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FeedWA 2 traits, evaluation and commercialization
Geraldine Warner
The evaluation and commercialization process
Phase 1: Initial seedling selection and evaluation by WSU
Phase 2: Small-scale on-farm trials with five trees at about two sites
Phase 3: Midscale on-farm trials with 10 to 100 trees at about four sites
Phase 4: Widescale evaluation
Phase 5: Commercialization
WA 2 traits
Positives
- It is a bright red-pink color with distinct lenticels.
- It is slow to mature and has a long shelf life.
- Its best eating quality is three months after harvest.
- It is a moderately productive tree with a compact growth habit.
- No problems reported yet with mildew, sunburn, or bitter pit.
Challenges
- Multiple picks will be needed to maximize fruit value. Up to four picks were needed in 2010.
- The tree wants to produce fruit on one-year-old wood, but fruit will be small and a large proportion misshapen.
- Because of the compact growth, the trees might not fill their space as expected. Replant sites need tighter in-row spacing of 24 to 30 inches.
Source: Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission
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