20245118143289

Extreme temperatures that deviate from seasonal norms are increasing in frequency because of climate change.

These changes will increase the risks of devastating crop losses, like those experienced for apple and pear crops over the last two decades.

These losses urgently need to be reduced.

However, our knowledge of apple and pear responses to temperatures is insufficient.

Our current knowledge is largely derived from few cultivars that are now less commercially relevant.

The industry needs mitigation strategies for current cultivars and knowledge to quickly assess new cultivars to determine if they are suitable for future climates.

Goals 1 and 2 deliver management strategies that reduce risk of losses to extreme temperatures based on a better understanding of the physiological responses to extreme temperatures for economically important apple cultivars.

These goals will also allow for the selection for key traits affecting responses to extreme temperatures.

Goal 3 will provide cost-benefit analysis that increases grower adoption of management strategies tested in Goals 1 and 2.

It will also develop predictive models for risks of temperature-related losses in the future under climate change.

Goal 4 will integrate research personnel with stakeholders to develop unified extension programming that prepares the pome fruit industries in the U.S. for the challenges of climate change.

This project will help sustain the U.S. as a leader in pome fruit production, strengthening the rural economy and providing consumers with a consistent supply of quality fruit produced in efficient and sustainable ways.

Washington State University

NOT APPLICABLE

10.309 - Specialty Crop Research Initiative

Institute of Food Production and Sustainability (IFPS) [USDA - NIFA]

Pullman, Washington 99164-0001 United States

Single Zip Code

USDA-NIFA-SCRI-010534