Surround WP and Snow were evaluated for their ability to manage citrus thrips populations in lemons on the Yuma Mesa, and their impact on lemon yield, fruit quality, and packout. Both Surround and Snow effectively controlled citrus thrips and prevented fruit scarring, but their ability to manage Yuma spider mite was inconclusive. Preference tests indicated that both Surround and Snow act primarily by repelling the thrips, but also induce some mortality. Surround produced higher yields than Snow at the first harvest (#8 ring), but did not differ from the commercial standard. There were no differences in yield among treatments for the strip harvest, nor were their any differences in total yield. These data suggest that Surround may have some yield or increased fruit earliness enhancement qualities and that Snow may be slightly detrimental. There were no statistical differences among any of the treatments in fruit size frequency or quality for any of the harvests, and there was no apparent benefit from applying an additional application of Surround or Snow post thrips season solely for quality, fruit size, or yield enhancement.

An experiment was designed to determine the effectiveness of foliar prebloom boron (B) sprays for thinning 'Kinnow' mandarins (Citrus reticulata). Treatments consisted of a control and foliar B applied at 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500 and 3000 ppm. Leaf tissue B levels were not significant between treatments. Likewise, fruit quality was similar for all treatments. Fruit weight and number were significantly greater for the control compared to the 1500, 2000, 2500 and 3000 ppm B treatments for the undersize fruit. There was a clear reduction in yield as the rate of B applied increased, however, the reduction was not statistically significant.

One red and one white cultivar of winegrapes grown in Southern Arizona was pruned to four different methods. The red cultivar was 'Merlot' and the white was 'Sauvignon Blanc'. The pruning methods were 2 bud spur, 4 bud spur, cane and basal buds only. The basal bud treatment was eliminated for 'Sauvignon Blanc'. The 4 bud spur method resulted in significantly greater yield when compared to the other methods. Fruit produced from the basal bud only treatment resulted in fruit that was significantly greater in pH and acid content. The 'Sauvignon Blanc' cultivar had significantly higher yield with cane pruning with no difference in fruit quality.

Higher nutrient and water use efficiency are possible with microsprinkler-irrigated citrus compared to flood-irrigated citrus. Therefore, new N and P fertilizer recommendations are needed for microsprinkler-irrigated citrus. The objectives of these experiments were to i) determine the effects of N applications on tree growth, fruit yield, fruit and juice quality, and N and P removal in fruit for microsprinkler-irrigated navel oranges; ii) determine the effects of P applications on tree growth, fruit yield, fruit and juice quality, and N and P removal in fruit, and iii) develop Best Management Practices for N and P fertigation of microsprinkler-irrigated citrus. Field experiments were conducted at the University of Arizona Citrus Agricultural Center in separate blocks of 'Newhall' and 'Fukumoto' navel oranges, both on 'Carrizo' rootstock. In each block, ten treatments, consisting of all possible combinations of 5 N rates (0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8 lb N/tree/yr) and 2 P rates (0, 0.2 lb P/tree/year) were applied to five replicate trees per treatment. Maximum yields of the ‘Newhall' trees were 132 lb fruit/tree at a N rate of 0.5 lb N/tree/yr. Maximum yield of the 'Fukumoto' trees was119 lb fruit/tree at 0.5 lb N/tree/yr. Both varieties maintained appropriate leaf N and P concentrations at the yield-maximizing N rates. Total N in the fruit accounted for about 60 % of the N applied at the yield-maximizing N rates in both varieties. The results confirmed that microsprinklers effectively reduced the amounts of N fertilizer needed while maintaining adequate N status in the trees, with excellent N use efficiency.

‘Newhall’ navel oranges on ‘Carrizo’ rootstock were planted in Mar. 1997 at the Citrus Agricultural Center. The objectives of this experiment, conducted during 2000 - 2003, were to i) determine the effects of N rate and fertigation frequency for microsprinkler-irrigated navel oranges on tree N status, and crop yield and quality; and ii) develop Best Management Practices which promote optimum tree growth and production while minimizing nitrate leaching. The trees were equipped with a microsprinkler irrigation system. The experiment was a randomized complete block factorial with N rates of 0, 0.15, 0.30, and 0.45 lb N/tree/year, and fertigation frequencies of weekly, monthly, and three times per year. Each of the ten treatments was replicated five times. The trees were harvested in December or January of each growing season. Fruit were processed through an automatic fruit sizer, and fruit from each plot were further evaluated for fruit quality. Leaf N concentration and fruit yield of 4-6 year old trees were responsive to N rate, but not to fertigation frequency. Fruit quality and packout were not significantly affected by either N rate or fertigation frequency. Fruit yield was optimized at annual N rates of 0.25 lb/tree (four-year-old trees) to 0.35 lb/tree (six-year-old trees) during this experiment. We propose new tissue guidelines for guiding N fertilization of young microsprinkler-irrigated navel oranges.

Powdery mildew of pecan, caused by Microsphaera ulni, results in discoloration of pecan shucks, but its effects on yield and quality of kernels are not known. In 1999, powdery mildew was observed on pecan shucks by the latter part of June in a commercial pecan orchard near Sahuarita, Arizona. The fungus continued to be active throughout the summer. However, results of a field test comparing diseased and healthy nuts from two varieties of pecans indicate that powdery mildew did not affect nut weight or quality. Whole nut weights, kernel weights, color ratings or percentage of discarded nuts were not significant between paired clusters of nuts that were treated with fungicides and remained disease free and untreated nuts that were infected with powdery mildew. Although shucks may have a high percentage of area covered by powdery mildew, results from this trial indicate that fungicide treatments are not warranted.

First year yield and packout data from a trial containing 'Fina', 'Fina Sodea', 'Sidi Aissa', 'Oroval', 'W. Murcott Afourer', 'Fremont', and 'Gold Nugget; selections were collected in 2004-05. For the year, 'Fremont' had the greatest yield, but the smallest fruit size, while 'Fina' had the smallest yield, and 'W. Murcott Afourer' had the largest fruit size.

Two orange cultivar trials have been established in Arizona, one at the Yuma Mesa Agricultural Center, Yuma, AZ and one at the Citrus Agriculture Center, Waddell, AZ. For the navel orange trial in Yuma, all the selections had improved yields in 2005-06. ‘Fisher’ navel continues to have the greatest yield, but is quite granulated. Of the rest in the Yuma trial, ‘Lane Late’ had the best quality and yield. For the Waddell trial, the fourth year data has been collected, and suggests that ‘Fisher’, ‘Beck-Earli’, ‘Chislett’ and ‘Lane Late’ are outperforming the other cultivars tested to date.

Twelve varieties of pecans were evaluated for yield, viviparity, and nut quality. The commercially recommended varieties 'Western Schley' and 'Wichita' produced the greatest yields but also had the highest percentage of pregermination. The varieties 'Cheyenne' and 'Sioux' exhibit great potential for commercial production in the low desert of Arizona.