WYOMING APPLE PROJECT: Old trees meet new technology

pple trees have been grown in cultivars that may be more productive the samples identified, with all AWyoming since at least the 1870s. in Wyoming’s challenging climatic 15 originally bred or selected in The largest orchards produced conditions. states and countries with average apples for market sales, rootstock temperatures or winter conditions trees for local residents, and even Identifying the cultivars similar to Wyoming (for example, The project uses genetic developed new cultivars that Minnesota, Wisconsin, South Dakota, fingerprinting techniques to see if improved yield and performance Russia, and Canada). cultivars of historical trees could be under Wyoming’s cold and drought- Cultivars identified most identified. DNA markers are reliable prone conditions. frequently were: identification tools for cultivars For example, Lander, or “Apple • ‘Wealthy’ was identified most (71) and for the study of similarity by City,” at one time had over 4,700 and occurred in the most locales assessing their genetic differences. trees drawn from 207 cultivars. These across Wyoming (12) (Figure 1). The project also preserves some of trees naturally aged and died or the apple cultivars by grafting them • ‘Haralson’ (25 trees across nine were removed, and now only a small onto vigorous young rootstocks. locales), percentage of these historical trees Leaf samples were collected from are still alive in Wyoming. • ‘Patten’s Greening’ (23, four 510 heritage apple trees from 91 sites Recognizing how few historic locales), in 19 towns in Wyoming. Genetic trees are left triggered the University • ‘Yellow Transparent’ (20, nine material from known cultivars from of Wyoming’s Wyoming Apple Project locales), the USDA-National Plant Germplasm funded by specialty crop grants System, Seed Savers Exchange, and • ‘Northwestern Greening’ (16, from the Wyoming Department of Washington State University apple seven locales). Agriculture. The project documents collections were compared to the and preserves what remains of 19th • ‘Whitney Crab’ (14, eight locales), unknown heritage trees to identify and early 20th century heritage apple • ‘McMahan’ (14, in Lander), cultivars. cultivars planted in homesteads, Overall, 328 of the previously • ‘Dolgo’ (13, five locales), orchards, and nurseries in Wyoming. unidentified apples trees were The hope is information about • ‘McIntosh Red’ (13, seven identified to 47 known cultivars. Wyoming’s heritage apples will locales), and Fifteen of these known cultivars help specialty crop growers, local • ‘Wolf River’ (13, three locales). comprised over 80 percent of nurseries, and residents select

8 BARNYARDS & BACKYARDS The cultivar ‘Mart,’ bred by temperature and fifth in average low the University of Wyoming Lander precipitation. Seventy-five percent Experimental Fruit Farm around 1933, of the apple cultivars identified in is one of these unique genotypes. Wyoming originated from breeding ‘Mart’ was identified using historical programs in other states (Minnesota, records and genetic fingerprinting Wisconsin, South Dakota, New York, using records at the Murraymere and Illinois) and countries (Canada Orchard in Powell. Its genetic material and Russia) with similar average low matched with an unknown tree in winter temperatures. Minnesota, the original location where ‘Mart’ Wisconsin, South Dakota, Russia, was bred, the University of Wyoming and Canada have mean average The popularity of ‘Wealthy’ Experimental Fruit Farm. temperatures most comparable to may be the result of its promotion Trees of cultivars ‘Brecksteinia’ those of Wyoming (for example, in Wyoming agricultural extension and ‘Margaret’ (both Wyoming bred) comparison to other states or bulletins from 1870-1940 and/or its were also found in the Murraymere countries from which cultivars preconditioning in climates similar to Orchard. The cultivar ‘Mart’ is now originated in our results). Wyoming. being conserved at the original Even though trees representing University of Wyoming Experimental cultivars in our study are aging, These are unique Fruit Farm and grafted into the often in an unmaintained state, The remaining 182 unknown Sheridan Research and Extension many are still producing fruit. This apple trees had 146 unique Center (ShREC) as a result of our may suggest that despite less genotypes. Eight were in more than research. resistance to certain pathogens than two different locales in Wyoming, many modern cultivars, heritage while nine matched unique Cultivars from other states trees surviving in Wyoming could Wyoming has some of the driest genotypes outside the state (Arizona, be considered for use today. Hardy and coldest winters in the lower 48 California, Colorado, and New cultivars such as ‘Wealthy’ could also Mexico). states, ranking fourth in average low

Figure 1. Top 15 cultivar distributions (pie charts) associated with cities (stars) from which previously unidentified heritage apple trees were sampled. Pie chart sizes correspond to the number of samples taken from that locale. Asterisks * identify the 15 most commonly identified cultivars and the 15 cultivars found in the most (*) locales (source cities) in Wyoming. The ‘Gideon’ cultivar reported in this figure tied for 15.

WINTER 2019 9 Figure 2. Past and present images of Ed Young Orchard in Lander

be used in breeding programs to conditions and recommended produce new cultivars adapted to (excellent and/or fair) for Wyoming Wyoming. growing conditions are at our Those seeking cultivars Wyoming Apple Project website. that may succeed in Wyoming Ongoing orchard restoration could extend their search to projects at the Ed Young Orchard other cultivars bred in programs (now Nanette Slingerland’s in New York, South Dakota, Spear S Produce Company) Wisconsin, Minnesota, Russia, (Figure 2) and University of and Canada. This would help Wyoming Experimental Fruit increase and restore the Farm (now Central Wyoming diversity of cultivars grown in College Field Station in Sinks Wyoming. Visit our website Canyon, Figure 3) have preserved http://bit.ly/wyomingappleproject. original trees, and a Wyoming Cultivars previously tested heritage apple collection is at the University of Wyoming being developed at the Sheridan Experimental Fruit Farm from Research and Extension Center states with similar winter orchard.

Authors Jonathan Magby was a graduate assistant for Professor Steve L. Miller in the University of Wyoming’s Department of Botany and Figure 3. Past and present images of graduated in December. Magby can be reached at (307) 797-5866, and University of Wyoming Experimental Fruit Farm Station in Lander Miller can be contacted at (307) 766-2834 or at [email protected].

10 BARNYARDS & BACKYARDS Where to find more information on growing and preserving Wyoming apple trees?

The Wyoming Apple Project website http://bit.ly/ wyomingappleproject was created to help support residents looking to rejuvenate and restore old orchards to further preserve heritage apple cultivars in Wyoming. The site includes information on diseases and pests, planting (grafting, rootstocks, spacing, initial pruning, tree support, and watering), continued maintenance (nutrients, pruning, restoration, thinning fruit, training, weeds, and winter protection), harvest, and storage of apples. You will find more information on the 218 apple cultivars mentioned in historical bulletins, including the cultivars uses (cider, dessert, kitchen and market), parentage, origin, and current availability in commercial nurseries, conservation orchards, and germplasm orchards across the United States. We also included information on past cultivars grown in orchards and homesteads (by city and landowner), nurseries registered to sell to and/or in Wyoming, and a comprehensive list of the apple tree cultivars lost and found in the state of Wyoming.

WINTER 2019 11