FFF 96-11        
August 13, 1996

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Facts for Fancy Fruit is a newsletter for commercial and advanced amateur
fruit growers developed in the Purdue University Department of Horticulture
with regular contributions from the specialists in the Departments of
Entomology and Botany and Plant Pathology, and from other agents &
specialists on campus.  If you have questions, or are are interested in
receiving this newsletter electronically, contact Bruce Bordelon
(bb@hort.purdue.edu).
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Inside
 
Crop Conditions
Weather Outlook
Special Regional Meeting on the
   Federal Crop Insurance Program
Apple Crop Down
Small Fruit and Grape Crop Report
Grape Harvest Parameters
Stop Drop Sprays
Ethephon for Color Enhancement and
   Advanced Maturity
European Red Mites
Pinpoint Scab
Collar Rot
Harvesting and Handling Apples
Marketing Hail Marked Apples at
   Retail
Summer Pruning of Apples
Coming Meetings/Events

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Crop Conditions
Apples are sizing well and rainfall has been adequate to excessive in
different areas of the state.  Cool weather lately should help with color
development.  Apple growers with light crops should continue using calcium in
their cover sprays to reduce cork spot and bitter pit.  Summer apples, late
peaches, and blueberries are being harvested at this time.  Grape harvest is
just beginning. The wet season has been conducive to fruit diseases so a good
spray program should be maintained.  Japanese beetle numbers seem to be
dropping off somewhat, but there are still plenty around.  The season is
still about 10-14 days behind normal.

Weather Outlook:  The 6 to 10 day outlook for Indiana calls for near normal
temperature and below normal precipitation.  The 90 day outlook for August,
September, and October calls for below normal temperature and near normal
precipitation.

Special Regional Meeting on the Federal Crop Insurance Program:  Wednesday,
August 21, 1996.  The USDA Risk Management Agency is inviting growers and
representatives of the agricultural industry to a meeting at the University
of Illinois Environmental and Agricultural Sciences Building located in
Champaign, Illinois.  This meeting covers Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and
Ohio.
	The discussion will include Crop Revenue Coverage, Income protection, and
other insurance options; actual production history procedures; improvements
to specific crop policies; crop expansion; and the general program direction.
 They would like to hear our views on the current crop insurance program, and
how best to develop the strategy for providing better risk management tools
in the future.
	If you plan to attend please notify Denver Sheffield of the Risk Management
Agency, Regional Service Office in Springfield, IL ASAP - i.e. NOW, at
(217)492-4186.  Also, please let Steve Doud, Pres. of IHS know(317) 985-3937.
 Dick Hayden (765)463-6587 and Steve have maps of that part of the U of I
campus.

Pomology Specialist Position Update:  The search committee for the Pomology
Extension and Research position met in late July for an initial evaluation of
candidates.  An excellent pool of applicants was reviewed and three
candidates have been selected for interviews.  We will hold the interviews in
September.  Key members of the Indiana tree fruit industry will be invited to
attend each candidate's seminar.  We'll keep you posted.

Apple Crop Down:  It appears that the apple crop in the U.S. will be down 6%
from last year's crop. The national crop is estimated at 247 million bushels,
down from the 1995 crop of 262.7 million bushels. Many Midwest and eastern
states are reporting wide variations in the crop from orchard to orchard due
to the hot dry summer of 1995, mid winter freezes, spring frosts, localized
hail damage, and poor pollination caused by rainy conditions, lack of honey
bees, and weak flowers.  On a state by state basis the following are predictions
by extension horticulturists:  New York 100% crop, Pennsylvania 50-60% of
full crop, Virginia 65% of full crop, West Virginia 50-60% of full crop,
Indiana 67% of full crop, Kentucky 90% of full crop, North Carolina 91% of 95
crop, Arkansas 60% of full crop, Wisconsin down somewhat, but with a full
crop of McIntosh, Michigan 67% of 95 crop, Washington 4% higher than 95 crop.


Small Fruit and Grape Crop Report:  Blueberry harvest continues in the state
with fruit quality being excellent.  Fruit size is very large this year
because of the reduced crop.  Alternaria and anthracnose fruit rots have been
problems due to the rainy season.  Cranberry fruit worm and blueberry maggot
pressure was unusually high this year.  Prices are very strong and supply is
limited.  Black and red raspberries in most areas have shown delayed winter
injury during June and July as hot weather stressed winter-injured floricanes
and caused collapse.  Yields have been down significantly.  Fall-bearing red
raspberry harvest should begin soon, but primocane growth is reduced in many
plantings, so yields may be low.  Excess soil moisture and leaching of
nitrogen are the most likely causes.  The grape crop looks excellent in most
areas.  Some cultivars suffered poor fruit set where rain coincided with
bloom, but overall, fruit set is excellent.  Disease problems are not severe
in commercial vineyards.  Phomopsis cane and leaf spot is common this season,
and black rot has been a problem in home plantings.  So far, downy and
powdery mildew have not been problems.  Early cultivars such as Aurore and
Foch have been harvested in southern areas.  Harvest should proceed over the
next 4 to 6 weeks.  If the cool weather continues, fruit quality should be
excellent.  

Grape Harvest Parameters:  As harvest time approaches growers should keep in
mind that fruit composition (sugar, acid, and pH) is the determining factor
for harvest date in grapes.  Desired fruit composition depends on the wine
style to be made.  For light, fruity style wines, grapes are usually
harvested before full maturity.  This is especially true with American
cultivars such as Concord and Niagara.  For heavier, full-bodied wines, fruit
is usually allowed to fully ripen.  This is usually the case with red French
hybrids.  At full maturity grapes should have 20 to 24 % soluble solids
(sugars), 0.7 to 0.9 titratable acidity, and a juice pH of 3.1 to 3.5.  When
deciding on harvest date, soluble solids is not the best indicator of optimum
fruit quality.  Instead, a balance of soluble solids, titratable acidity, and
juice pH should be considered.  Of the three parameters, juice pH is probably
the most important.  High juice pH is a big problem in the winery, and it
cannot be adjusted as easily as titratable acidity or sugar content.  Most
winemakers prefer white wine grapes with a juice pH of about 3.1-3.2 with a
maximum of 3.4, and red wine grapes with a pH of 3.3-3.4 with a maximum of
3.5.  Several wine quality attributes are adversely affected by high pH. 
These include color, protein, and tartrate stability, oxidative rate, metal
complexing, ability to clarify, biological stability, and sensory attributes.
 
	As harvest nears, sampling should be done at least twice weekly to track the
progress of fruit ripening.  If cool temperatures continue this season, fruit
should be ripen slowly and should reach full maturity without the problems
that were encountered during the hot summer of 1995.  Last year's heat caused
low titratable acidity and high juice pH.  If cool weather persists,
titratable acidity should remain relatively high, and juice pH should remain
low as sugars increase.  If you plan to sell to a winery, keep them updated
on fruit composition and let them help make harvest decisions based on their
needs.  During harvest, protect fruit quality by picking early in the day
while the fruit is cool, keep the fruit cool, and handle the fruit carefully
to avoid cracked berries, juice leakage, and potential spoilage.  Minimize
the time between harvest and crush as much as possible. 

Stop Drop Sprays:  NAA is the only material now available for stop drop use
on apples.  It is expensive, so use it wisely and according to the label.  
Stop drop sprays are not a substitute for timely harvest since fruit
continues to ripen and can go out of condition. Growers would like to hold
fruit on the tree long enough to attain good color, but do not delay harvest
past the attainment of good internal fruit quality. 
	Use 5 ppm on summer apple varieties and 10 ppm on fall and winter varieties.
 For maximum effect apply when temperatures are in the 70's.  Only two
applications are permitted.  Do not apply closer than 5 days before harvest. 
Apply when the first sound, uninjured fruit begin to drop.   NAA requires two
days or more to become effective and is effective for 7 to 10 days.  Healthy
foliage is necessary for best results.  Mite damage will reduce the
effectiveness of stop-drop sprays.  Several formulations of NAA are
available, so be careful in calculating the tank mix.  Follow label
recommendations and cautions carefully.

Ethephon for Color Enhancement and Advanced Maturity:  Ethephon (Ethrel) may
be applied 14 to 21 days prior to the expected harvest data for a variety at
the rate of 150 to 300 ppm (1/2 to 1 pint per 100 gallons).  Use the lower
dosages for late maturing varieties.  Ethephon will be most effective when
weather conditions are suitable for good color development, e.g. bright, mild
days and cool nights. Days with 75F max and 50-55F min. are ideal
for color development.   If the weather is hot at time of application,
ethephon will be ineffective.
	Ethephon stimulates maturity of the fruit.  Treated apples will go out of
condition more quickly.  Always treat only the amount of fruit that can be
harvested and marketed on a timely basis.  Do not try to store ethephon
treated fruit for an extended time, and do not recommend that your customers
store ethephon treated fruit for an extended period of time, especially in
non-refrigerated storage.  Ethephon should be used only on the red varieties
since it may cause mottling on Golden Delicious.  Ethephon causes fruit
abscission, so for orderly harvesting, NAA should be used as the stop-drop if
harvest is to be delayed in any way.  Carefully program Ethephon applications
so that you have treated no more fruit than can be harvested in three days. 
Follow label instructions carefully.

European Red Mites:  I have received several reports from growers who have
had outbreaks of European red mites in their orchards this year, even though
they have conserved their predatory mites by selecting insecticides that are
least toxic to the predators. In most situations, the outbreaks occurred in
varieties that are most susceptible to mites, such as Red Delicious, and that
had not been treated with Apollo or Savey. I think the lesson to be learned
from these outbreaks is that problem blocks will need to be treated with one
of the preventive acaricides, at least every other year. As my research has
shown over the last several years, the predators perform best when they have
some help from materials such as Apollo or Savey that reduce the European red
mite populations to a manageable level.
	Of more immediate concern, what should you do about the outbreaks now that
we no longer have Omite available? I had high hopes that we might be able to
use Agrimek as a rescue treatment. I applied Agrimek to trees at the Hort
Farm two weeks ago, and one week after treatment, the Agrimek + oil treatment
had populations only 25% below the untreated. I think at this point we are
better off to use some of the older acaricides, such as dicofol, Vendex, and
summer oils rather than Agrimek. Agrimek did work very well when applied
within 6 weeks of petal fall, as recommended on the label.

Pinpoint Scab:  Wet weather during the apple harvest period can lead to the
development of pinpoint scab and other fruit infecting diseases, eg. sooty
blotch and fly speck.  Pinpoint scab can infect fruit up to and during the
harvest period if wet weather persists at this time, however, the symptoms of
pinpoint scab may not show up until the fruit have been stored for several
months.   Late season apple scab can also build up on leaves after harvest,
resulting in large quantities of primary scab spores the following season,
even though a good spray program was followed early this year.  Help prevent
such problems by maintaining scab fungicides in late cover sprays; also do
not stop cover sprays too early.  Check the label for days-to-harvest
restrictions before making the final application.

Collar Rot:   Late summer is a good time to inspect trees for above-ground
symptoms of collar rot.  Look for weak trees with premature leaf reddening
(especially on goldens); sparse, yellow foliage; and many small, highly
colored fruit.  Keep in mind that such symptoms are general stress symptoms
that may be caused by a number of factors, eg. wet feet, mouse injury, trunk
decay, root rot, etc.  However, trees that show the above-described symptoms
and also have a canker at or just below ground level are likely infected with
collar rot.  If collar rot is suspected we advise the use of Ridomil 2E in
the fall after harvest.  Apply Ridomil as soon as possible after harvest so
it will be in place before the fall rainy periods begin and possible new
infections occur.  Also be sure to concentrate your Ridomil treatment on
surrounding healthy appearing trees, not just trees already showing severe
symptoms of collar rot.  Ridomil is best used to prevent collar rot.... not
cure it. 

Harvesting and Handling Apples:  Growing good quality fruit is useless if
that quality is not maintained because of sloppy handling!  Train your
picking crews carefully and supervise them adequately to eliminate bruises in
picking and handling.  Finger bruises, especially on McIntosh, Goldens, and
Ozark Gold, show up clearly, so handle carefully.  Gentle transfer of fruit
from picking bag to crate or bin will help to prevent bruises.  Bruising is
less when bins are used for transport of harvested fruit.
	Check orchard roads and driveways and smooth out the bumps.  Each bump
translates into extra bruising.  Also, train and supervise the drivers of
vehicles transporting fruit to eliminate excess speed or carelessness which
will compound the bruising problem.
	Cool the fruit quickly after it has been harvested.  Get it into
refrigerated storage as quickly as possible.  Storage life is best when
apples reach the storage temperature in less than four days.  Each day's
delay can result in about 7 days shortened storage life.  Loading fruit into
the storage in the morning after a cool night can help to reduce the
refrigeration load.  Remember to control mice.  
	Maintenance of storage temperatures at or just below 32#161#F will be
optimum for most cultivars.  Also relative humidity of 95% will reduce loss
of moisture and resultant loss of storage life.  It is a good practice to wet
boxes and fruit down when they enter the storage and periodically thereafter
to maintain high humidity.
  
When to Harvest Apples:  There are several ways to help determine the best
time to harvest, but no one method works all the time.  Growers should not
rely on one method only.  The best procedure is to use a combination of
measurements.  These include days after full bloom; fruit softening; sugar
level (percent soluble solids); starch disappearance; fruit and seed color;
and fruit flavor.
	Skin and flesh color and "the market" are primary tests for many growers. 
These are poor indicators of fruit quality and readiness of fruit for harvest
and storage.  
	Fruit firmness should be followed periodically for several weeks before the
expected date of harvest.  It should decrease slowly from more than 20 pounds
to 15 or 16 pounds.  Harvest should occur before the pressure gets down to
about 14 pounds, depending on the variety.
	Soluble solids (%SS) should be a part of the determination and once the
average fruit of a variety reaches an acceptable level, harvest can begin. 
Delicious should not be harvested until the %SS reaches at least 10%, and
Golden delicious at least 11%.  Varieties such as Gala, Fuji and Braeburn
should reach substantially higher %SS levels before they are acceptable.
	Disappearance of starch is also a good assessment of maturity.  Starch
converts to sugar in a reasonably uniform manner.  Applying an Iodine
solution to a cut fruit surface will stain the starch in the flesh
blue-black. A commonly used rating system for this test is the scale of 1 to
6.
	1= full starch (entire cut surface is blue-black)
	2= clearing of the color in the seed cavity and halfway to the vascular area
	3= clear of color through the vascular bundles
	4= about half of flesh clear
	5= starch only under the skin of the fruit
	6= starch free - no blue black color at all
Guidelines have been developed for using this scale to rate the readiness for
harvest for various purposes.  Fruit to be held for long term storage needs
to be harvested earlier than that to be sold during the early season.
A good guide is still: 
	Sell the first fruit harvested immediately
	Fill the storage from back to front and withdraw it from front to back. 
Thus the least mature fruit is stored longest.
	Do not rely on only one maturity test, but try to use several of the above
to determine the optimum harvest date.	

Marketing Hail Marked Apples at Retail:  Growers who have experienced hail in
the orchard usually have little problem marketing apples that have been
hail-marked at retail or PYO.  This assumes that the damage occurred early in
the season and the hail marks are well healed or did not penetrate the skin. 
Damage that is not well healed will throw the fruit out of grade and in some
situations may even make it unsuitable for cider.
	If the hail damage is not too severe apples can simply be sold as usual. 
The fruit may also be marketed using a catchy description of the damage, such
as calling the apples "Ice-Kissed" along with a description of what that
means.  Usually a small discount is called for if the damage is more severe. 
Most consumers will understand the problem and take it in stride.  This is a
situation where a little public relations can go a very long way in getting
the crop marketed successfully.
	If there is enough undamaged fruit to make separation practical, then two
grades of fruit can be marketed.  If the fruit that is damaged has an
aggregate damage of less than about 1/2 inch diameter per fruit it can be
marketed as US #1 "hail grade".
	Another obvious outlet is to use the worst damaged fruit in cider or sell it
for juice or cider use.  Selling juice apples, however has not been a
profitable outlet.  With a somewhat short crop in the state and region, juice
prices may be a little better.  However using the fruit in your own operation
for your own cider is a much better option.

Summer Pruning of Apples:  Summer pruning apples in early to mid-August
results in the least re-growth of shoots, allows for good light penetration
for improved fruit coloring, and minimal affect on fruit size.  Cultivars
that garner a premium for enhanced color (Gala, Fuji, Braeburn) are good
candidates for summer pruning.  Be careful about sunburn on the fruit. 
Yellow apples are probably not good candidates for summer pruning except for
watersprout removal to facilitate spraying, etc.  Summer pruning can be a
good utilization of labor and can reduce the time spent in dormant pruning.
	With smaller trees a few judiciously placed cuts or the removal of long
extension growth at the tops of trees can reduce dormant pruning time and
enhance fruit color.  Typically the long current season extension growth,
mainly in the tree tops, is cut back to 1/2 inch from the base, or into two
year wood to the first fruit spur.
 	Young trees just coming into bearing are also good candidates for some
summer 
pruning; especially in the tops of trees.  In those blocks that are spaced
too close, summer pruning combined with dormant pruning can help maintain
fruit quality in a planting for a few extra years.
	Summer pruning should not be excessive so that soluble solids and fruit size
is maintained.  Limit the number of cuts to about 10 to 20 per tree.  Avoid
summer pruning on young trees that have not filled their allotted space or
are low in vigor.

Worker Protection Standard Public Meeting in Tipton, Indiana:  The U.S. EPA
will hold a public meeting in Tipton, Indiana on August 21, 1996 to obtain
input from workers, growers, handlers and others on the Worker Protection
Standard (WPS) for agricultural pesticides. EPA wishes to assess the first
full year of implementation of these new regulations which are designed to
protect the health of agricultural workers who are exposed to pesticides on
the job. This public meeting will provide an opportunity for both workers and
employers in Indiana and neighboring states to relay actual experiences and
lessons learned within the past year in the course of WPS implementation. 
EPA is interested in hearing public comment on: understanding of WPS
requirements; successes or difficulties in implementation; usefulness of
available assistance from state agencies; and suggestions for improvement. 
The information will be used by EPA and cooperating state officials and
organizations to evaluate and improve the impact and performance of the WPS
program.  MEETING LOCATION: Tipton County 4-H and Community Building in
Tipton, Indiana (about 30 miles north of Indianapolis) on Wednesday evening,
August 21, 1996 at 7:00 pm.  VOICE YOUR OPINIONS: Persons who wish to speak
at the meeting may register on site beginning at 5:00 PM.  Speakers are
encouraged to submit written comments as well to ensure that their position
is accurately received.  People unable to attend may submit written comments
or a short videotape for presentation on their behalf by August 1.  Limited
funds are available through the Midwest Migrant Health Consortium to cover
travel expenses for migrant/seasonal workers to provide testimony (contact
Suzy Richards of Community Health Partnership at 312/663-1522 ext. 252). 
Disabled attendees requiring special accommodations should notify EPA at
least 3 weeks prior to the meeting.  Persons who cannot attend the public
meeting but wish to comment without presentation at the meeting may do so by
submitting written comments to: Jeanne Heying, Office of Pesticides Programs
(7505C), U.S. EPA, 401 M Street, SW, Washington, D.C. 20460. Telephone:
703-305-7164; fax 703-308-2962.  Questions about this Indiana public meeting
may be directed to Edward Master 312/353-5830) or Donald Baumgartner
312/886-7835) at the U.S. EPA  Region 5, Pesticides Program Section
(DRT-14J), 77 West Jackson Blvd., Chicago Illinois 60604. 

Kentucky Commercial Apple IPM Meeting:  August 20, Appledale Farms (Mark and
Don Haney owners), 2183 Hwy 80, Nancy, KY 42544  606/636-6148 (farm market).
Directions - Take Hwy, 27 South to Somerset. Turn right on to Hwy. 80. The
orchard is 7-8 miles on the right.  
10 am-Noon EDST: Apple Production Round Table discussion led by Bill Jackson,
President of the Kentucky State Horticultural Society.  
Noon: Lunch will be available at cost for those who pre-register. 
Preregister by calling Mary Ann Kelley at 502/365-7541 Ext. 216 between 8 AM
& 4:30 CST weekdays before August 18 and give her the count for the Apple IPM
meeting in Nancy.
1 - 3:00:  IPM Program by University Specialists.  All UK Cooperative
Extension Service Meetings are open to everyone.  If you have questions
contact Jerry Brown 502/365-7541 ext. 204, or John Strang 606/257-5685.

Illinois Cider School:  Thursday, August 22, 1996  9:30 am - 3:30 pm. 
Illinois Cider School, Quig's Orchard, Mundelein, IL  Contact Don Naylor,
Exec. Sec'y, IL Hort Society, (309)828-8929.  This meeting, sponsored by the
Illinois State Horticultural Society, will include a demonstration of cider
making by Michigan Orchard Supply personnel using a continuous press.  It
will also include best cider making practices taught by Illinois Dept. of
Health and MOS personnel.  The chemistry of cider will be discussed; and
maintaining a consistent flavor in cider throughout the season will be
discussed by a panel of cider producers.  Advance registration is $25 with $5
added for registration at the door.  Quig's Orchard is located on Route 300S
in Mundelein about a quarter mile north of Midlothian Road.  Mundelein is a
Northern suburb of Chicago.  It is on US 45 northwest of Highland Park
between Libertyville and Wauconda.

Facts for Fancy Fruit Available Electronically:  All 1996 issues of Facts for
Fancy Fruit issues are available through the Horticulture and Plant & Pest
Diagnostic Clinic worldwide web homepages.  To locate the newsletters on the
web, go to the Horticulture home page at: http://www.hort.purdue.edu, select
Extension/Outreach, then Extension Bulletins and Newsletters.  Or you can go
directly to the Facts for Fancy Fruit Index at
http:///www.hort.purdue.edu/fff/fff.html.  To access the newsletters from the
Virtual Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab homepage at
http://www.ppdl.purdue.edu/ppdl/, select Newsletters, then Facts
for Fancy Fruit.  
	In addition, a listserv is set up so you can subscribe and unsubscribe to
the email version.  To subscribe send a message to "almanac@ecn.purdue.edu".
Your message should consist of this single one-line message: "subscribe FFF_L
<your name>" without the quote marks.  To unsubscribe follow the same
procedure: "unsubscribe FFF_L <your name>".  Do not include anything else in
the message.  Note that the address to subscribe and unsubscribe is not the
same as the return address for FFF_L.  If you have any problems contact me at
bb@hort.purdue and I'll try to help.

Coming Meetings/Events:
August 20 - Commercial Apple IPM Meeting, Haney's Appledale Orchards, Don and
Mark Haney, Owners, Nancy, KY. See directions above.

August 21 - Worker Protection Standard Public Meeting in Tipton, Indiana,
Tipton County 4-H and Community Building, See article above for further
information.

September 15 - Ohio Valley Harvest Festival.  Louisville, KY. Contact Roy
Ballard (812-948-5470).

September 22 - Indiana Nutgrowers Association fall meeting. Bernie
VanderKleed's place in Shadeland. Contact Bernie at 317-538-3528.

October 6-10 - 93rd American Society for Horticultural Science Annual
Meeting. Lexington Convention Center, Lexington, KY. Contact the Department
of Horticulture, Purdue University (765-494-1301).

October 10 - Orchard Meeting and Apple Cultivar Showcase. Dana and Trudie
Reed's Townsend Valley Orchard. 1-5 p.m. Contact Jerry Brown 502/365-7541
ext. 204. 

October 19 - Annual Meeting of the Kentucky Vineyard Society.  Contact Ken
Harmet (502) 269-2411.


****************************************************
Bruce Bordelon, 1165 Dept. of Horticulture, Purdue University, West
Lafayette, IN 47907-1165, 765/494-1298, e-mail: bb@hort.purdue.edu

Dick Hayden, Professor Emeritus, 1165 Dept. of Horticulture, Purdue
University, West Lafayette, IN 47907-1165, 765/494-1298, e-mail:
Dick_Hayden@hort.purdue.edu

Paul Pecknold, 1155 Dept. of Botany & Plant Path., Purdue University, West
Lafayette, IN 47907-1155, 765/494-4628, e-mail: Pecknold@btny.purdue.edu

Rick Foster, 1158 Dept. of Entomology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
47907-1158, 765/494-9572, e-mail: Rick_Foster@entm.purdue.edu


Disclaimer:  Reference to products in this publication is not an endorsement
to the exclusion of others which may be similar.  Any person using products
listed in this newsletter assumes full responsibility for their use in
accordance with current label directions of the manufacturer.