Multidisciplinary Evaluation of New Apple Cultivars: The NE-183 Regional Project 1999 Planting

Abstract

The NE-183 regional project was established in 1994 with its primary objective to evaluate horticultural characteristics and pest susceptibility of new apple ( Malus × domesticaBorkh.) cultivars and advanced selections at numerous locations throughout the United States and Canada to determine both limitations and positive attributes of these cultivars. The project was established because many new apple cultivars were available but there was no established mechanism to provide unbiased evaluation to aid orchardists in making informed decisions about what apple cultivars have the greatest likelihood of being successful. There were two types of plantings: horticulture and pest susceptibility. Pest susceptibility plantings were intended to assess natural susceptibility of cultivars to insects and diseases. The horticulture plantings were intended to evaluate horticultural characteristics, fruit quality and sensory characteristics of the cultivars. The first NE-183 cultivar planting was established in 1995 at 28 locations in 18 states or Canadian provinces. A second group of 23 cultivars was planted in 1999. This article summarizes the rationale for initiating the NE-183 project, and lists the cultivars, locations and overall project design for the 1999 planting.