Within each group, trees were headed at planting, headed 3 weeks after planting, or not headed. Within the non-headed group, trees were bagged, or bent at planting for 2 weeks to encourage side branching. This is a planting of Smoothee Golden Delicious on 15 dwarfing or semi-dwarfing rootstock using the HyTec training system developed by Dr. Bruce Barritt of Washington State University. The HyTec system has a permanent table of scaffold limbs, and uses bending and limb replacement to manage top growth. Pear Research Planting Several trials are included here.
Anjou pears into early production.
On the west side of the plot are three rows of pears from Ontario and West Virginia with resistance to fireblight, a severe disease affecting most pears. This planting is also used to try new insecticides for control of pear psylla. This trial is supported with funds from the Michigan Pear Research Association. In this planting Dr. Jim Flore and Dr. Bill Shane are investigating the Gisela rootstock for sweet cherries. The older trees are Hedelfingen and Ulster sweet cherries on several Gisela rootstock types with Mazzard rootstock as a comparison.