1996). There are presently over 1700 accessions (trees) from 17 states and over 40 varieties contained in the repository orchards. Molecular marker methodologies have been used to fingerprint pawpaw varieties and assess genetic diversity across the pawpaw's native range (Huang et al., 2000; Pomper et al., 2003). Pawpaw seedlings with promising fruit characteristics have been identified in the repository collection and have been propagated for further evaluation as potential varieties for release by KSU.
The PPF was founded in 1988 by R. Neal Peterson as a nonprofit organization dedicated to research and development of the pawpaw as a new fruit crop for farmers and consumers. Past presidents of the PPF include R. Neal Peterson, Paul Weatherly, and Desmond Layne; the current president is Kirk Pomper. The PPF currently has about 300 members and has been active in collecting, evaluating, and preserving pawpaw germplasm and also publishes a semi-annual newsletter From The PawPaw Patch. Through the research activities of R. Neal Peterson, the PPF pawpaw breeding program was initiated and advanced selections from the program are being tested in the PRVT. The first International Pawpaw Conference was hosted by PPF on 9 to 11 Sept. 1994, at the Western Maryland Research and Education Center, Keedysville, Md. There were 45 attendees at the conference; a 3-fold increase in attendance at the Second International Conference 8 years later demonstrates the increasing interest in pawpaw.
Based on discussions at the conference, some of the largest challenges that face the development of a commercial pawpaw industry are: developing a grower base, improving orchard establishment rates, rootstock development, improving clonal propagation methods, new variety development, postharvest handling of fruit, and developing an overall marketing strategy. The KSU pawpaw program, PPF, and other private and university programs are attempting to address these challenges.
Callaway, M.B. 1992. Current research for the commercial development of pawpaw [Asimina triloba (L.) Dunal.]. HortScience 27: 90, 191.
Huang, H., D.R. Layne, and T.L. Kubisiak. 2000. RAPD inheritance and diversity in pawpaw (Asimina triloba). J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 125:454–459.
Layne, D.R. 1996. The pawpaw [Asimina triloba (L.) Dunal.]: A new fruit crop for Kentucky and the United States. HortScience 31:777-784.
Pomper, K.W., D.R. Layne, and R.N. Peterson. 1999. The pawpaw regional variety trial, p. 353–357. In: J. Janick (ed.). Perspectives on new crops and new uses. ASHS Press, Alex., Va.
Pomper, K.W. 2003. Kentucky State University pawpaw information Web site. 30 Nov. 2001. <http://www.pawpaw.kysu.edu>.
Pomper, K.W, S. B. Crabtree, S.P Brown, S.C. Jones, D.R. Layne, and T.M. Bonney. 2003. Assessment of genetic diversity of pawpaw cultivars with inter simple sequence repeat markers. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 128(4):521–525.
411