Location: Innovative Fruit Production, Improvement, and Protection
Project Number: 8080-21000-029-002-N
Project Type: Non-Funded Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Jan 1, 2015
End Date: Oct 9, 2019
Objective:
The objective of this project is to develop, through gene transfer technologies, stone fruits with resistance to Plum pox virus (PPV) and an exotic invasive pathogen, rootstocks for fruit trees that will produce dwarf trees, and/or fruit with improved eating quality.
Approach:
Genetic engineering will be utilized to improve traits that have been either impossible or too time consuming to approach through traditional breeding techniques. These traits include disease and insect resistance, particularly exotic pests and pathogens, flower, fruit and seed development, and tree architecture. Through this agreement, we propose to continue to utilize genetic engineering approaches to investigate the fundamental genetic bases of these and other important traits. We propose to apply genetic engineering technologies to develop improved germplasm and fruit varieties that will have a positive impact on fruit growing improving adaptation to climate change, disease and pest resistance, the efficiency and sustainability of production, and safety, nutrient value, and quality of fruit available to consumers. We also propose to continue to develop technologies that will improve the efficiency and productivity of conventional breeding techniques.
