The Pacific Northwest fresh pear industry will allocate more than $200,000 over the next three years to launch a pear rootstock breeding program in Washington. A dwarfing pear rootstock would enable pear growers to shift to more efficient production systems and use labor-saving equipment, as has happened in apples thanks to rootstocks like Malling 9. “It’s exciting that the pear industry has recognized that this will help them move forward into that next stage of production,” said Dr. Kate Evans, Washington State University’s pome fruit breeder in Wenatchee. “Think about the huge advantages you have in apple production because of […]