MICHIGAN PEACH SPONSOR NEWS

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1 Winter Editor: Bill Shane Inside this issue: Weed management Peach rootstocks William Teichman honored Replanting peaches at SWMREC UPCOMING MEETINGS WITH PEACH CON- TENT Mid-Atlantic Fruit & Vegetable Convention, Hershey, PA, February 1-3, Southwest Hort Days, Lake Michigan College Mendel Center, February 2-3, Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention, St. Catherines, Ontario, February 23-24, > Special Notice <- Michigan Spring Peach Update Session, SW Michigan Research and Extension Center, Benton Harbor, MI, March 8, 2011 MICHIGAN PEACH SPONSOR NEWS Produced by the Michigan Peach Sponsors-a non-profit organization for research and promotion of peaches P.O. Box 1035, Coloma, MI 48038, (269) (Matt Moser). web address: Michigan Peach Sponsor Board President - Kurt Weber Secretary/Treasurer - Matt Moser Directors - Annette Bjorge, Fred Koenigshoff, Randy Willmeng, Roger Umlor, Scott Phelps Advisor - Bill Shane (269) ext (205) Highlights of presentation of North Carolina State University weed specialist Wayne Mitchem December Ag Expo in Grand Rapids summary by Dr. Bill Shane, MSU Extension Herbicide use in young tree plantings. Tree fruit growers in North Carolina use Chateau often in young plantings. Chateau provides a nice spectrum of activity compared to what growers were accustomed with Surflan. Chateau does requires some tree protection just as does gramoxone. Similarly, apples need to be protected against Rely herbicide. TreeVix is a relatively new post emerge herbicide from BASF for apples that was just registered in 2009, but not for newly planted trees. Gramoxone gets a lot of use in apple orchards, maybe a little too much in young orchards and cannot be used in peaches until the third leaf. For protection against post-emergence type herbicides, growers in the southeast United States are using milk cartons, especially in the peach industry. In apple trees we use quite a bit of trunk painting with an exterior latex paint. The nice thing about milk cartons is that there is a good supply available and they are very inexpensive, just a few cents per tree. Milk cartons work very nicely with nursery tree whips to install, open the carton and drop it down from the top. You may need to heap a little dirt at the base of the carton to hold it in place. Milk cartons have up to a two year life. By the end of the second year they weather down and do not necessarily have to be removed from the orchard, and don t cause a problem with girdling. Exterior latex paint is very inexpensive, but the coverage tends to crack after the first year with the tree growth. Growers apply it with a car wash mitt after they plant the trees it can be done relatively fast. In our trials with the

2 Winter Michigan Peach Sponsor Newsletter Page 2 nutsedge material Sandea the presence of the paint has increased the tolerance of newly planted tree to the herbicide quite a bit. In preventing herbicide damage to trees it is important to hit your target and minimize drift. Orientation of the spray nozzles is important. Many of us are aware of the speckling of apple fruit that can occur when Chateau is combined with glyphosate, or the use of 2,4-D when fruit is on the tree. We have seen this in peaches as well. Chateau only made the injury visible glyphosate used by itself is likely drifts to fruit as well, but we are just not aware of it. As a result of this drift issue, restrictions have been made on the use of Chateau in the season when fruit is present. To reduce spray drift of herbicides, maximize droplet size as much as you can. The combination of low spray pressure (<30 psi), nozzle selection such as TurboDrop or the air-assisted nozzle with larger droplet size helps, as does Chateau + glyphosate injury to apple waiting until the wind speed is low. Drift retardant additives help, but don t fruit attributed to drift problems during depend on them for major drift suppression help selecting proper nozzle temperature inversion types and keeping pressure low have a much greater effect. However NOTH- ING is more effective than avoiding applications during unfavorable conditions. Choosing the right herbicide for the tree age and soil type is very important. Soil texture and soil organic matter are very important for soil active herbicides. Soil variation within a field can result in the need to vary herbicide rates by 30%, which is very difficult to achieve with standard equipment used in orchards. Pre-emerge herbicides have restrictions according to soil type. For example, Chateau use rate cannot exceed 6 oz/acre when soil has a sand plus gravel content is over 80%. The Casoron label instructs the user to not use it on light, sandy soils. The diuron and simazine labels also reads do not use on sand, loamy sand, or gravelly soils. The Sinbar label instructs not to use on soils coarser than sandy loam or on soils with <1% organic matter. It is also important to practice rotation with herbicides of different types to avoid cumulative, harmful residue buildup in the soil. It is important to know the herbicide formulation. The formulation can impact the application rate and the spray additives included or the ones you need to add. Many of the herbicides are available in several formulations. Glyphosate has several formulations with and without surfactants. Rely 1L is the older formulation. Rely 280 came along with more than twice the concentration of active ingredients, which resulted in excessive rates by applicators not alerted to the formulation change. Don t forget the fine print on herbicide labels such as the maximum number of applications per season and the recommendations (or no recommendation) for spray additives. And remember that the maximum number of applications may be more than is healthy for the tree. Generally, the herbicide manufacturer has put the right recommendation for use on the label. Herbicide timing and activation is important. For pre-emerge herbicides rainfall is necessary for activation. Some herbicides can wait before activation longer than others. For example, Devrinol needs rainfall activation within 24 hrs and Solicam can wait up to 3 weeks. But in generally, apply pre-emerge herbicides as close to the start of rain as possible. Apply herbicides as close to maximum weed emergence as possible. In North Carolina we use fall pre-emerge applications to allow us to delay next years herbicide applications until the soils warm up. Smaller weeds are easier to control with post emerge herbicides than larger weeds.

3 Winter Michigan Peach Sponsor Newsletter Page 3 Tomato Ringspot Virus Diagnosis Bill Shane, SW Michigan Research and Extension Center Tomato ringspot (TomRSV) is one of several common and important virus pathogens of stone fruit. TomRSV is spread by grafting and budding, by the dagger nematode (Xiphinema americana) but not in pollen of stone fruit. Two other significant pathogens Prunus necrotic ring spot virus (PNRSV) and prune dwarf virus (PDV) of stone fruit (see MPS newsletter fall 2009) can be spread by planting infected trees and by contaminated pollen and seed but not the dagger nematode. Tomato ringspot virus (TomRSV) is associated with a range of symptoms depending on the virus strain and the host. On peaches the disease is called peach stem pitting or peach yellow bud mosaic, and on Stanley plum the disease is prune brown line. Peach tree decline Peaches affected by stem pitting show low vigor, premature autumn defoliation. Wood in the trunk / graft union region become pitted and pithy. Trees with severe Table 1. Survey of dandelions in stone fruit for TomRSV in Berrien County, MI, September 30, Orchard Type Positive # sampled 1 Peach Peach Tart cherry Tart cherry Tart cherry Plum Plum 2 2 Total Negative control 0 2 A sample was 5 leaves, each leaf from a different dandelion plant, each dandelion from a different tree stem pitting often die, estimated by some researchers with 4 to 5 years of infection. There is no practical cure for trees infected by tomato ringspot virus, or other virus diseases such as PDV and NRSV. Infected tree removal, crop rotation, buying clean plant stock, and soil fumigation are the only practical methods of control. Most TomRSV strains are undetectable in leaves of infected trees even with sensitive laboratory tests such as ELISA and PCR, but can be detected with these same tests in graft union and crown inner bark layers. TomRSV can be readily detected by these tests in infected dandelion leaves. Dandelions are an important reservoir of this virus in fruit plantings. A preliminary survey was conducted by our MSU group in in summer of 2010 to determine general prevalence of TomRSV in dandelions in 7 stone fruit orchards in Berrien County, Michigan. A sample consisted of 5 leaves, each from a separate dandelion plant, each plant under a different tree. Two to five samples were collected per orchard, depending on the availability of dandelions. Each five leaf sample was processed and tested using Elisa tests provided by AgDia Corporation of Elkart, IN, with the help of students in the laboratory of Dr. Gretchen Anderson, Indiana University South Bend. Six of seven orchards tested positive for TomRSV by ELISA. Of the 29 samples taken, 14 tested positive for TomRSV by ELISA. One site had all five samples positive for TomRSV. Positive tests for TomRSV in dandelion does not necessarily mean the nearby fruit trees were also infected. However, (Continued on page 4)

4 Winter Michigan Peach Sponsor Newsletter Page 4 (Continued from page 3) dagger nematodes, if present, will eventually move the virus from the roots of dandelion to peach rootstock, if of a susceptible type. Most rootstock used in Michigan for stone fruit are susceptible to TomRSV. All peach seedling rootstock, including Bailey, Lovell, Tennessee Natural, Halford are susceptible. Trials are underway with new rootstock with Prunus cerasifera (cherry plum) such as Krymsk 1, Krymsk 86 to see if they offer increased resistance to Tom- RSV, compatibility to peach varieties and adaptability to the Michigan climate. References Bitterlin, M. W., D. Gonsalves, and J. G. Barrat Distribution of tomato ringspot virus in peach trees: Implications for viral detection. Plant Disease 72: Reighard, G. L., Stone fruit rootstocks: current status and overview for the future.. New York Fruit Quarterly 4: Powell, C. A. L. B. Forer, and R. F. Stouffer Reservoirs of tomato ringspot virus in fruit orchards. Plant Dis. 66: SweetStar TM Newest peach variety in Stellar series SweetStar is new yellow melting flesh fresh market release from the Fruit Acres program of Annette and Randy Bjorge. In trials at the SW Michigan Research and Extension Center has looked promising in the early Cresthaven season about 20 days after Redhaven. SweetStar fruit are large 2 3/4 to 3 diameter round, sometimes slightly bumpy. It develops a 60 to 90% medium bright red blush on yellow background. The fruit retains firmness on the tree, with some split pits. The flesh is clean, light yellow with some red. The tree of SweetStar is vigorous, with no observed structural problems. SweetStar is an International Plant Management Variety. USPP has been applied for. SweetStar peach Peaches, Nectarines, Plums, and Apricot Trees Return to SW Research and Extension Center. After a three year absence, peaches, nectarine, plum, and apricot are now being planted at the SW Michigan Research and Extension Center (SWMREC). All of these types of trees were had been removed after MDA inspectors detected plum pox virus (PPV) in one commercial plum tree at the station during routine disease survey activities. Detailed surveys by the Michigan Dept of Agriculture and the US Dept of Ag have revealed no additional infected trees, with the result that the area quarantine was lifted in fall Planting peach trees has resumed at the SW Michigan Research and Extension Center in 2010 PPV is an exotic disease of stone fruit, which up until July 2006, was previously unknown in Michigan. Approximately 23 acres of peach, nectarine, plum and apricot trees were removed at SWMREC in 2006 & 2007 to insure the virus was completely eradicated. MSU shifted the planting of peach seedling nurseries to the MSU Trevor Nichols Research Station in Fennville while the quarantine in Berrien Coun- (Continued on page 5)

5 Winter Michigan Peach Sponsor Newsletter Page 5 (Continued from page 4) ty was in place. Replanting at SWMREC resumed in spring 2010 and included peach and plum variety trials, a peach training systems block, and several peach breeding plantings. Approximately 85 advanced peach lines, and potential new varieties, from the Michigan State University breeding program of specialist Bill Shane were saved by through the services of the Clean Plant Center of the Northwest, Washington State University, Prosser, Washington (web site: nrsp5.prosser.wsu.edu), the Michigan Dept of Agriculture, Willow Drive Nursery and Hilltop Trees. Teichman family honors William Teichman with Donation to Michigan Peach Sponsor Research Fund Bill Teichman, an early pioneer of the Michigan peach industry, was remembered and honored with a donation on his behalf to the Michigan Peach Sponsors by the William Teichman family members Emily Foster, Herbert Teichman, John Teichman, and Judy Teichman. Bill Teichman, founder of Skyline Orchards, now known as the famous u-pick destination Tree- Mendus Fruits, near Eau Claire, MI was an innovator in the Michigan fruit industry. He was among the first to grow Redhaven peaches commercially in the 1940 s and sold the first bushel of Redhaven at the Benton Harbor Market. He recognized the superior qualities of Redhaven as an attractive early ripening, red-skinned and nearly freestone peach that did not brown when processed. He highlighted the characteristics of the variety in the article The Redhaven Peach published in 1949 in the journal Fruit Varieties and Horticultural Digest. Bill Teichman s early interest in Redhaven was result of a close friendship he had with Michigan State University peach breeder Stanley Johnston. Over the years the Teichman farm became a site for early tests of the Haven varieties, including numerous canning evaluations by his wife Leone Teichman. Bill Teichman was longtime and active member of the National Peach Council, a nonprofit organization for the improvement of the U.S. peach industry. Mr. Teichman is also remembered for initiating in 1923 one of the longest operating weather stations in the Michigan fruit industry, a tradition carried on by his son Herbert and family members, including grandson Bill Jr. William Teichman was an early champion of Redhaven peaches Michigan grower and peach grower Paul Friday honored with 2010 National Peach Council Award At the 2010 Mid-Atlantic Fruit & Vegetable Convention in Hershey, Pennsylvania, Paul Friday, a Coloma Michigan grower and peach breeder was awarded the NPC Achievement Award for his dedication to the U.S. peach industry. Paul Friday is a longtime peach grower, innovator, and marketer of fresh market peaches. In the late 1980 s Paul initiated a very productive breeding program that has released over 20 peach and nectarine varieties under the trademark Flamin Fury. The Flamin Fury varieties are widely grown in North America and overseas. Paul Friday was also recognized for his long service to the peach industry as a member, board member, and president of the National Peach Council, and for many years of service on the board of the Michigan Peach Sponsors

6 Winter Michigan Peach Sponsor Newsletter Page 6 New peach rootstocks under test in NC-140 trials A multi-state project begun in 2009 is looking for new rootstocks for the peach industry. The 2009 NC-140 organization members are comparing 18 rootstocks at 14 locations in 12 states to find replacements for the national peach industry. Several of these rootstocks have not been tested under Michigan-type conditions. Results from test sites in Massachusetts, Colorado, and Utah will be the most relevant to Michigan growing conditions. Trials with Krymsk 1 and Krymsk 68 are underway at the SW Research and Extension Center near Benton Harbor, MI under the direction of Dr. Bill Shane. The seedling rootstock Guardian has been Krymsk 1 rootstock trialed in Michigan for over 10 years in various plantings and has shown slightly more vigor than Lovell and Bailey and good peach variety compatibility. No evidence of more sensitivity to winter cold damage than Lovell or Bailey has been seen in Michigan, but problems have been reported in New York and Kentucky. Rootstocks in the 2009 NC-140 peach rootstock trial Rootstock Type / origin Source Comments Lovell Peach California, old processing peach Common seeding rootstock used as standard for comparison, vigorous, sensitive to nematodes Guardian Peach USDA Byron, GA Seedling, Developed for southeast US, more vigorous than Lovell, resistance to some nematodes, some reports that it is more prone to winter problems than Lovell HBOK 10 Peach Univ. CA, Davis, California Estimated 65% dwarfing HBOK 32 Peach Univ. CA, Davis, California Estimated 65% dwarfing KV Peach USDA West Virginia KV Peach USDA, West Virginia Prunus americana American plum Bailey s nursery, Minnesota Estimated 70% dwarfing Penta = Empyrean #2 Controller 5 Krymsk 86 Krymsk 1 European plum Japanese plum x peach Myrobolan plum x peach Nanking cherry x myrobolan plum Istituto Sperimentale per la Frutticoltura, Italy Univ. CA, Davis, California Krymsk Breeding Research Station, Russia Krymsk Breeding Research Station, Russia Bright s Hybrid #5 Almond x peach Bright s Nursery, California Vigorous Mirobac Atlas Viking Myrobolan plum x almond Peach x almond x flowering plum Peach x almond x flowering plum Agromillora Catalana, Spain Zaiger s Genetics, California Zaiger s Genetics, California Rootknot nematode resistant Estimated 50% to 65% dwarfing Vigorous, low suckering Estimated 60% dwarfing Very vigorous Very vigorous

7 Michigan Peach Sponsor Gold Members for 2010 PETERSON FARMS, INC 3104 Baseline Rd, Shelby, MI GREENSTONE FARM CREDIT SERVICES 8302 Edgewood Road, Berrien Springs, MI CZUBA FRUIT FARMS 6910 Angling Rd, Coloma, MI UNITED PHOSPHORUS, INC 9359 Riverside Drive, Grand Ledge, MI SUMMIT SALES th Ave, Lawrence, MI FRUIT ACRE FARMS 2559 Friday Rd, Coloma, MI HERMAN FARMS 6659 N Branch Rd, Benton Harbor, MI CAMERON NURSERY, L.L.C Ringold Rd, Box 300, Eltopia, WA , sales: (Paul Tvergyak) RASCH FAMILY FARMS DENNIS UMLOR DUTCHMAN ORCHARDS SCHULTZ S FRUITRIDGE FARMS WATERVLIET FRUIT EX- CHANGE GOWAN COMPANY ED BAUSHKE DALE NYE FARMS Moser Fruit Tree Sales, Inc Defield Road, Coloma, MI , , fax , mattmoser@forfruittrees.com Michigan Peach Sponsor Silver Members for 2010 DOW AGRISCIENCE ROGER & PATTY MOLTER MAMMOTH FRUIT FARMS K & K FARMS TREE-MENDUS FRUIT GREG ORCHARDS PRODUCE, INC CULBY FRUIT BROKERS VAN WELL NURSERY WINDY RIDGE ORCHARD WILLMENG FARMS 7515 N. Branch Rd, Watervliet, MI THE NURSERY CONNECTION P.O. Box 874, Coloma, MI A. W. OVERHISER ORCHARDS th Ave, South Haven, MI C & O NURSERY 1700 N Wenatchee Ave, Wenatchee, WA STARK BROS NURSERIES Highway NN, Louisiana, MO ADAMS COUNTY NURSERY 26 Nursery Rd, P.O. Box 108, Aspers, PA GRANDVIEW ORCHARDS 7901 Territorial Rd, Watervliet, MI Michigan Peach Sponsor Bronze Members for 2010 Michigan Peach Sponsor Platinum Member for 2010 BIXBY ORCHARDS HILLSIDE ORCHARDS WILBUR-ELLIS DALY ORCHARDS CO WEBER ORCHARDS RADOM FARM SUPPLY GOLD COAST FARMS MACRO PLASTICS PAUL FRIDAY C & J Stein Fruit Farms, Dave Babbitt, Harold Gunderson, Walter Skibbe, Flavorland Farms, James Bittner, S & S Ag Supply, Umlor Orchards, Jerry Ellis, Bru-ne Farms, Robinette Orchards, Hilltop Fruit Trees, Trickl-Eez, Noffke Family Farms

8 Michigan Peach Sponsors is a non-profit corporation under the provisions of Michigan Act No. 327 of the Public Acts of The purpose of this association is to promote better cultural and marketing practices in the Michigan peach industry; to promote the appreciation for and the consumption of Michigan peaches; to represent the Michigan peach industry in legislative matters and policy formation on local, state and national levels; to promote the general good will, understanding and harmony in the Michigan peach industry in the common interest of the growers, marketing agencies and consumers