Articles
Advanced selection trials and cultivar releases from Oregon State University
Article number
1379_9
Pages
53 – 60
Language
English
Abstract
The Oregon State University (OSU) hazelnut breeding program continues to develop high-yielding cultivars with excellent kernel quality that are resistant to eastern filbert blight (EFB). Since 1990, advanced selection trials have been a part of the process to evaluate the best EFB-resistant selections in replicated trials and compare performance to commercial cultivars. PollyO, tested as OSU 1108.001, was released by OSU in February 2018. PollyO trees produce round nuts and kernels that blanch well with a kernel percentage of 47%. Trees averaged 93% marketable nuts over five years, compared to 89 and 96% for Jefferson and Yamhill, respectively.
Cumulative marketable nut yield of PollyO was similar to Yamhill, a cultivar that consistently produces high yields.
In Oregon, trees of PollyO are vigorous and nuts can be harvested at the same time as Yamhill, about two weeks ahead of Jefferson and Barcelona. Resistance to EFB is from Zimmerman, which is a Barcelona×Gasaway hybrid.
Incompatibility alleles are S2 and S10, but only S10 is expressed in the pollen.
A potential cultivar release is for OSU 1304.039, which was evaluated from 2015 to 2021, and carries Gasaway resistance.
Trees have a compact growth habit, produce nuts similar in size to McDonald (2.5 g), and kernels with few defects that have a blanching rating of 2.4 on a scale of one to seven.
Incompatibility alleles of OSU 1304.039 are S2 and S15, but only S15 is expressed in the pollen.
Female flowers emerge in the third week of January, about 7-10 days after McDonald flowers.
The trunk cross-sectional area after seven years was 43% the size of McDonald and 37% of Jefferson trees, allowing for a yield efficiency higher than either cultivar.
A compact cultivar would be novel for the Oregon industry, and suitable for high density systems.
Cumulative marketable nut yield of PollyO was similar to Yamhill, a cultivar that consistently produces high yields.
In Oregon, trees of PollyO are vigorous and nuts can be harvested at the same time as Yamhill, about two weeks ahead of Jefferson and Barcelona. Resistance to EFB is from Zimmerman, which is a Barcelona×Gasaway hybrid.
Incompatibility alleles are S2 and S10, but only S10 is expressed in the pollen.
A potential cultivar release is for OSU 1304.039, which was evaluated from 2015 to 2021, and carries Gasaway resistance.
Trees have a compact growth habit, produce nuts similar in size to McDonald (2.5 g), and kernels with few defects that have a blanching rating of 2.4 on a scale of one to seven.
Incompatibility alleles of OSU 1304.039 are S2 and S15, but only S15 is expressed in the pollen.
Female flowers emerge in the third week of January, about 7-10 days after McDonald flowers.
The trunk cross-sectional area after seven years was 43% the size of McDonald and 37% of Jefferson trees, allowing for a yield efficiency higher than either cultivar.
A compact cultivar would be novel for the Oregon industry, and suitable for high density systems.
Publication
Authors
R.L. McCluskey, S.A. Mehlenbacher, D.C. Smith
Keywords
Corylus avellana, hazelnut breeding, eastern filbert blight, yield efficiency
Groups involved
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