Standardized Phenotyping of Apple Texture for Improved Breeding and Research Efficiency

Fruit texture in fresh and lightly processed apple products is a trait of significant horticultural variability and economic value. Worldwide, diverse crop improvement programs seek to define the trait, identify critical physiological parameters, and elucidate its genetic control. All breeding programs include an emphasis on superior texture to meet consumer expectations. These programs, their supporting germplasm repositories, and research programs, each conduct fruit evaluations in their own manner. This independent, individual approach limits the transferability of information among programs. The recently completed multi-institutional European apple research project, HiDRAS, broke this mold by coordinating phenotyping across several breeding and research programs and germplasm collections. In the 2009-2010 USDA-CSREES NRI-funded project, “Functional gene markers for Rosaceae tree fruit texture”, we are taking this a step further by coordinating texture phenotyping efforts across a dozen programs in the U.S., Europe, and New Zealand. Initial efforts include developing standardized protocols, trait definitions, and target phenotyping environments. In addition to the anticipated ability to conduct powerful analyses with combined datasets, standardized phenotyping in apple is creating a common language for interdisciplinary and international collaboration. We expect project outcomes to provide direct impact on genotypic prediction of performance in apple, provide insight into genomes of related crop genera, and provide producers and the public with more accessible and reliable quality indices.