FRUIT RESEARCH
Idaho Fruit Industry is an old and growing industry. Southwest Idaho has excellent climatical conditions for growing apples, peaches, plums, apricots, cherries, and grapes. The warm and long days of spring and summer and cool nights result in excellent fruit color and flavor in Idaho .
The University of Idaho Pomology Program is the only program responsible for research and extension on various physiological and environmental problems and challenges that Idaho fruit growers are dealing with. The research portion of this program began in 1990 at the Parma Research and Extension Center, and has gain national and international recognition for its excellence and contributions to the fruit science. Introduction of ' Fuji ' apple to the Idaho Fruit Industry, and extensive on going research on this new variety is one of the contributions of this program. From the first ' Fuji ' research orchard that was established at the University of Idaho, growers found that not only can this crop be grown in Idaho , but also the fruit quality is superior to those from other locations.
The U of I Pomology program has discovered several chemicals for blossom thinning of apples, plums, and peaches and fruit growers in Idaho and other states are going to use these chemicals, which are by far less expensive than hand thinning. Traditionally these crops were thinned by hand that would cost between $800-$1300 per acre. The Pomology program has also been pioneer in discovering "Retain", which reduces preharvest fruit drop and also extends fruit life and maintains fruit quality in the storage. The program is also involved in a number of projects to improve fruit quality of table and wine grapes in Idaho .
Deciduous Fruit
We have conducted and published numerous research projects and articles in many aspects of deciduous fruit physiology over the last 30 years. The research areas include rootstock physiology in apples, plums, pears, peaches, and nectarines, cultivar selection for various deciduous fruits including apples, stone fruits, table grape and wine grapes, photosynthesis, mineral partitioning, irrigation systems and strategies, postharvest physiology, development of various bio-regulators and blossom and fruit thinners.
Influences of rootstocks on scion mineral partitioning, photosynthesis, and fruit quality and yield have extensively been studied. Cultivar evaluation has also been one of the main areas of our research. Numerous selections and cultivars are apples, pears, peaches, nectarines, wine and table grapes and alternative fruits have been studied.
The relationship between mineral nutrient factors and fruit quality and postharvest physiology, are also important areas of our research during the last three decades. We have also developed prediction models to predict fruit quality of apples based on preharvest mineral nutrient content and balance among the nutrients.
We have conducted extensive research to find ways to save water through different irrigation systems while producing high quality apples.
Our extensive research on table grapes has resulted in establishment of the new Idaho table grape industry. In addition, because of our extensive research, several new cultivars and clones of wine grapes are being planted in Idaho and other locations in the Pacific Northwest.
We have also studied the adaptability of deciduous fruits including apples and peaches to the warm desert conditions of Southwest Arizona. We have also been able to reduce the dormancy requirements of deciduous fruits with the use of bio-regulators under the desert conditions of the Southwest Arizona, USA.
The results are published in different journals, including (but not limited to) the Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science and Journal of the American Pomological Society, Journal of Plant Nutrition. For reprints of these articles and any assistance or questions about establishment and management of deciduous fruit orchards and wine and table grape vineyards, please contact Dr. Esmaeil “Essie” Fallahi at 208-454-8486 or see “About Me” for additional contact information).
Citrus Fruit
We have conducted numerous experiments on various aspects of citrus crop physiology over the years. Under conditions of Southwest Arizona, we studied the effects of various rootstocks on fruit quality, yield, maturity, and mineral partitioning of lemons, oranges, tangerines, tangelos, and grapefruits.
We have also studied the effects of canopy position on photosynthesis of lemons, grapefruit, and oranges. The results are published in different journals, including Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science and Journal of the American Pomological Society. For reprints of these articles and any assistance or questions about establishment and management of citrus orchards, please contact Dr. Essie Fallahi at 208-454-8486 or see “About Me” for additional contact information).
