EVALUATION OF PECAN VARIETIES BY GRADING
Pecan Growers in Victoria County, Cooperators (2004)
Joe D. Janak, County Extension Agent - Ag/NR
Sam Womble, County Extension Agent - NR
Victoria County
SUMMARY:
Twenty-two years of Victoria County Pecan Shows have revealed the best varieties followed by the number of Grand and Reserve Champions won by that variety in the Victoria area: Forkert - 19, Cheyenne - 12, Schley - 10, Oconee - 8, Keilers or Stockbauer* - 6, Choctaw - 4, Kiowa - 4 and GraCross - 4. In the native division, the Prilop native entered by James Rother or Henry Kallus has won nine (9) Grand or Reserve Champions and another native owned by Fred Stockbauer has also won thirteen (13) Grand or Reserve Champions. *Note: The Stockbauer pecan was found to be originally identified as a cultivar from a tree in Austin in the late 1980's called "Keilers".
OBJECTIVE:
To compare the nuts per pound and the percent kernel of pecan varieties entered in the Victoria County Pecan Show. To determine the pecan varieties best adapted to the Victoria area.
MATERIALS and METHODS:
Ten nuts out of a 45 nut sample submitted in each entry in the Victoria County Pecan Show were weighed, cracked, shelled and the kernel weighed to figure both the nuts per pound and the percent kernel. Pecan accumulators, buyers and shellers cannot pay for inedible kernels, therefore, any flaw listed below was removed from the kernel sample after shelling but before weighing and calculating percent edible kernel:
Stink Bug - black spots on the kernel.
Weevil - a short, fat, white grub with a red head.
Vivipary - sprouting, root developing out of kernel.
Mold - gray or black mold on kernel.
Oily - kernel is oil soaked.
Embryo Rot - the eye of the kernel is discolored at the point where the halves attach.
Vivipary Rot - the dorsal ridge of the kernel is shriveled, beginning at the apex end of the kernel.
Fuzz - 50 percent or more of the kernel is covered with fuzz.
Wafer - 50 percent or more of the kernel is a wafer.
Watery - kernel is spongy and discolored, usually off-green.
The pecan entries were then judged on primarily percent kernel, weight and color and awards for both the County and Regional Show are listed.
RESULTS and DISCUSSIONS:
Even though the pecan crop in Victoria County was fair to good, the show had 36 entries (See Table 1). Victoria was well represented and local producers should be proud of their accomplishments. The Pecan Show was held at the South Texas Farm & Ranch Show on October 27 - 28, 2004 which was earlier than normal so entries were lower than normal and with excessive rains, the pecan crop and entries were extremely low. Table 1 at the end shows a list of the County entries and Regional Show winners.
Table 2 shows a summary of all entries for the past twenty-one years and how they advanced to Regional, State and the winners thereof.
Table 2. Victoria County Entry Numbers and placings/year.
| YEAR | COUNTY | REGIONAL | STATE | WINNERS AT STATE |
| 2004 | 36 | 17 | 9 | |
| 2003 | 127 | 32 | 20 | 9 |
| 2002 | 139 | 33 | 14 | 7 |
| 2001 | 73 | 28 | 10 | 1 |
| 2000 | 95 | 37 | 21 | 7 |
| 1999 | 87 | 35 | 18 | 9 |
| 1998 | 114 | 40 | 23 | 6 |
| 1997 | 179 | 36 | 19 | 11 |
| 1996 | 133 | 48 | 25 | 12 |
| 1995 | 215 | 49 | 30 | 10 |
| 1994 | 99 | 33 | 25 | 10 |
| 1993 | 203 | 56 | 22 | 8 |
| 1992 | 134 | 46 | 16 | 7 |
| 1991 | 182 | 53 | 21 | 15 |
| 1990 | 159 | 53 | 23 | 11 |
| 1989 | 124 | 48 | 14 | 9 |
| 1988 | 148 | 50 | 14 | 9 |
| 1987 | 124 | 53 | 16 | 9 |
| 1986 | 156 | 48 | 12 | 7 |
| 1985 | 162 | 36 | 17 | 9 |
| 1984 | 101 | 38 | 13 | 9 |
| 1983 | 191 | 37 | 7 | 3 |
| AVERAGE | 141 | 43 | 17 | 8 |
Table 3 reveals the most common winners by variety. In 22 years, the Forkert variety has won 19 times, Cheyenne 12 times, Schley 10 times and Oconee won 8 times. These are three very good varieties. In the native division, the Prilop native entered by James Rother or Henry Kallus has won nine (9) Grand or Reserve Champions and another native owned by Fred Stockbauer has also won eleven (13) Grand or Reserve Champions.
Table 3. Victoria County Pecan Variety Champions 1983 - 2004.
|
YEAR |
COMMERCIAL | CLASSIC | NATIVE | |||
| GC | RC | GC | RC | GC | RC | |
| 1983 | Choctaw | Kiowa | Schley | Cheyenne | Hartman | Huber |
| 1984 | Mohawk | Kiowa | Cheyenne | Schley | Rother (1) | Rother |
| 1985 | Kiowa | Forkert | Schley | Cheyenne | Rother (1) | Stockbauer |
| 1986 | Desirable | Forkert | Cheyenne | Schley | Rother (1) | Stockbauer |
| 1987 | Choctaw | Forkert | Cheyenne | Schley | Brzozowski | Rother (1) |
| 1988 | Forkert | Choctaw | Schley | Cheyenne | Brzozowski | Moritz |
| 1989 | Forkert | Cheyenne | Schley | GraCross | Rother (1) | Groll |
| 1990 | Forkert | Cheyenne | GraCross | Schley | Stockbauer | Stockbauer |
| 1991 | Forkert | Choctaw | GraCross | Success | Gloor | Stockbauer |
| 1992 | Forkert | Cheyenne | Oconee | Success | Moritz | Stockbauer |
| 1993 | Forkert | GraTex | Des. Sdlg.(2) | Oconee | Stockbauer | Bauer |
| 1994 | Forkert | Cheyenne | Stockbauer (2) | 53-12-322 | McCants | Stockbauer |
| 1995 | Forkert | GraTex | Oconee | Schley | McCants | Edwards |
| 1996 | Kiowa | Pawnee | Oconee | Brake | Kallus (1) | Stockbauer |
| 1997 | Forkert | Schley | GraTex | Stockbauer (2) | McCants | Stockbauer |
| 1998 | Cheyenne | Mohawk | Prilop (1) | Stockbauer (2) | Bauer | Stockbauer |
| 1999 | Forkert | Oconee | GraCross | Prilop (1) | Kallus | Stockbauer |
| 2000 | Forkert | Cheyenne | Stockbauer (2) | GraCross | Stockbauer | Satsky |
| 2001 | Forkert | Oconee | Prilop (1) | Podsednik | Hertz | Janak |
| 2002 | Forkert | Oconee | Navajo | Kanza | Janak | Hertz |
| 2003 | Oconee | Forkert | Stockbauer (2) | GraTex | Stockbauer | Stockbauer |
| 2004 | Forkert | Forkert | Barton | Podsednik | Hertz | Hertz |
(1) Native entered by James Rother later named "Prilop" and moved to the Classic Division in 1997.
(2) Desirable seedling entered by Fred Stockbauer was named "Stockbauer" in 1994. In 2004, the Stockbauer pecan was found to be originally identified as a cultivar from a tree in Austin in the late 1980's called "Keilers".
The 2004 pecan crop was a fair yielding pecan crop on improved varieties and poor yielding on natives. Too much rainfall (up to 89 inches) in 2004 caused disease problems reducing yields and quality. Stink bugs were again a problem. Pecans could be purchased at a price from $0.50 to $2.00 per pound, depending on quality, native or improved, etc. Evaluation over the years shows there is a major difference in pecan size ranging from about 20 nuts/lb. to over 170 nuts/lb. There is a major difference in percent kernel and kernel quality normally ranging from 29 - 62 percent or about 32 percent more to eat in nuts that are really filled out.
The pecan show can also be an excellent place to evaluate varieties that producers may consider propagating. In evaluating for the best varieties, there is also a definite trend showing Forkert, Cheyenne, Oconee, Schley and the Rother native (now known as "Prilop") and Stockbauer native as top contenders for propagation.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:
Appreciation is expressed to all contributing pecan growers in Victoria County listed in this demonstration for donation of their pecan samples for this evaluation to be completed.
DISCLAIMER CLAUSE:
Trade names of commercial products used in this report are included only for better understanding and clarity. Reference to commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by the Texas A&M University System is implied. Readers should realize that results from one experiment do not represent conclusive evidence that the same response would occur where conditions vary.
Table 1. Pecan Variety Grading Demonstration. Victoria County Pecan Growers, Victoria County, TX. October 27 - 28, 2004.
| # | VARIETY | NAME | COUNTY | #/LB | % EDIBLE | Co Award | Adv Reg |
| 101 | CADDO | KERNELL MORITZ | VICTORIA | 70.00 | 52.6% | 2 | |
| 102 | CADDO | CHARLES B. NELSON | VICTORIA | 56.98 | 52.8% | 1 | Y |
| 201 | CHEYENNE | KERNELL MORITZ | VICTORIA | 55.52 | 53.9% | 1 | Y |
| 401 | DESIRABLE | GEORGE BOEDEKER | VICTORIA | 35.77 | 47.6% | 1 | Y |
| 501 | FORKERT | W. R. NICHOLS | VICTORIA | 40.75 | 50.5% | ||
| 502 | FORKERT | GORDON BEATTY | VICTORIA | 34.47 | 62.2% | 1, GC COMMERCIAL | Y |
| 503 | FORKERT | CHARLES B. NELSON | VICTORIA | 38.77 | 61.5% | 2, RC COMMERCIAL | Y |
| 504 | FORKERT | KERNELL MORITZ | VICTORIA | 40.28 | 60.3% | 3 | |
| 701 | KANZA | CHARLES B. NELSON | VICTORIA | 59.37 | 55.6% | 1 | Y |
| 801 | KIOWA (moved to IMPERIAL) | CHARLES B. NELSON | VICTORIA | 31.72 | 51.0% | 2 | |
| 802 | KIOWA | KERNELL MORITZ | VICTORIA | 40.43 | 56.5% | 2 | |
| 803 | KIOWA | JAMES ROTHER | LAVACA | 37.36 | 56.1% | 1 | Y |
| 901 | OCONEE | CHARLES B. NELSON | VICTORIA | 41.65 | 47.0% | 2 | |
| 1101 | PAWNEE | KERNELL MORITZ | VICTORIA | 43.24 | 49.5% | 2 | |
| 1102 | PAWNEE | CHARLES B. NELSON | VICTORIA | 47.25 | 57.3% | 1 | Y |
| 1301 | SIOUX (moved to VAN DEMAN | CHARLES B. NELSON | VICTORIA | 51.02 | 44.0% | 1 | Y |
| 1302 | SIOUX | KERNELL MORITZ | VICTORIA | 70.99 | 56.3% | 2 | |
| 1701 | BARTON | CHARLES B. NELSON | VICTORIA | 41.39 | 53.4% | 1, GC CLASSIC | Y |
| 2701 | MAHAN | KERNELL MORITZ | VICTORIA | 40.11 | 54.8% | 2 | |
| 3001 | NACONA | CHARLES B. NELSON | VICTORIA | 43.24 | 47.9% | 1 | Y |
| 3301 | PODSEDNIK | CHARLES B. NELSON | VICTORIA | 23.12 | 53.6% | 1, RC CLASSIC | Y |
| 3401 | PRILOP | JAMES ROTHER | LAVACA | 82.47 | 45.8% | 2 | |
| 3601 | SHAWNEE | CHARLES B. NELSON | VICTORIA | 48.10 | 51.5% | 2 | |
| 3701 | SHOSHONI | CHARLES B. NELSON | VICTORIA | 46.19 | 49.7% | 2 | |
| 4201 | McMILLAM | CHARLES B. NELSON | VICTORIA | 52.44 | 49.8% | 3 | |
| 4202 | MORELAND | JAMES ROTHER | LAVACA | 45.54 | 50.3% | ||
| 4203 | JENKINS | CHARLES B. NELSON | VICTORIA | 42.91 | 53.5% | 2 | |
| 4204 | STOCKBAUER | CHARLES B. NELSON | VICTORIA | 32.75 | 46.7% | 1 | Y |
| 4301 | NATIVE | JAMES ROTHER | LAVACA | 87.23 | 44.8% | ||
| 4302 | NATIVE | PATRICIA HERTZ | JACKSON | 93.14 | 52.0% | 1, GC NATIVE | Y |
| 4303 | NATIVE | PATRICIA HERTZ | JACKSON | 142.64 | 51.9% | ||
| 4304 | NATIVE | PATRICIA HERTZ | JACKSON | 91.27 | 47.3% | 3 | |
| 4305 | NATIVE | PATRICIA HERTZ | JACKSON | 82.62 | 51.2% | 2, RC NATIVE | Y |
| 4306 | NATIVE | PATRICIA HERTZ | JACKSON | 100.58 | 45.7% | ||
| 4401 | SCN - 88 BRZOZOWSKI-VLASEK | STEPHEN JANAK | VICTORIA | 70.11 | 39.3% | 1 | Y |
| 4501 | LIGHTEST NATIVE | GEORGE BOEDEKER | VICTORIA | 187.44 | - | 1 | Y |