Marker-Assisted Breeding in Apple, Peach, and Cherry Targets Valuable Functional Alleles

Within the vast repertoire of genetic information in rosaceous crop genomes, genomic regions are rapidly being discovered that control critical production and fruit quality traits. The multi-state, multi-national RosBREED project has enabled the adoption of marker-assisted breeding by pipelining such basic genetic discoveries into application. These trait loci are described as "jewels in the genome", where the traits have high value to industry sectors and consumers and the influencing functional alleles can be directly monitored by breeders. The analogy embodies the process of finding promising gems and polishing them into jewels. We utilize DNA tests for functional alleles, as represented by marker haplotypes, governing trait loci for fruit quality in apple, cherry, and peach for implementation in a practical breeding context. Routine use of predictive DNA tests by RosBREED demonstration breeders facilitates efficient and creative parental selection and recombination strategies and the discarding of likely undesirable seedlings prior to field planting.

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