Improvements In Hazelnut Production In the United States

In the mid-1980s, eastern filbert blight (EFB) was discovered in Oregon’s main hazelnut-producing region and now is present throughout the hazelnut-producing area.  Oregon State University’s (OSU) hazelnut breeding program responded by developing EFB resistant cultivars first released in 2005.  The breeding program has also selected for other beneficial traits for hazelnut production such as uniform early nut maturation, larger kernel size, and improved kernel quality. A 2008 OSU economic study on the costs of establishing and producing hazelnuts showed that the EFB resistant varieties enhance economic viability orchards, increasing cumulative cash flow during establishment by $12,243. Several completely resistant cultivars have been released from the OSU Hazelnut Breeding program, all of which have ‘Gasaway’ as a parent to give a single gene resistance to EFB. Hazelnut genotypes with EFB resistance have been collected worldwide and are being integrated into the OSU hazelnut breeding program to create new varieties with multiple sites for EFB resistance. There is increasing interest in growing hazelnuts in the other parts of the U.S. The Arbor Day Foundation began the Hazelnut Research Project in 1996 in Nebraska. Recently, to maximize progress, a Hybrid Hazelnut Consortium was formed to join the leading hazelnut researchers in the world. The Consortium’s goal is to create a world leading research and breeding program to develop hazelnuts as a widely adapted, high-yielding and low-input sustainable crop that is competitive with annual crops for food, feed or bio-energy. Rutgers University has been researching hazelnuts for the eastern U.S. since 1996. They currently have around 11,000 hazelnut seedlings undergoing evaluation and selection. The Rutgers program is also looking to find cold tolerant genotypes.  They have been working closely with OSU to assess the response of OSU hazelnut selections that are resistant to EFB in Oregon to EFB strains from the eastern U.S. This has demonstrated the need for cultivars with multiple sources of resistance and has prompted a restriction of importation of hazelnuts into Oregon. They are also searching for new and integrating new sources of resistance to EFB from seedling populations from Europe. More effective IPM for EFB-susceptible hazelnut cultivars have been developed by OSU scientists.  They recommend a management program that integrates scouting for and pruning out of infected tissue, fungicide sprays, and the use of more resistant varieties.  Advancements in hazelnut fertilizer management have included discovery of nitrogen uptake, distribution and utilization patterns through work with isotopically-labeled nitrogen