Fruit Cultivars Released by the 
Missouri State Fruit Experiment Station

John Avery and Marilyn Odneal

Introduction by John Avery

The  State Fruit Experiment Station of Missouri State University was involved in fruit breeding of Vitis (grape), Prunus (peach and plum). and Malus (apple) until 1984.  Cultivars released by the station include ten apple, thirteen grape, eight peach, eleven plum and one black raspberry.  Some of the cultivars have been lost; namely 'Osage' and 'Missouri' peach; and 'Brilliant', 'Marvel', 'Radiance' and 'Redbud' plum and 'Kent' crabapple. We welcome any information as to the location of the lost cultivars

A few of the various fruits have become personal favorites since I have managed the repositories. My favorite plum release is the large, red 'Ozark Premier' that is unfortunately frosted out most years. 'Twilite' and 'Bonnie' plums are smaller but very good. My favorite peaches are definitely 'Loring' and 'Topaz'.  'Ozark Gold' is one of my all time favorite apples. It is a golden apple with a slight pink blush on one shoulder. It has the right amount of sweetness with a hint of tartness. Other apples that I like are 'Whetstone', 'Wright', and 'Fyan'. They are large tart eating and cooking apples. I especially appreciate the seedless table grape, 'Challenger'. It is a red grape with nice, large clusters and medium size berries but it is susceptible to the mildews. Another favorite is a large blue juice/jelly grape named 'Beaver'.

MS-21 published March 1988; adapted for the Web, February 2001

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