PhD., Horticulture, Pennsylvania State University, 1971
M.S., Horticulture, Pennsylvania State University, 1966
B.S., Horticulture, University of New Hampshire, 1960

Cooperative Extension: Tree Fruit Production Systems for an Evolving Fruit Industry.

Cooperative Extension is the organization that facilitates the transfer of information to the multitude of persons and organizations involved in maintaining the diversified industry. The Pennsylvania tree fruit industry is diverse involving fresh and processing outlets, nursery production to consumer ready foods, large family corporate farms to part-time farmers and all sorts of service and supplemental companies. Examples of recipients of technology are: growers, statewide and regional organizations, govemmental agencies and personnel, county and regional agents, extension specialists in other states and countries, consultants, company representatives and chemical sales persons. Delivery methods include: fruit newsletters, in-depth fruit schools, county and regional grower meetings, regional and national trade publications and answering individual inquiries. Visit the Pennsylvania Tree Fruit Production Guide

There are many horticultural factors in the culture of tree fruit crops. Depending on the size and diversity of the university some factors covered by horticulture include: ground cover management, harvesting, irrigation, nursery cultural practices, nutrition management, orchard systems, plant growth regulators, pollination, postharvest physiology, pruning, replant problems, rootstock testing, site selection, training variety testing and winter hardiness. My current program objectives were selected since I feel that they attack the most pressing problems faced by the Mid-Atlantic tree fruit industry. My main research focus is on rootstock and variety testing and the use of PGR's to control growth and cropping. Major changes are occurring in both rootstocks and varieties that will be used in the new orchards of the Mid-Atlantic tree fruit industry. Less time is spent on storage and economic research projects.

1. Rootstock and interstem effects on fruits. (NC-140 Regional Res. Project) PAES Project 3318 (30%)
   All tree fruits are now grown commercially on either clonally or seed propagated rootstocks. These rootstocks impart unique traits to the resulting tree. The production of apples on dwarfing, disease resistant rootstocks is the best example of enhanced production efficiency due to the unique traits of rootstocks . Research is needed to evaluate new genetic materials becoming available by conventional breeding and through genetic engineering. The following experiments are in progress:
   • 1985 own-rooted apple rootstock experiment (Zimmerman USDA).
   • 1987 York Imperial rootstock experiment with 11 rootstock treatments in 7 cooperating orchards (Crassweller PA, Hogmire WVU, 5 Pa. grower orchards).
   • 1993 experiment of elite dwarf New York rootstocks at the Fruit Research and Extension Center.
   • 1993 experiment of elite semi-dwarf New York rootstocks at the Fruit Research and Extension Center.
   • 1993 peach seedling rootstock experiment planted at the Fruit Research and Extension Center and at a growers orchard in Franklin County (Dwight Mickey).
   • 1993 peach seedling rootstock experiment growing in sand culture at the Fruit Research and Extension Center .
   • 1994 More dwarf rootstock experiment at the Fruit Research and Extension Center.
   • 1994 Less dwarf rootstock experiment at the Fruit Research and Extension Center.
   • 1996 Vineland apple rootstock trial.

2. Multi-disciplinary testing of new apple varieties. (NE-183 Reg. Res. Project) PAES Project 3450 (25%)
   A new project was started in Oct. of 1994 that will coordinate the testing of new apple varieties that probably will revolutionize the apple industry. Currently, the most widely grown varieties in the MidAtlantic area are Delicious, Golden Delicious, York Imperial and Rome Beauty. New varieties such as Granny Smith, Gala, Fuji and Braeburn are becoming popular and they and others need to be researched.
   • 1972 apple variety collection consisting of over 150 apple varieties planted in non-replicated plots.
   • 1995 replicated apple variety testing block including 27 new or older inadequately tested selections. This experiment is much more comprehensive than earlier trials since all factors of variety selection will be studied not just fruit quality.

3. Economics of integrated management of perennial crops in Pa. PAES Project 3190 (10%)
   
   • Develop economic information on the production and utilization of tree fruits as they are grown and utilized in the Mid-Atlantic area. (Harper PSU).

4. Postharvest physiology of fruits. (NE-103 Regional Res. Project) PAES Project 3365 (10%)
   The efficient marketing and utilization of the fruit crops produced in the Mid-Atlantic area are totally dependent on the presence of modern, state of the art storage facilities. If the fruit production and processing industries are to remain viable enterprises research must continue to keep them competitive.
   • Investigate the storage of newer apple varieties in regular, short-term storage conditions.
   • Continue our research on the influence of orchard pest control strategies and horticultural factors on the postharvest behavior of apples (Barden, Hull, Hickey, Lehman-Salada PSU; Brown USDA).

1. Gaus, A.G. and G.M. Greene. 1996. Variable response of field-grown peach trees to postharvest water stress. Stone Fruit Tree Decline, Fifth Workshop Proc. Penn State Univ., Fruit Res. Laboratory. Biglerville, PA
2. Glenn, D. M., W. V. Welker and G. M. Greene. 1996. Sod competition in peach production: I. Managing sod proximity. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 121(4):666-669.
3. Greene II, G.M. 1996. Adjuvants as aids for effective plant growth regulator use. Proceedings of Apple Plant Growth Regulator School, Adams County Coop. Ext., Penn State Univ. Gettysburg, PA
4. Greene II, G.M. 1996. Effective vegetative growth control of apples with BAS 125W. HortScience 31(4):191 (Abst.)
5. Greene II, G.M. 1996. Parts per million, dilute versus concentrate and tree row volume in PGR sprays. Proceedings of Apple Plant Growth Regulator School, Adams County Coop. Ext., Penn State Univ. Gettysburg, PA
6. Greene II, G.M. and W. C. Kleiner. 1996. Apple variety evaluation and maturity and storage studies on some newer apple varieties (Report of 1995 research). Penn Fruit News 76(2): 45-51.
7. Greene II, G.M. and W.C. Kleiner. 1996. Influence of rootstocks on the growth, productivity and longevity of apples (Report of 1995 research). Penn Fruit News 76(2): 41-44.
8. Kaps, M.L., G.M. Greene and D.C. Ferree. 1996. Performance of `Starkspur Supreme Delicious' apple over 10 years at three auxiliary NC-140 planting sites. Fruit Var. J. 50(1):41-44.
9. Rajotte, E.G, R.M. Crassweller, et al. 1996. Pennsylvania Tree Fruit Production Guide 1996-97. Penn State Univ., Coll. of Ag. 246 pages.
10. Barden, C.L., G.M. Greene II, L.A. Hull and K.D. Hickey. 1995. Apple storability as influenced by tufted apple bud moth damage, reduced fungicide programs and horticultural factors (1993-94 season experiments). Penn Fruit News 75(2): 12, 14, 16, 18, 20.
11. Barden, C.L., G.M. Greene II, L.A. Hull and K.D. Hickey. 1995. Apple storability as influenced by tufted apple bud moth injury, orchard fungicide programs, and horticultural factors. HortScience 30(4):816 (Abst).
12. Crassweller, R.M. and G.M. Greene. 1995. Early growth and yields of scab resistant apple cultivars. HortScience 30(4):843 (Abst)
13. Crassweller, R.M. and G.M. Greene. 1995. Nutrition, p. 175-186 In: H. W. Hogmire (ed.). MidAtlantic Orchard Monitoring Guide. NRAES-75. Northeast Reg. Ag. Eng. Svc., Ithaca, NY
14. Embree, C.G. and G.M. Greene. 1995. Blossom and fruitlet thinning trials, 1994 report. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Kentville, Nova Scotia.
15. Greene II, G.M. 1995. Mystery spot of 'Enterprise' apples appears to be a low calcium disorder, HortScience 30(4):793 (Abst)
16. Greene II, G.M. 1995. Scab resistant varieties can reduce the need for fungicides. Crop Protection Manager 8(2): 24
17. Lynch, J., G. Greene and S. Komarneni. 1995. Progress report: Solid-phase implants for sustained micronutrient fertilization of apple trees. Penn Fruit News 75(2): 22-24.
18. Barden, C.L., G.M. Greene and L.A. Hull. 1994. Storability of apples damaged by tufted apple bud moth. HortScience 29(5):449. (Abst)
19. Barden, C.L., G.M. Greene, L.A. Hull and K.D. Hickey. 1994. The effects of tufted apple bud moth injury or reduced fungicide programs on the storability of apples. HortScience 29(4):251. (Abst)
20. Barden, C.L., G.M. Greene, L.A. Hull and K.D. Hickey. 1994. The effects of tufted apple bud moth (TABM) damage or reduced fungicide programs on apple storability. Penn Fruit News 74(2): 94-99.
21. Crassweller, R.M., J.W. Travis, et al. Pennsylvania Tree Fruit Production Guide 1994-95 . Penn State Univ., Coll. of Ag. 210 pages.
22. Greene II, G.M. 1994. Grower training of new varieties - Introduction to a grower panel. Penn Fruit News 74(4): 81.
23. Greene II, G.M. 1994. Observations of apple and peach culture in Nova Scotia - What can we learn? Proc. 70th Cumb.-Shen. Fruit Workers Conf. 2 pp.
24. Greene II, G.M. 1994. Picking the potential stars from among new apple selections and cultivars Mid-Atlantic perspective. Compact Fruit Tree 27: 158-159.
25. Greene II, G.M. and J.K. Harper. 1994. Is high density right for every grower and every variety? Compact Fruit Tree 27: 103-104.
26. Harper, J. K. and G. M. Greene II. 1994. Selecting the right peach rootstock for you. Farm Management Reports 4(4):7, Penn State Univ., Coop. Ext.
27. Evensen, K., P. Hammer, R. Crassweller, G. Greene and L. Lehman-Salada. 1993. Predicting firmness of 'York Imperial' apples after long-term storage. HortTechnology 3(3):318-322.
28. Greene II, G.M., C.L. Barden and L. Lehman-Salada. 1993. The effects of temperature, oxygen and carbon dioxide on the storage quality of 'York Imperial' and 'Golden Delicious' apples. Proc. 6th Intl. Cont. Atmos. Res. Conf. Vol. 2:694-698.
29. Harper, J. K. and G. M. Greene II. 1993. Fruit quality characteristics influence prices received for processing apples. HortScience 28(11):1125-1128.
30. Harper, J. K. and G. M. Greene. 1993. Selection of peach rootstocks under risk. Ag. and Res. Econ. Rev. 22(2):224 (Abst.).
31. Lehman-Salada, L. and G.M. Greene II. 1993. Variable oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations during controlled atmosphere storage of 'Golden Delicious' apples. HortScience 28(4):254-255 (Abst).
32. Lehman-Salada, L., G. Greene and A. Gaus. 1993. A flexible, economical system for controlled atmosphere storage research. Proc. 6th Intl. Cont. Atmos. Res. Conf. Vol. 2:588-595.