North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Dr. Lucky Pittman" <lucky.pittman@murraystate.edu>]

Chris,
I'm unaware of anyone who's made any particular downy serviceberry
selections, or done any breeding with them, but you might contact Ken Asmus
at OIKOS Tree Crops in Kalamazoo, MI. He offers seedlings of selected
Amelanchier species selections - though I don't recall seeing A.arborea in
any of his recent offerings; but, he might have some in his collection.

I, too have had several of the named alnifolia selections planted here, just
north of the KY/TN state line, and all have been poor performers - except
for a couple of cheap row-run seedlings of Timm & Success, which are little
bothered by cedar-serviceberry rust or leaf-spot disease that's rampant on
my more expensive tissue-cultured specimens.  Had a good crop of tasty
berries off of the T&S plants this spring; it's my wife's new favorite
berry.

Lucky Pittman
Hopkinsville, KY

-----Original Message-----
From: nafex-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:nafex-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Chex
Sent: Thursday, June 16, 2011 2:38 PM
To: North American Fruit Explorers
Subject: [NAFEX] Downy Serviceberry

Some years back I planted Northline, and Honeywood varieties of
Saskatoon or Amelenchiar Alnifolia and noticed that in my area the
plants leaves all die back in July.  I think it is cedar apple rust.
I think that it is to hot here in our zone 5a in Northern Illinois for
the Alnifolia strains.  Many of the berries abort and some are rather
dry and mealy.

Downy Serviceberry is native to my area and is planted all over the
area as a landscaping plant that requires no care and is not
succeptable to the leaf die back. The downy serviceberry has tasty
sweet and juicy fruit that is slightly smaller and less productive
than the Canadian selections of Alnifolia.  I am curious if anyone has
made selections of the Downy Serviceberry (amelenchiar arborea) or has
done any breeding with the Downy Serviceberry for improved fruit
quality?

Chris Rice
zone 5a, Illinois, USA
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