Pecan

Pecan

Common name: Hickory

Pear on Tree

Gretta Blankenship CC0 Public Domain

Pecan is the vernacular name given to deciduous trees of the species Carya illinoinensis Wangenh.) K.Koch (Juglandaceae) and to their fruit. These long-lived, tall trees (up to 50 m.) are of North America provenance. They are deep-rooted trees that require deep, well-drained, moist soils and a warm climate, being unsuitable for dry and cold regions.

The nuts are suitable for picking when their shells turn brown and are usually harvested, dried and stored mechanically. Pecan kernels have high oil content (55-70%) which makes them susceptible to rancidity. After picking they should be stored at low temperatures and their moisture reduced by air drying. For longer periods the nuts are kept at around freezing temperatures. Edible pecans are used salted, or incorporated in pies, cakes, snacks, salads and ice creams, or as confections; the shells serve as row material for tannins and various industrial oils. Pecan wood is used for building and furniture.

The annual world crop of pecans comes to about tons, the major producers being the USA, Australia and West Africa. Israel had about 600 hectares planted to pecans in the year 2000.

Pecan pests in the Middle East

Apate monachus

Asymmetrasca decedens

Boarmia selenaria

Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis

Hemiberlesia lataniae

Monellia caryella

Oxycaraenus hyalinipennis

Zeuzera pyrina

References

Anonymous, 2003. Statistical Abstract of Israel # 54. Central Bureau of Statistics, Jerusalem.

Deshpande, S.S., Sathe, S.K. and S.S. Kadam. 1995. Other nuts. In: Salunkhe, D.K. and Kadam, S.S. (Eds.), Handbook of Fruit Science and Technology, Production, Composition, Storage and Processing pp. 523-525. Marcel Dekker, New York.

Swirski, E., Wysoki, M. and Izhar, Y. 2002. Subtropical Fruits Pests in Israel. Fruit Board of Israel (in Hebrew with English Summary).

Woodroof, J.G. 1979. Tree Nuts: Production, Processing Products. Avi Publishing, Westport, Connecticut.

Websites:

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/carya/species/illinoinensis/illinoinensis.htm