Location: Plant Genetic Resources Unit (PGRU)
Project Number: 8060-21000-028-005-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Sep 1, 2015
End Date: Aug 31, 2020
Objective:
The objective of this cooperative project is to characterize genetic and genomic diversity of the USDA-ARS Geneva apple and grape germplasm for improving disease/pest resistance, adaptation to abiotic environment, fruit quality, and/or plant architecture traits in these two crops.
Approach:
We will initially focus on rootstock germplasm. Apple and grape rootstock germplasm will be selected from the clonal germplasm repository and evaluated for rooting ability, root architecture, and/or adaptation to adverse soil conditions. Then the rootstock germplasm with contrasting phenotypes and their cross progeny will be characterized through deep genomic sequencing and RNAseq analysis.
