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.
‘Concord’ vineyards in central Washington are plagued by a leaf chlorosis problem that occurs around bloom. It significantly reduces vine size, vine uniformity, and productivity, and even causes vine death. Chlorotic leaves from WA vineyards have significantly lower active Iron (Fe) compared with green leaves whereas total leaf Fe is the same or even higher; 2) high soil pH induces leaf chlorosis in Concord vines; 3) leaf active Fe content is a better indicator of Concord vine Fe status than total Fe. This project is a continuation of the work. The objectives were to determine the effects of FeEDDHA (a chelated form of Fe) and different rootstocks on reducing leaf chlorosis. A field trial in central WA over 3 years clearly showed that FeEDDHA application significantly decreased the degree of canopy leaf chlorosis; and that Concord vines grafted onto 3309, 5C and 110R had better growth, higher photosynthesis, and less chlorosis than the own-rooted vines at high soil pH (7.6).
Northern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) production east of the Cascade Range is an important contributor to the national supply of organic blueberries. However, native soil conditions are alkaline, have high free calcium content, and low in organic matter. Although growers amend soils to lower pH and provide organic matter, these soil characteristics influence nutrient cycling and availability. Growers need data-driven guidelines on how to optimize nutrient management for their unique growing conditions, but few studies have been conducted in this important region. This project addressed that need with an emphasis on organic nitrogen fertility practices by evaluating the effects of commercially available organic nitrogen fertilizer sources applied at low, medium, and high rates on blueberry yield, fruit quality, and various plant and soil variables. Organic fertilizer nitrogen mineralization dynamics were also characterized via a laboratory incubation study at different temperatures.
