Southeastern Apple Growers Meeting. There are many horticultural factors in the culture of tree fruit crops. My current program objectives were selected since I feel that they attack the most pressing problems faced by the Mid-Atlantic tree fruit industry. My main research focus is on rootstock and variety testing and the use of PGR's to control growth and cropping. Major changes are occurring in both rootstocks and varieties that will be used in the new orchards of the Mid-Atlantic tree fruit industry.
Less time is spent on storage and economic research projects.
Rootstock and interstem effects on fruits. All tree fruits are now grown commercially on either clonally or seed propagated rootstocks. These rootstocks impart unique traits to the resulting tree. The production of apples on dwarfing, disease resistant rootstocks is the best example of enhanced production efficiency due to the unique traits of rootstocks . Research is needed to evaluate new genetic materials becoming available by conventional breeding and through genetic engineering.