PULLMAN, Wash. – Some of wine drinkers’ favorite grape varieties are originally from the Rhone River Valley of France. Now, though, syrah, grenache, viognier and a handful of other varieties are grown in vineyards all over the world, including Washington state.

That’s why a U.S.-based organization, Rhone Rangers, recently helped fund the research of four WSU graduate students working on issues related to Rhone grape varieties. Read more at WSU News.

An organic compound that has the potential to enhance storability of pears and apples is being patented by the Washington State University Foundation.

Glycinebetaine, a natural product derived from sugar beet molasses, is sold in Europe under the tradename Bluestim to help plants overcome the environmental stresses caused by heat, drought, or cold, and osmotic stress. It is also used to prevent cherry cracking.

Dr. Amit Dhingra, molecular biologist at WSU, has discovered that when the product is applied to pears 30 days before harvest, it can help delay ripening in storage but in a different way from MCP (methylcyclopropene), a product widely used in the tree fruit industry to preserve fruit quality. Read the rest of the article at Good Fruit Grower.