ANR West Side Research and Extension Center - Trees and Vines

Trees and Vines

Project: 39 Evaluating Pistachio Seedlings for Precociousness
Project Leader: Craig Kallsen
Objective: The objective of the proposal is to evaluate seedlings produced from these two precocious 'mother' trees, described above, with the goal of finding potential pistachio varieties that are both more precocious than 'Kerman', and produce good yields of commercial quality nuts. It will also be necessary to identify equally precocious male selections to pollinate them. Budwood taken from superior seedlings will eventually be grafted onto rootstocks for commercial evaluation, but this is not part of this proposal.

Project: 78 Grapevine Cultivar and Rootstock Trial
Project Leader: Stephen Vasquez
Objective: Previous research conducted at UC West Side Research and Extension Center was focused on fresh market grapes and did not take into consideration the use of rootstocks. More recently, Fresno County's west side has increased in grape acreage, which has been primarily wine grapes. As a result, growers have planted traditional wine varieties (Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, etc.) with little knowledge of overall long term performance. This research will focus on cultivars suited for San Joaquin Valley climates that give growers maximum quality and yields. Objectives are to plant a multipurpose vineyard that will be used for the following future projects:

a) rootstock trials focused on identifying viticultural characteristics best suited for west side farming

b) wine grape variety and training trials

c) wine analysis including sensory and chemical analyses

d) pesticide efficacy trials including but not limited too, fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides

e) herbicide symptomology

f) irrigation management trials

Project: 88   Almond Research Orchard
Project Leader:  Brent A. Holtz
Objective:   One of the objectives of this proposal is to study the effect of wood chips on the almond rhizosphere microbial community (fungi, bacteria, and nematodes) and their combined effect on almond tree nutrition, water status, and the amount of undecomposed woody debris taken up at harvest. This will include an examination of wood chip decomposition under various orchard floor management practices.

We would like to have an experimental almond orchard where experimental fungicide, insecticide, and herbicide trials could be conducted without having to pay for crop destruction with grower cooperators while also worry about accidental harvests. We would also like to examine deficit irrigation management as a means of reducing hull rot. Hull rot is probably the most damaging disease currently faced by west side almond growers. We would also like to examine cultural methods like wood chipping almond prunings instead of burning to reduce air pollution and build soil organic matter.

Project: 98 Walnut Clonal Rootstock Evaluation at West Side R&EC
Project Leader: Gale McGranahan
Objective: The primary objective is to compare the performance of two clonal walnut rootstocks, one a Juglans microcarpa x J. regia hybrid (RX1) and the other a J. hindsii x J. regia hybrid (Vlach), both grafted to Chandler in 2007, under “salty” (well) and typical (canal) water irrigations.