History

     Discovered as a seedling tree on a pecan farm near Blackshear, Ga.  

Comments

‘Excel’ was discovered as a seedling tree on a pecan farm near Blackshear, Ga.  It was patented and disseminated by Mr. Andy Clough who operates a nursery on his farm.  We began testing this selection in 2002 and the trees have not yet begun to fruit.  The following information is from observation of trees in Blackshear, Ga.  Nut size is large, and similar to 'Desirable'.  The shell is thick, like 'Gloria Grande', and the kernel has a bright golden color with an attractive shape.  Kernel color holds very well in storage, and it is reported to shell out well. 

We recommend this cultivar for trial because it is one of the few that cultivars with large nut size and high resistance or immunity to scab.  However, this is a new cultivar, and often once new cultivars are widely planted scab resistance breaks down because new races of the pathogen develop the ability to infect the cultivar.  Nut quality has been marginal due to low  kernel percentage (49%), but most trees are young so it is difficulty to assess what the quality of mature trees will be.  Cluster size and nut size are large suggesting that nut thinning may be necessary in mature trees.  Tree limbs are relatively thin, producing a willowy growth that may make it difficult to mechanically thin the crop.  Right now we recommend this cultivar for trial, especially where high levels of scab resistance are being sought.