Vol. 80 No. 2 (2026): Journal of the American Pomological Society

Golding Pecan (‘Ga. 03-6-72’). Photo Credit: Patrick J. Conner

About the Photo: Pecans (Carya illinoinensis), in the Juglandaceae family, can grow to be over 100 ft. tall and can spread up to 75 ft. Oblong fruits (nuts) are produced within a thin paper-like husk. Georgia continues to be the top pecan producing state in the United States with over 88 million pounds harvested annually on average. The University of Georgia pecan breeding program, established in 1998, focuses its program on nut quality characteristics, early maturation, and resistance or tolerance to major insect and disease pests, particularly pecan scab. The cover photo for this volume features the latest commercial variety released from the UGA Pecan Breeding program, Golding^TM (‘Ga. 03-6-72’).