**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** BLACK WALNUT (JUGLANS NIGRA) IS A LONG-LIVED PERENNIAL TREE THAT COULD BE CULTIVATED AND UTILIZED MORE BROADLY THROUGHOUT THE NORTHERN UNITED STATES. ASIDE FROM ITS VALUE AS A QUALITY TIMBER CROP, THIS SPECIES OFFERS EDIBLE NUTS AND CAN BE TAPPED FOR SYRUP PRODUCTION, AMONG OTHER USES AND BYPRODUCTS. WHEREAS MOST WOODY PERENNIAL CROPPING SYSTEMS TAKE PLACE THROUGHOUT THE REGIONS OF THE UNITED STATES WITH MORE MILD CLIMATES, BLACK WALNUT HAS POTENTIAL FOR USE IN COLD CLIMATES. HOWEVER, LITTLE INFORMATION EXISTS THAT IS PERTINENT TO ITS CULTIVATION AND APPLICATION UNDER NORTHERN CONDITIONS. PHYSIOLOGICAL EVALUATION AND PRODUCT-DRIVEN RESEARCH COULD GENERATE NOVEL FOUNDATIONAL SCIENTIFIC INSIGHTS AS WELL AS DRIVE NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR STAKEHOLDERS THROUGHOUT MULTIPLE REALMS OF AGRICULTURE AND RELATED INDUSTRIES.THIS PROJECT AIMS TO INFORM THE DEVELOPMENT OF BLACK WALNUT CROPS AND PRODUCTS BY EVALUATINGSAP FLOW OF CULTIVATED TREES, CHARACTERIZING CONSUMER PREFERENCES OF SYRUPS AND NUTS, AS WELL AS STUDYING GENETIC VARIATION WITHIN THIS SPECIES.