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ARS Home » Plains Area » College Station, Texas » Southern Plains Agricultural Research Center » Crop Germplasm Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #401289
Research Project: Pecan Breeding, Genomics, and Genetic Resource Management

Location: Crop Germplasm Research

Title: Reflecting on the history of three important cultivars in pecan breeding

Author
item Chatwin, Warren

Submitted to: Pecan South
Publication Type: Trade Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/15/2023
Publication Date: 2/1/2023
Citation: Chatwin, W.B. 2023. Reflecting on the history of three important cultivars in pecan breeding. Pecan South. 55(12):18-27.

Interpretive Summary: This article reflects on those pecan cultivars that have contributed to successful releases from the USDA breeding program. Three cultivars have contributed disproportionately to the genetics of USDA releases; in this article, the origins and history of 'Schley', 'Success', and 'Mahan' and what positive and negative traits they contributed to modern pecan cultivars are discussed in detail.

Technical Abstract: Due to the long generation time of nut trees, pecan breeding is a long-term process spanning generations. As I prepare for future experiments and new orchards to advance the pecan breeding program, I am taking time to review what has been successful in the 92 year history of our breeding program. As I have what researched which cultivars and breeding lines have contributed toward successful releases from our program, As I have spent time investigating which pecan cultivars have contributed to successful releases from our breeding program, I've realized that three cultivars have contributed disproportionately to the genetics of USDA releases. In this article, I present the origins and history of of 'Schley', 'Success', and 'Mahan' and what positive and negative traits they contributed to modern pecan cultivars.