DRIED PLUM CULTIVAR DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION

California is the world leader in dried plum production, but is almost entirely dependent on the use of a single cultivar, the Improved French prune. The utilization of this older cultivar and several other mutations from the French type represents the vast majority of the total dried plum acreage in California. This monoclonal situation with its genetic similarities lends itself to vulnerability of widespread disease, pest outbreaks and state wide yield decline due to the effects of weather that can negatively effect fruit set and/or fruit retention. In addition to the risks of a monoculture system, the entire industry harvests and dehydrates the crop within a few weeks since the one cultivar matures at the same time. The development of new acceptable, or superior, dried plum cultivars will increase the efficiency of California dried plum production and give some protection against the risks involved with a monoculture. The industry will also benefit from the development of new dried plum varieties that have cost saving characteristics such as tree structure, processing qualities, and tolerance to pest and disease. Introducing new dried plums that differ in flavor or color could promote a broadening of the consumer base.