Read more about the article Trials of Advanced Raspberry selections to evaluate suitability for IQF processing and to promote adoption

Trials of Advanced Raspberry selections to evaluate suitability for IQF processing and to promote adoption

A new cultivar, ‘Cascade Premier’, and an advanced selection, ‘WSU 2188’, were compared with industry standard cultivars under commercial production and processing conditions. The cultivars were evaluated for Individually Quick Frozen (IQF) processing quality, yield, pest tolerance, disease susceptibility and winter hardiness. ‘Cascade Premier’ was compared with adjacent, similarly managed ‘WakeHaven®’. ‘Cascade Premier’ yields were limited at one location by cane botrytis, which reduced the numbers of fruiting laterals. ‘Cascade Premier’ generally produced fewer, but larger fruits than WakeHaven®. Under warm conditions favoring rapid ripening, ‘Cascade Premier’ produced IQF quality fruit when harvest intervals were short enough (less than 3 days), but became too soft for IQF processing at longer harvest intervals.

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Read more about the article Developing a Spray-Induced Gene Silencing (SIGS) method for the control of Grape Powdery Mildew (Erysiphe necator)

Developing a Spray-Induced Gene Silencing (SIGS) method for the control of Grape Powdery Mildew (Erysiphe necator)

Powdery Mildew development in vineyards in the Pacific Northwest is one of the greatest impacts to grape and wine quality and the economic health of a grape grower is severely impacted by the number of sprays required to control the disease or loss in fruit sales if a severe infection develops. In high wine-producing regions, Grape Powdery Mildew (GPM) accounts for 75% of total pesticide use applications. If the grapevines are not properly treated until harvest, the presence of GPM in harvest grape clusters substantially depreciates the value of the entire crop. This project aims to develop a methodology to turn off specific grapevine genes (susceptibility genes [MLO]) and Powdery Mildew-related genes essential for the pathogen’s life cycle.

Continue ReadingDeveloping a Spray-Induced Gene Silencing (SIGS) method for the control of Grape Powdery Mildew (Erysiphe necator)
Read more about the article Inducement of malolactic fermentation using Lactobacillus plantarum in musts and wines from the Pacific Northwest.

Inducement of malolactic fermentation using Lactobacillus plantarum in musts and wines from the Pacific Northwest.

The completion of both alcoholic and malolactic fermentation (MLF) in red wine are essential to the quality and stability of red wine and to its commercial success in the market. In this study, alcoholic and malolactic fermentations were induced in low and high nitrogen-containing Cabernet Sauvignon musts by adding both yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and bacteria (Oenococcus oeni or Lactobacillus plantarum) at the same time. While O. oeni was able to complete MLF in the high nitrogen fermentations, only one of the three strains of Lb. plantarum was able to convert the majority of malic acid to lactic acid (<0.5 g/L residual malic acid). Under low nitrogen conditions, neither alcoholic or malolactic fermentation finished in any of the wines. Subsequent fermentations using a synthetic grape juice medium yielded poor growth of bacteria whether inoculated subsequently or concurrently with S. cerevisiae. Additional studies with Lb. plantarum are required to fully evaluate their potential usefulness to Pacific Northwest winemakers.

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Read more about the article Epidemiology and Management of Plant-parasitic Nematodes in Winegrapes

Epidemiology and Management of Plant-parasitic Nematodes in Winegrapes

Nematodes are root feeding organisms that can cause direct damage and can also be a virus vector. Nematodes can severely limit the successful establishment of vines and vineyards and impact production yields by 5-20%. There are several products available to growers to assist in managing Nematode populations and increase successful vine establishment. This research evaluates combinations of synthetic (at half the recommended commercial rate) and biological nematicides to reduce populations of plant-parasitic nematodes, and increase populations of free-living beneficial nematodes and to increase vine productivity.

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Read more about the article Heat stress in wine grapes: acclimation and potential mitigation

Heat stress in wine grapes: acclimation and potential mitigation

Heat stress poses challenges for the sustainable production of premium wine grapes in the Pacific Northwest. The intensity of heat waves has been increasing. For example, the series of heat wave events in 2021 broke temperature records in many locations in this region, and heat waves were again common during the 2022 and 2023 growing season. Growers need knowledge of how grapevines adjust to heat waves or sudden temperature changes to make informed management decisions. We grew potted grapevines in environmentally controlled growth chambers under different temperature regimes (simulating cool and warm growing seasons) before exposing the vines to sudden temperature changes with maximum temperatures varying from 77°F to 104°F. Photosynthesis measurements showed that grapevines might tolerate a sudden rise in temperature better in a warm than a cool season. During extended heat waves, however, the cool season-acclimated vines recovered faster than the warm season-acclimated vines.

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