Scab disease is most damaging to pecan trees grown east of central Texas. Scab is a fungal disease that attacks both nuts and leaves. For disease control, some growers spray fungicides as many as 10 times a year. ARS researchers in College Station, Texas, evaluated Nacono's performance beginning in 1986. Through 1995, cumulative yields of Nacono were higher than Pawnee, a popular variety grown worldwide.
Pecans are a multimillion-dollar industry.
Rural landowners in the southwest and southeast derive primary or supplemental income from growing pecan trees in orchards or woodland pastures. Georgia, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and Louisiana are the top five pecan-producing states. Graftwood from Nacono will be available only to nurseries in February 2001. Nurseries could have trees to sell to the public in early 2003. Trees of this variety will be incorporated into the ARS National Plant Germplasm System , so that Nacono will be available for research purposes, including development and commercialization of new varieties.