The Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission invites anyone interested to attend the upcoming research reviews scheduled in January and February. All research reviews are open to the public, and no preregistration is required.

For more information about any of the research reviews, contact Kathy Coffey by email at kathy@treefruitresearch.com or phone (509) 665-8271, extension 2.

Jan. 29: Apple Horticulture/Postharvest Research Review

The 2020 Apple Horticulture/Postharvest Research Review will be held at the Yakima Convention Center in Yakima, Washington, and will feature continuing research project reports on:

—Optimizing harvest time for WA 38 (Cosmic Crisp).

—Soil health management.

—Organic apple storage.

—Optimization of packing line food safety.

Final reports will be presented on:

—Understanding decline on select apple scion/rootstock combinations.

—Hot air impingement drying for fruit surface decontamination.

—Risk assessment for delayed sunscald.

—Light/water optimization for orchards covered with netting.

A full agenda is available at the WTFRC website: www.treefruitresearch.org

Jan. 30: Apple Crop Protection Research Review

The 2020 Apple Crop Protection Research Review will be held at the Yakima Convention Center in Yakima. Session highlights include continuing reports on:

—Optimizing sterile insect release for codling moth management.

—Understanding the epidemiology of grey mold (Botrytis spp.).

—Integrated fire blight management.

Afternoon sessions will include final reports on:

—Results for airblast spray drift exposure levels.

—Fire blight control, both nonantibiotic and systemic acquired resistance (SAR).

—Brown marmorated stink bug control.

A full agenda is available at the WTFRC website: www.treefruitresearch.org

Feb. 4: Technology Research Review

The 2020 Technology Research Review will be held at the Wanapum Dam Visitor’s Center in Beverly, Washington. Final reports will be given on:

—Development and validation of a precision pollination model.

—Reducing cold damage with cellulose nanocrystals.

—Enhancing reference genomes for cross-cultivar functional genomics.

In the late morning, reports will be given for projects that are currently underway, including:

—Development of an economical Wi-Fi-connected sap flux probe.

—Developing and validating insect models for tree fruit.

—Robotics systems for orchards.

—Automated canopy management.

In the afternoon, new proposals will be heard on these topics, and more:

—Modeling orchard effects on meteorological measurements.

—Decision support tools for orchard management.

—Detection of disease progression.

—Food safety risk reduction with ozonated water.

A full agenda is available at the WTFRC website: www.treefruitresearch.org

Feb. 20: Northwest Pear Research Review

On behalf of the Pear Marketing Order #927, WTFRC will hold the 2020 Northwest Pear Research Review at the Yakima Convention Center in Yakima. The morning session will feature reports on ongoing projects related to several topics, including:

—Pear fruit quality.

—Biological control of pear psylla.

—New approaches in managing gray mold.

—Refinement of fire blight control strategies.

Pear growers are encouraged to join the pear research subcommittee at lunch to discuss the prospect of supporting a new pear breeding program.

In the afternoon, final reports will be presented for several projects, including:

—Fire blight management.

—Scald solutions.

—Postharvest decay.

The subcommittee will then hear a series of new proposals, including some related to:

—Developing a phenology-based management program for psylla.

—Fire blight product testing for effective recommendations.

—Brown marmorated stink bug management.

A full agenda will be uploaded to the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission website (www.treefruitresearch.org) approximately two weeks prior to the event.

—by Jonelle Mejica