Floyd Zaiger
Floyd Zaiger | |
---|---|
Born | April 26, 1926 UC Davis |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Biology, pomology, fruit hybridizing |
Institutions | Zaiger's Genetics |
Chris "Floyd" Zaiger (April 26, 1926 – June 2, 2020) was a fruit breeder particularly known for hybrid development of
Early life and education
Chris Floyd Zaiger was born to Christian Fredrick Zaiger and Anna Marie Zaiger on April 26, 1926, in
Career
In 1954, Zaiger and wife Betty purchased a 2.5 acre nursery and began breeding heat-tolerant
Zaiger's first patented varieties were the Royal Gold peach, introduced in 1965, and ‘Crimson Gold’ nectarine.[3][9] He revolutionized the plum industry by backcrossing plum-apricot hybrids with plums to create the Pluot.[3] His work has also reduced the chill-hours needed for fruits like cherries which allow them to be grown in warmer climates and produced peaches and nectarines that are sweet, yet firm allowing for intercontinental shipping.[3] Another invention, the 'Independence' almond is self-fertile allowing pollination without the use of honeybees needed for other almond varieties.[9] He created the aprium, a hybrid cross between apricots and plums but more similar to apricots.[10]
Personal life
Zaiger married Betty Jean Taylor in 1950 and they had three children Leith, Gary, and Grant. Zaiger died at his home in Modesto, California on June 2, 2020.[3]
Awards and recognition
- 1995 Wilder Award from the American Pomological Society for "distinguished service and contributions to the advancement of pomological science and for outstanding fruit varieties" [11]
- 1997 Awarded rank of Officier, Ordre du Mérite Agricole[12]
- 1999 Alumni Award of Distinction award from UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences [13]
References
- ^ Adler, Carlye (December 1, 2004). "Designer Fruit". CNN. Retrieved January 30, 2010.
- ^ Raquel Maria Dillon (October 22, 2010). "California breeder keeps perfecting peaches, plums". Associated Press.
- ^ a b c d e f g Karp, David (June 12, 2020). "Floyd Zaiger, prolific fruit breeder who brought new flavors to our lives, dies at 94". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
- ^ "Designer Fruit - December 1, 2004". money.cnn.com. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
- ^ a b Eddy, David (July 5, 2017). "Floyd Zaiger is the Sweetness Scientist Behind Zaiger Genetics". Growing Produce. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
- ^ a b "About Zaiger Genetics | Dave Wilson Nursery". www.davewilson.com. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
- ^ Jon Bonné (June 12, 2011). "Farmer creates new fruit, perfects old varieties (Floyd Zaiger, a fruit innovator to the world)". San Francisco Chronicle.
- ^ Dillon, Raquel Maria (October 22, 2010). "Floyd Zaiger: 'Pluot' Creator Continues Perfecting Fruit With Meticulous, Low-Tech Breeding Methods". The Huffington Post. Retrieved July 26, 2010.
- ^ a b c Eddy, David (June 8, 2020). "Fruit Breeder Extraordinaire Floyd Zaiger Dies". Growing Produce. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
- ^ Garcia, Janis (May 25, 2018). "What are apriums and how do you eat them?". Daily Harvest Express. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
Who is the mad genius who originally bred the aprium? Floyd Zaiger from Modesto California.
- ^ "The Wilder Medal". American Pomological Society. Archived from the original on January 16, 2005. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
- ^ "About Zaiger Genetics". Dave Wilson Nurseries. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
- ^ "Chris Floyd Zaiger, 1999 Award of Distinction Recipients". UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Archived from the original on March 22, 2014. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
Further reading
- Jon Bonné (June 12, 2011). "Farmer creates new fruit, perfects old varieties (Floyd Zaiger, a fruit innovator to the world)". San Francisco Chronicle.
- Anne Gonzales (October 9, 2011). "'The Disneyland of fruits': Firm creates new varieties -- the old-fashioned way". Sacramento Bee. p. D1.