New dessert apple breeding programme begins at East Malling, Kent
A new apple variety (scion) breeding programme, bringing together researchers, plant breeders and producers, is to begin at East Malling in Kent, it was announced today at Fruit Focus (the fruit industry trade show).
A new apple variety (scion) breeding programme, bringing together researchers, plant breeders and producers, is to begin at East Malling in Kent, it was announced today at Fruit Focus (the fruit industry trade show).
An industry-led consortium, involving Worldwide Fruit Ltd and East Malling Services, will direct the selection, trialling and evaluation of promising material, which will be underpinned by a pre-breeding research programme to develop markers for fruit quality and durable disease resistance at East Malling Research (EMR).
The long-term programme will maximise the worldwide commercialisation of newly developed varieties that will be chosen for their:
• Excellent fruit quality and flavour
• Main season fruiting
• Storage ability and long shelf life
• Pest and disease resistance- especially fungal canker
• Tree architecture suitable for modern cropping systems
Tony Harding, Technical Director at WorldWide Fruit Ltd, commented, “It is tremendous that the rejuvenated UK apple sector is now looking forward to the point of funding the conventional breeding of exciting new varieties. Through the world-leading science at East Malling Research, the consortium is looking to produce great new varieties that meet the consumers’ requirements for flavour, appearance and texture, whilst being suited to sustainable UK and global apple production.”
The science at East Malling will be led by geneticist, Dr Richard Harrison, who commented, “Modern science can dramatically improve the efficiencies and outputs of traditional breeding programmes. This new programme can be distinguished from other commercially-orientated breeding programmes, by having direct access to strategic science. This partnership will ensure the industry will breed commercially successful varieties with strong resilience to both climatic and pest and disease challenges.”
