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.

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Program Coordinator

Patrick J. Conner
Patrick J. Conner Professor & Tifton REI Coordinator; Emphasis: Pecan & muscadine breeding
Horticulture Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics (IPBGG)




USDA Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins (center) joins Georgia agricultural leaders, producers and UGA CAES leadership at the college's Iron Horse Farm for a listening session on key industry challenges, including disaster relief, trade markets and the future of American farming. (Photo by Georgia Department of Agriculture) CAES News
USDA Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins visits CAES for farmer listening session
USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins visited UGA’s Iron Horse Farm for a listening session with Georgia agricultural leaders. Producers and commodity representatives shared concerns on disaster relief, labor shortages, trade and the future of farming. They also highlighted the vital role of CAES researchers and UGA Cooperative Extension in boosting efficiency, yields, and food safety, strengthening Georgia’s agricultural economy.
Young pecan trees CAES News
CAES horticulture professor among eight UGA faculty named NAI Senior Members
The National Academy of Inventors has selected eight University of Georgia researchers as 2025 NAI Senior Members, surpassing its own record of five inductees set last year. UGA now has 24 Senior Members overall. “We are thrilled to celebrate these latest UGA elections to the country’s leading organization for groundbreaking inventors and innovators,” said Chris King, interim vice president for research. “Their dedication to translating research into tangible impact embodies the university’s land-grant mission and our commitment to serving society through innovation.”
Helenedamage web CAES News
Hurricane Helene: Preliminary damage assessment on Georgia agriculture and forestry industry
Today, Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper, in coordination with Governor Brian P. Kemp, the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, and the Georgia Forestry Commission, announced the preliminary estimate of Hurricane Helene’s economic impact on Georgia agriculture is $6.46 billion. This figure represents the sum of direct crop losses, losses to businesses that support agriculture and forestry, losses to workers in those related industries, and estimated recovery and restoration costs that agricultural businesses will face.