`GULFKING' AND `GULFCREST', NEW PEACHES FOR THE LOWER COASTAL PLAIN

`Gulfking' and `Gulfcrest' peaches are jointly released for grower trials by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, the Georgia Agricultural Experiment Station, and the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station. Trees of `Gulfking' and `Gulfcrest' produce an attractive, sweet-tasting, yellow and non-melting flesh fruit intended for the fresh fruit market. They are expected to produce fruit with tree-ripened aroma and taste while retaining firmness for longer shelf life than fruit from conventional melting-flesh cultivars. Trees of `Gulfking' reach full bloom most seasons in mid-February in lower southern Georgia and are estimated to require 350 chill units. We expect this new peach to be adapted in areas where `Flordaking' has been successfully grown. Fruit ripen 73 to 80 days from full bloom, typically in early May, usually with `Flordaking' in southern Georgia. The fruit are large, ranging from 105 to 130 grams. Commercially ripe fruit exhibit 80% to 90% red (with moderately fine darker red stripes) over a deep yellow to orange ground color. Fruit shape is round with a recessed tip. Pits are medium small and have little tendency to split even when crop loads are low. Trees of `Gulfcrest' are estimated to require 525 chill units. This is based on full bloom consistently occurring with `Sunfre' nectarine at Attapulgus, Ga. where full bloom occurs most seasons in early-March. Fruit ripen 62 to 75 days from full bloom, typically in early to mid-May, usually a few days after `Flordacrest' in southern Georgia. The fruit are medium-large, averaging about 105 g. Commercially ripe fruit exhibit 90% to 95% red over a deep yellow to orange ground color. Fruit shape is round with a recessed tip. Pits are medium small and have little tendency to split even when crop loads are low.

Enhancing the Scope of Vegetable Cultivar Evaluation in Florida

Vegetable cultivar evaluations are conducted seasonally by research and extension faculty at several locations throughout the state of Florida. Results are summarized and published in a Florida Agricultural Experiment Station Circular, Vegetable Variety Evaluation in Florida and used as a basis for extension recommendations published in Vegetable Production Guide for Florida, an industry-sponsored publication. The selection of vegetables to be evaluated depends on local needs and the evaluator's interest. Until recently, this has provided fairly good coverage of the principle vegetables grown in the state. However, the future of this program as currently structured may be in doubt because of changes in assignments of current faculty, new faculty with assignments and interests that differ from their predecessors, and reduced administrative recognition for cultivar evaluation. It is likely that county extension faculty and professional staff will have a greater role in cultivar evaluation as university faculty input is reduced. Increasing the scope of vegetable cultivar evaluation by university faculty to include adaptation of new crops and specialty vegetables adds a new dimension to traditional trials. Some of these vegetables have not benefitted from selection or breeding so there is opportunity for crop improvement as a further extension of vegetable cultivar evaluation.

IMPROVEMENT AND CULTURE OF CALABAZA [CUCURBITA MOSCHATA (DUCHESNE), POIR.]

Calabaza is a pumpkin-like fruit that is grown throughout the tropics and subtropics. In the Caribbean “calabaza” is used in soups and other traditional dishes. In Puerto Rico, the 1987-88 calabaza crop was worth $8 million and the value of the crop in Florida is estimated to exceed $5 million. Mainland production of tropical calabaza types of C. moschata is limited largely to Florida where it is used mostly by those of Cuban descent. Despite the popularity and commercial significance of calabaza, little effort has been directed toward the study of cultural practices or varietal improvement. Only two improved varieties, `Borinquen' introduced by the Puerto Rico Agricultural Experiment Station in the 1940s and `La Primera' introduced by the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station in 1979 are available. Approaches to calabaza improvement including development of plants with shorter vines, incorporation of powdery mildew resistance, and production of uniform, symmetrical, hard-shelled, medium-sized fruit with enhanced nutritional quality in relationship to management systems are discussed.

New Plants for Florida: Grape

Until the 1980s, nearly all research effort was focused on development of disease-resistant bunch grape varieties. In the late 1970s, muscadine breeding began to be emphasized. Developments of biotechnological procedures to facilitate genetic improvement of grape began at the Leesburg site in 1984 and continue at Apopka, Florida. The program has been responsible for a number of pivotal technological advances for grape and has been awarded two U.S. patents for work in genetic transformation. This document is part of Circular 1440, a publication of the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, the Agronomy Department and IFAS Communication Services, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Publication date August 2003. Originally published as a booklet by IFAS Communication Services June 2003.

New Plants for Florida: Tropical Foliage

Foliage breeding began in 1976 at FAES with Jake Henny and Gary Wilfret focusing on members of the family Araceae (referred to as aroids) and Caladium, respectively. This document is part of Circular 1440, a publication of the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, the Agronomy Department and IFAS Communication Services, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Publication date August 2003. Originally published as a booklet by IFAS Communication Services June 2003. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ag221

New Plants for Florida: Watermelon

FAES leased a tract of land near Leesburg, Florida in 1930 for watermelon research. Emphasis in the early years of the program was resistance to Fusarium wilt, and many crosses and selections were made with the objective ofdeveloping new, wilt-resistant varieties. This document is part of Circular 1440, a publication of the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, the Agronomy Department and IFAS Communication Services, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Publication date August 2003. Originally published as a booklet by IFAS Communication Services June 2003.

New Plants for Florida: Sweet Corn

Today, the sweet corn industry is one of the most robust vegetable industries in Florida, and nationally, sweetcorn is ranked second in consumption after tomato. Florida production uses about two dozen hybrids derived from about six different breeding programs. Over the years, the FAES breeding program has contributed an array of products, including hybrids and inbreds, along with germplasm that serves as the raw material for the development of future hybrids. This document is part of Circular 1440, a publication of the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, the Agronomy Department and IFAS Communication Services, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Publication date August 2003. Originally published as a booklet by IFAS Communication Services June 2003. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ag214

New Plants for Florida: Tropical Fruit

Florida tropical fruit industry acreage has fluctuated during the past 70 years due to natural disasters, foreign competition and changes in the U.S. demographics. Today, there are about 16,000 acres in cultivation, with an economic impact of over $137 million annually. This document is part of Circular 1440, a publication of the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, the Agronomy Department and IFAS Communication Services, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Publication date August 2003. Originally published as a booklet by IFAS Communication Services June 2003. Circular 1440/AG210: New Plants for Florida: Tropical Fruit (ufl.edu)