Future

The Future of Fruit in Minnesota
Introduction	In some ways the future of fruit breeding looks remarkably like the past. While modern genetic engineering receives the most publicity, traditional techniques, utilizing wild and ancestral genetic stock, are still being utilized to create the next generation of UofM introductions (Luby 1). Recently, a Horticultural Research Center (HRC) expedition collected samples of the modern apple’s ancestor, native to Kazakstan for use in future breeding. Wild native varieties of apples and grapes are also being added to the genetic mix in the hopes of discovering more successful hybrids. By increasing the genetic diversity of breeding stock there is more possibility for discovering new traits, possibly bred out of domestic cultivars. New techniques to complement traditional breeding are also driving these programs, including tissue culture, pathogenic inoculation, and rapid growth grafting (MAES, Luby 3). Rather than changing the breeding techniques fundamentally, these new tools simply speed up the tedious process, and allow for more thorough selection. Current goals of the HRC are to develop grapes more adapted to Minnesota’s light cycles (photoperiod), and apples resistant to scabbing. New selection criteria also include the ability to mechanically harvest fruit, and reduce chemical usage through natural disease resistance. While traditional breeding has been successful, the possibilities of genetic manipulation on the molecular level cannot be ignored. Imagine an apple that has no need for pesticide, or a grape tailor made for perfect wine- these represent a small fraction of the possibilities for genetic engineering (Allan et al.). Current programs at the HRC are looking at these techniques to identify and, look for genetically, those traits which they’ve found most advantageous. For apples, this work is looking for the genes controlling texture in the Honeycrisp- In grapes the genes for a Minnesota suited photoperiod sensitivity (Lubby 3). Image: The Honeycrisp Apple, one of the main focuses of current research at the University
Challenges of Minnesota Part 1 Part 2
Fruit History in MN Part 1 Part 2 Part 3
Timeline
Our Relationship with Crops
Future Directions

Honeycrisp Apple In some ways the future of fruit breeding looks remarkably like the past. While modern genetic engineering receives the most publicity, traditional techniques, utilizing wild and ancestral genetic stock, are still being utilized to create the next generation of UofM introductions (Luby 1). Recently, a Horticultural Research Center (HRC) expedition collected samples of the modern apple’s ancestor, native to Kazakstan for use in future breeding. Wild native varieties of apples and grapes are also being added to the genetic mix in the hopes of discovering more successful hybrids. By increasing the genetic diversity of breeding stock there is more possibility for discovering new traits, possibly bred out of domestic cultivars.

New techniques to complement traditional breeding are also driving these programs, including tissue culture, pathogenic inoculation, and rapid growth grafting (MAES, Luby 3). Rather than changing the breeding techniques fundamentally, these new tools simply speed up the tedious process, and allow for more thorough selection.

Current goals of the HRC are to develop grapes more adapted to Minnesota’s light cycles (photoperiod), and apples resistant to scabbing. New selection criteria also include the ability to mechanically harvest fruit, and reduce chemical usage through natural disease resistance.

While traditional breeding has been successful, the possibilities of genetic manipulation on the molecular level cannot be ignored. Imagine an apple that has no need for pesticide, or a grape tailor made for perfect wine- these represent a small fraction of the possibilities for genetic engineering (Allan et al.). Current programs at the HRC are looking at these techniques to identify and, look for genetically, those traits which they’ve found most advantageous. For apples, this work is looking for the genes controlling texture in the Honeycrisp- In grapes the genes for a Minnesota suited photoperiod sensitivity (Lubby 3).

Image: The Honeycrisp Apple, one of the main focuses of current research at the University