Conventional plant breeding activities were carried on for multiple years. Promising second generation seedlings were chosen as parents to produce third generation seedlings. Seedlings from past crosses moved from the greenhouse to the field. Evaluations of all plants included bush size and growth habit, bloom dates and estimated amount of flowers, berry characteristics including BRIX analyses, and yield of each bush.
The Pacific Northwest (PNW) is an important production region for blueberry with 158 million lbs harvested in Oregon and 180 million lbs harvested in Washington in 2022, valued at $187 million (USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2023)
The objective of the study was to determine mannoprotein and tannin concentrations in Oregon Pinot noir wines but a beneficial tool was also discovered through this research. Winemakers often age red wines in barrel on the yeast lees to enhance texture and improve overall wine quality.
Gray mold, caused by Botrytis spp., is a major issue for blueberry crops in the Pacific Northwest (PNW), leading to losses in yield and quality. This study examined the pathogen's in vitro resistance to various fungicides, collecting samples from 35 fields in 2022 and 2023, resulting in 376 and 339 Botrytis isolates, respectively.
Phylloxera is the most significant insect pest of wine grapes throughout the world that cannot be controlled by chemical or biological means. Grafting susceptible wine grapes onto tolerant rootstocks is the only long-term insurance against this devastating root pest.
