Articles
ADVANCES IN HAZELNUT RESEARCH IN NORTH AMERICA
Article number
940_6
Pages
57 – 65
Language
English
Abstract
Interest in growing sustainable crops for food and bio-energy production has led to a significant increase in hazelnut (Corylus spp.) research and breeding in North America.
For decades, the only university-based hazelnut research was centered at Oregon State University in the Willamette Valley of Oregon where 99% of the US crop is grown.
Currently, there is also work being done at Rutgers University in New Jersey, the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, the University of Minnesota, the University of Wisconsin, and the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
Hazelnut research is also being done by the National Arbor Day Foundation, a not-for-profit educational organization also in Nebraska.
Several of these institutions have teamed up to capitalize on previous investments, germplasm collections, and research, to develop the Hybrid Hazelnut Consortium, whose major emphasis is developing high-yielding hazelnuts adapted to colder regions that are resistant to the disease eastern filbert blight, caused by Anisogramma anomala. In addition to conventional breeding efforts, the genomes of C. avellana and A. anomala have been sequenced to better understand the genetic diversity and population structure of the species, and to elucidate host-pathogen relationships.
In this review, descriptions are presented of the history, ongoing activities, and research objectives of current hazelnut programs in North America.
For decades, the only university-based hazelnut research was centered at Oregon State University in the Willamette Valley of Oregon where 99% of the US crop is grown.
Currently, there is also work being done at Rutgers University in New Jersey, the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, the University of Minnesota, the University of Wisconsin, and the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
Hazelnut research is also being done by the National Arbor Day Foundation, a not-for-profit educational organization also in Nebraska.
Several of these institutions have teamed up to capitalize on previous investments, germplasm collections, and research, to develop the Hybrid Hazelnut Consortium, whose major emphasis is developing high-yielding hazelnuts adapted to colder regions that are resistant to the disease eastern filbert blight, caused by Anisogramma anomala. In addition to conventional breeding efforts, the genomes of C. avellana and A. anomala have been sequenced to better understand the genetic diversity and population structure of the species, and to elucidate host-pathogen relationships.
In this review, descriptions are presented of the history, ongoing activities, and research objectives of current hazelnut programs in North America.
Authors
T.J. Molnar, J. Capik
Keywords
Corylus avellana, Corylus Americana, eastern filbert blight, nut breeding
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