Pecan Breeding

University of Georgia

UGA Pecan Breeding Method

Potential new cultivars are selected on the basis of large nut size, good cracking and shelling characteristics, early nut maturity, light colored kernels, and a cluster size small enough to ensure adequate filling. Resistance or tolerance to major insect and disease pests, especially pecan scab, are also major goals.

Learn more about UGA Pecan Breeding

On This Website ...

information for both commercial growers and home pecan growers
list of recommended cultivars
alphabetized list of all tested cultivars (with photographs and descriptions)
papers and publications dealing with the latest discoveries in pecan breeding, as well as valuable archived information

Pecan Budgets
2019 - Pecans - Medium Input
2019 - Pecans - High Input

Program Coordinator

Patrick J. Conner Professor; Areas of Interest: Pecan breeding

Horticulture Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics (IPBGG)

pconner@uga.edu 229-386-3903

Pecan scab fungus (Fusicladium effusum) is the most destructive disease of pecans in Georgia.

Pecan scab fungus (Fusicladium effusum) is the most destructive disease of pecans in Georgia.

UGA to begin new pecan variety trials in southeast Georgia Posted on 08/25/20 by Emily Cabrera

University of Georgia researchers will begin a series of trials this winter to help identify better management practices for pecan growers in Georgia.

Ambrosia beetle activity is identifiable by the toothpick-sized sawdust tubes they leave sticking out of holes bored in pecan trees.

Ambrosia beetle activity is identifiable by the toothpick-sized sawdust tubes they leave sticking out of holes bored in pecan trees.

"Toothpicks" sure sign of Ambrosia beetles in pecan trees Posted on 03/19/20 by Emily Cabrera

Georgia pecan growers should be monitoring for ambrosia beetle now, especially if they have planted new trees or their orchards include trees that are less than three years old. The tell-tale sawdust “toothpicks” sticking out of trees is a sure sign of ambrosia beetles boring into trees.

Pecans lie on the ground beneath 20-year-old pecan trees that were uprooted when Hurricane Michael blew through Decatur County, Georgia.

Pecans lie on the ground beneath 20-year-old pecan trees that were uprooted when Hurricane Michael blew through Decatur County, Georgia.

Pecan season improves from last year, but farmers are still rebuilding after Hurricane Michael Posted on 11/15/19 by Maria Sellers

A year after Hurricane Michael ravaged southwest Georgia, including the region’s pecan industry, farmers still are struggling as they harvest this year’s crop, according to University of Georgia Cooperative Extension pecan specialist Lenny Wells.

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