Frazier, W. A.
Many of the crack resistant lines reported in recent issues of TGC were again tested in 1960, and data closely parallel those of previous years. It is becoming increasingly clear that many genes either directly or indirectly may be associated with resistance to fruit cracking. In the dry summer-wet fall climate of Oregon we are seeking these combined characters: 1. early, concentrated maturity--to escape fall rains; 2. good leaf cover--to reduce desiccating influences of sun and wind; 3. small stem-end scar--to reduce intake of external moisture; 4. fleshy (wide) calyx, fl--exact association with cracking not yet understood, yet this character, also, should protect the stem-end scar area from external moisture intake; 5. smooth shoulder (freedom from creases); 6. uniform ripening, u, ug; 7. clear skin, y; 8. dwarfness--in some lines, although it is recognized that large plant numbers are required for heavy per-acre yield from dwarfs; 9. "inverted fruit" tendency--to reduce exposure of stem end and shoulder; 10. determinate growth (associated with objective 1); 11. good fruit set per cluster; 12. resistances not necessarily associated with any of the preceding characters--biochemical, anatomical, and other factors not yet defined.