Courtesy Oregon State UniversityWepsterCorvallis-based Oregon State University has released a new high-yielding, blight-resistant hazelnut for the food manufacturing industry.
Wepster, as the former OSU 894.030 is now called, was bred to be shelled, blanched and sold as kernels, according to a news release.
It is an alternative to the varieties Lewis, Clark, Sacajawea and Yamhill.
Developed by breeder Shawn Mehlenbacher, it will be licensed to nurseries that agree to pay a 50-cent-per-tree royalty.
Wepster yields small, round kernals, making it ideal for the chocolate industry, which likes a smaller nut.
Wepster produces a 15-foot tree, which is taller than Yamhill and easier to run harvesting equipment under.
In addition, the new variety doesn't require much pruning or training.
Wepster also has a high level of resistance to eastern filbert blight, a fungal disease that produces cankers that girdle branches.
When compared with nine different cultivars in one trial, Wepster produced consistantly high yields.
Pollinizers such as York, Gamma and the university's yet-to-be-released OSU 880.027 work well.
Comments (1) Leave a comment