New ‘Golding’ pecan variety offers scab resistance

A new pecan variety, ‘Golding’, has been approved for release and could give Southeast growers another option with strong nut quality, yield potential and scab resistance.

Patrick Conner, University of Georgia pecan breeder, discussed the variety during the Georgia Pecan Growers Association Conference in Perry, Georgia. He said ‘Golding’ was selected for “exceptional quality, good yield and good scab resistance.”

Scab resistance is a key trait for pecan varieties in the Southeast. Scab is a fungal disease that infects pecan leaves and nuts. If it infects nuts early in the season, it can cause them to blacken and fall from the tree. The disease is more severe in wet conditions.

Conner said ‘Golding’ has scab resistance between previous UGA releases ‘Avalon’ and ‘Kalos’. He said growers should not plant it without applying fungicides, but UGA was able to grow the variety with four to six fungicide sprays per year, about half of a standard spray program, with only trace scab observed.

“We think we can use reduced amounts of fungicides and still get great control of scab,” Conner said.

Two nurseries have licenses to propagate ‘Golding’. Graft wood is limited, but Conner said a large block is coming into production, with larger amounts expected in the next 2 to 3 years.