecting data from the trials as part of his G.H. Cook Honors thesis project. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results from this project were published in the grower magazine 'Horticultural News' which is disseminated to growers throughout the Northeast region. In addition, brief project updates have been provided throughout four tree fruit growers meetings all of which have been held online this year. In addition tree fruit growers throughout New Jersey continue to inquire about NC-140 trial progress and updates to aidthem in making decisions on new orchard plantings they have planned for the future. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The 2014 Honeycrisp and Fuji trials will continue to be maintained and data will be collected for at minimum another 4 years. In addition signficant planning has been underway at the Snyder Research Farm to prepare ground for two additional rootstock research trials. These trials include an apricot rootstock research trial organized by Greg Lang (MSU) and a hard cider apple rootstock trial organized by Greg Peck (Cornell U.). Both of which are crops that have gained significant interest from growers over the past few years, and thus will provide critical data to assist the tree fruit industry in New Jersey in moving into the future.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Total acreage of apple production in New Jersey has increased by 511 acres in the past 5 years to 1,870 acres (NASS Ag Census, 2017).As a result of the work done in NC-140 nearly all new apple orchardsestablished in New Jersey in the last five years have been in high density trellis systems with dwarfing rootstocks. The recommendations for dwarfing rootstocks to plant are a direct result of therobust research resulting from the NC-140 research project. 1) Two apple rootstock trials (Aztec Fuji and Honeycrisp), both planted at the Snyder Research Farm in Pittstown NJ have just completed their 6th growing season. Significant differences in vigor, yield, and yield efficiency have been observed within and amoung the two trials. Thus far one of the most notable observations are that the Vineland rootstocks breed in Ontario are extremly vigorous for a high density apple training system. 2)Both the 2014 Aztec Fuji and Honeycrisp rootstock trials, in addition to a retired 2010 Honeycrisp trial have been included in a study of the effect of rootstock on bitterpit incidence in apples. Bitterpit is a physiological disorder of apples where a lack of calcium in the fruit causes spotting, NC-140 researchers are studying the effect of rootstocks, their differential ability to uptake calcium and the resulting pitting of the fruit. A second year of data on short term and long term post harvest bitterpit incidence has been collected. Preliminary data indicates that growing season has a tremendous effect on this physiological disorder. 3) Yearly findings from these research trials are continually disseminated to commercial tree fruit growers at annual tree fruit grower meetings, through grower-centric journals i.e. Horticultural News, and the Rutgers Plant and Pest Advisory and numerous client consultations throughout the year.
Publications
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Muehlbauer, M., R. Magron, and W. Cowgill. NC-140 Fuji and Honeycrisp Apple Rootstock Trials in New Jersey. Horticultural News. 100(2) p.26-29.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Muehlbauer, M., H. Gohil, and N. Polanin. Think twice, Plant Once Does a Tree Fruit Orchard Make Sense for Your Farm? NJAES Cooperative Extension Bulletin E359
|
Progress 10/01/18 to 09/30/19
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for this project are Commercial Tree Fruit Growers in New Jersey and throughout North America, in addition to extension faculty and researchers in the field of pomology. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Through this project and the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment station (Snyder Research and Extension Farm), I have had the opportunity to train one intern, two field technicians and one research associate. They have all indicated that I have helped to enhance their skills in tree fruit production and management as a result of this project. The master gardener volunteer program is part of a national effort to provide experience based education to homeowners in the local community. I teach a number of tree fruit classes to master gardeners, and the NC-140 rootstock plantings at the Rutgers University Snyder Research and Extension Farm in Pittstown, NJ serve as a teaching tool. In turn master gardeners help to inform the public about how this NC-140 research affects the produce industry. I provided opportunities for several high school students in the area to assist with data collection from the NC-140 rootstock trials. This training/outreach opportunity was intended to encourage young students into the field of research in agriculture. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The 2014 'Honeycrisp' and 2014 Aztec Fuji® Rootstock trials were featured as part of the tour during the May 2019 North Jersey tree fruit growers twilight meeting held at the Rutgers Snyder Research and Extension Farm. During the tour, information was presented on fruit set, vigor, disease incidence and growth habits of the trees in these studies. Subsequently, growers were surveyed (n=24) to determine how impactful it was for them to see these trials in person. 96% of respondents indicated it was valuable to see the NC-140 rootstock trials in the field. 92% of respondents Indicated they would make future decisions on rootstocks for their farms based on the field tour. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?I joined a national effort (NC-140 collaborators) to overlay a bitterpit study onto established NC-140 trials at the Rutgers University Snyder Research and Extension farm in Pittstown, New Jersey to determine the effect of rootstock on bitterpit incidence in 'Honeycrisp' and Aztec Fuji® apples.In the next year I intend to collaborate on this project further, and tease out the copious data that has been collected from this new multistate project. In addition, this upcoming year I am prepping ground at the Rutgers University research facility to host several additional research projects including an apricot and hard cider apple rootstock trial.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
As a result of the work done in NC-140 nearly all apples established in New Jersey in the last five years have been in high density trellis systems with dwarfing rootstocks. Total acreage of apple production in New Jersey has increased 8% in the past 5 years to 1,870 acres (NASS Ag Census, 2017). The NC-140 plots in New Jersey have contributed to the collaborative effort to better elucidate rootstock scion interactions and present this information to commercial tree fruit growers and professionals in the field of pomology. Objective 1: Two apple rootstock trials (Aztec Fuji and Honeycrisp) are both finishing out their 5th growing season. Results of this trials thus far show that all vineland rootstocks are vigorous for the high-density trellis systems with both Honeycrisp and Fuji scions. These vineland rootstocks had total trunk cross sectional areas (measurements of vigor) that were greater than 30 cm2, the largest of all of the rootstocks included in the study. The highest yield efficiencies (total yield per trunk cross sectional area) for the Fuji trial were seen with G.30 and V.7 rootstocks. In contrast the highest yield efficiency observed in the Honeycrisp trial was for M.9 (.72 kg/cm2). Objective 2: Both the 2014 Aztec Fuji and Honeycrisp rootstock trials in addition to a retired 2010 Honeycrisp trial have been included in a study of the effect of rootstock on bitterpit incidence in apples. To date one year of data has been collected from all trials on the mineral content of apple peels one week prior to harvest, and the incidence of bitterpit at harvest, further data will be collected this winter to assess the effect on post harvest storage incidence of bitterpit. Objective 3: The preliminary information from these research trials is continually disseminated to commercial tree fruit growers at annual tree fruit grower meetings, through grower-centric journals i.e. Horticultural News, and numerous client consultations throughout the year.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
2019: Muehlbauer, M., Magron, M., Cowgill, W. Assessment of the Effect of Rootstock on Bitterpit Incidence in Mature 'Honeycrisp' Apples Grown in New Jersey. Proceedings of the 4th Annual Northeastern Plant, Pest, and Soils Conference. Hunt Valley, MD. (Poster Presentation)
|
Progress 10/01/17 to 09/30/18
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for this project is the New Jersey Tree Fruit Industry with a focus on New Jersey extension faculty and reserachers, as well as tree fruit growers. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?A total of three full time employees at the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment station (Snyder Research and Extension Farm) have had the opportunity over the course of the production season to enhance their skills in tree fruit production and management as a result of this project. The master gardener volunteer program is a large part of the extension program in New Jersey, as such a total of 10, 4 hour workshops with handouts were held at the research plots with Master Gardeners to educate them about the NC-140 rootstock plantings at the Rutgers University Snyder Research and Extension Farm, Pittstown, NJ. As well as explain how this work impacts the tree fruit industry and the availability of produce to the public. An additional two hour workshop with similar handouts was held with high school students to educate them about the NC-140 rootstock plantings at the Rutgers University Snyder Research and Extension Farm, Pittstown, NJ. This training/outreach opportunity was intended to encourage young students into the field of research in agriculture. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The primary means by which results have been disseminated to commercial tree fruit growers in new Jersey has been through articles on the projects written up for Horticultural News (a commercial tree fruit newsletter/publication). In addition, and through the use of Horticultural News, the NC-140 website has been promoted and showcased. This website provides growers access to the latest information on rootstock trials throughout the United States to assist them in making informed decisions on how to design their plantings. The final means by which this information has been disseminated is through a total of six grower meetings held throughout New Jersey. These meetings are specifically held to provide tree fruit growers with the latest information on production trials such as NC-140 in New Jersey. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Throughout 2018-2019 data will continue to be collected on yield and vigor as illustrated in multistate protocolsfor a total of three research plots held at the NJAES Snyder Research and Extension farm. In addition the effect of rootstocks on the physiological nutrient disorder bitterpit will continue to be closely investigated. A number of extra data points will be taken from the three trials for theNC-140 driven multistate bitterpit project. Information from all of these trials will continue to be written up in production newsletters, presented at professional meetings and discussed at commercial fruit grower meetings in the upcoming year.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Impact Statement: The NC-140 Fuji and Honeycrisp rootstockplantings in New Jersey have provided valuable data to fruit growers. It has served as a demonstration plot to nearly 100 growers in New Jersey in 2018. Apple growers who have adopted high density apple systems as a result of seeing the NC-140 plantings have yields of 1000-1500 bushels per acre in comparison to older plantings of 340 bushels per acre. Objective 1: The NJAES currently holds two trials of high value apple varieties (Honeycrisp and Fuji) which are being evaluated on a number of different rootstocks to determine which combination has the greatest economic potential for growers in New Jersey and the United States. In the 2018 growing season a rootstock from the Cornell Breeding program (G. 214) was found to be the most yield efficienct when grown under Fuji scion wood. While a different rootstock also from the New York breeding program (G.41) was shown to be the most vigorous in combination with Honeycrisp scion wood. These two rootstocks will be further investigated as new temperate rootstocks to be growth throughout the United States. Objective 2: In 2018 bothan 8 year old and 4 year old Honeycrisp rootstock trial were included in a project to predict and investigate bitterpit incidence across different rootstocks. Preliminary results comparing 31 rootstocksunderonly the 8 year old Honeycrisp scion showed that the rootstocks were statistically separated into two groups, one with higher incidence and one with lower incidence of bitterpit. Objective 3: Information on the NC-140 research continues to be maintained and disseminated through the website (www.nc140.org) and list serve (nc140@umext.umass.edu) Thus far,In total 2,000 unique users accessed the public website in 2018.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
M. Muehlbauer, S. Fong. Influence of rootstock and cropload on bitterpit incidence in Honeycrisp apples grown in New Jersey. NEPPSC Proceedings. 2018(3):76
https://www.newss.org/wp-content/uploads/2018-NEPPSC-Proceedings_FINAL.pdf
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Assessment of the Effect of Vineland and Geneva Rootstocks on Apple Tree Vigor and Yield in Three Honeycrisp and Fuji NC-140 Rootstock Trials. Muehlbauer, M.; Jon M. Clements; Win Cowgill; Wesley R. Autio NACAA AMPIC Proceedings. 2018(103):46
https://www.nacaa.com/ampic/2018/2018%20Proceedings%20lr.pdf
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Clements, J, WR Autio, M Muehlbauer, and W Cowgill. 2018. Tree size and fruit yield in 2017 of Honeycrisp and Fuji apple trees in the 2014 NC-140 Rootstock Trials in Massachusetts and New Jersey. Fruit Notes 83(1):20-25.
http://www.umassfruitnotes.com/v83n1/a6.pdf
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Clements, J, WR Autio, M Muehlbauer, and W Cowgill. 2018. Tree size and fruit yield in 2017 of Honeycrisp and Fuji apple trees in the 2014 NC-140 Rootstock Trials in Massachusetts and New Jersey. Horticultural News 98(1): 20-25.
http://www.horticulturalnews.org/98-1/a6.pdf
|
|