From soil health for new plants to post-harvest quality analysis, scientists at Washington State University’s Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center and their colleagues at the U.S. Department of Agriculture laboratory in Wenatchee conduct a lot of research.

They gathered at WSU’s Sunrise Research Orchard on August 6 to share the latest research with the industry during a fast-paced field day that covered rootstock and pruning trials, powdery mildew control, apple and pear fruit pest management and soil health.

The soil health project is one of the newest plantings at the research farm and was launched last year with support from the state’s soil health initiative. The goals of the project are to study drought, soil-borne diseases, soil compaction, and fruit quality and production, said Jessica Waite, a USDA scientist and collaborator on the project.

The Honeycrisp trial compares growers’ standard management with a mulching treatment, a high-carbon treatment with compost and mowing and blowing applications, and an organic, high-carbon treatment.

“We’re trying to look at the bigger picture,” said project leader Tianna DuPont of WSU.

At the field day horticulture station, attendees were able to view a Granny Smith rootstock trial to see how the newest Geneva rootstocks compare to the variety in Washington. They also saw a WA 38 trial that evaluated the best pruning methods and rootstock selections to minimize deadwood.

The pest management presentations included updates on research into codling moth monitoring, which aims to clarify the relationship between capture in various traps and baits and population pressure during mating disruption, and updates on research into controlling leafhoppers that spread X-disease in cherries.

—by Kate Prengaman