Clemson Clean Plant Center

The Clemson Clean Plant Center (CCPC) is located at Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina. The center was originally founded in 2001 under the name “The Southeastern Budwood Program” but was rebranded in 2020. The mission of the CCPC is to help fruit tree growers in the southeastern U.S. reduce the prevalence of viruses in infected propagative material. With continued support from the Peach Councils of South Carolina and Georgia as well as the NCPN, we provide services to test for and eliminate targeted viruses and virus-like agents of Prunus species and maintain a Foundation collection of Prunus cultivars, primarily with low chilling hour requirements.

Importance of “Start Clean, Stay Clean”

Clean plants have been tested and found free of targeted pathogens and are maintained as foundation planting material. Clean plants allow growers to plant fruit trees without having to worry about systemically transmitted pathogens like viruses and viroids. No cure exists for plants that are infected with these pathogens, therefore the best control strategy is prevention.

 

Peaches and Plums

At CCPC, we currently only work with domestic peach and plum varieties. There are 17 peach scion , 5 peach rootstock, and 2 plum scion varieties in foundation currently available.