A new walnut block featuring two research trials were planted April 11, 2016 at the Lindcove Research and Extension Center (LREC) at Exeter, Calif., according to Elizabeth Fichtner, University of California Cooperative Extension farm advisor, Tulare County.

Fichtner established a rootstock observation trial and a study to screen biological and biorational compounds to help protect walnut rootstocks from soilborne pathogens. 

“Due to local disease pressure from thousand cankers disease, soil infestation with Phytophthora parasitica, and heightened local incidence of lethal paradox canker, LREC is the ideal location to challenge new rootstock genotypes generated by the walnut improvement program at UC Davis,” said Fichtner.