The 2011 ASHS Annual Conference

Objective(s):
1. Describe breeding strategies used to develop key low- and no-chill fruit cultivars. 2. Understand the genetic control of dormancy, chill accumulation, and bloom time. 3. Present novel management practices used in production of temperate small and tree fruits grown in tropical and subtropical environments.

Colloquium

Primary Sponsor: Viticulture and Small Fruits Working Group

Co-Sponsors: Fruit Breeding Working Group, Pomology Working Group

Breeding and Management of Temperate Fruit Crops for Non-Temperate Climates

The desire to produce crops in atypical climates is not a new one. There is a growing interest in producing temperate zone fruit crops in tropical and subtropical climates. Consumers in the United States and other developed countries are increasingly demanding fresh fruits regardless of the season, and many fruit crops cannot successfully be stored long-term. By breeding for reduced chilling requirement and manipulating the plant’s normal physiological processes in production fields, fruit crops such as blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, apples, and peaches can now be grown in areas that receive little or no winter chilling.    

Speakers will discuss methods used to breed for reduced chilling requirement and describe important low-chill cultivars that have been developed. Complementing that, at least one speaker will discuss research on the genetic control of dormancy, chill accumulation, bloom time, and other related factors. Speakers will also outline the management practices used to overcome the lack of sufficient chill in both small and tree fruit crops. 

This colloquium will appeal to a broad range of attendees, given that topics involving plant breeding, genetics, and physiology will be discussed.  It will also attract members who are interested in basic science, as one of the proposed speakers, Dr. Albert Abbott, conducts research on the molecular control of dormancy. The topic is particularly relevant to international attendees, especially those from tropical and sub-tropical locations.  Dr. Jasper Rees (South Africa) and Dr. Jose Lopez Medina (Mexico) will provide an international perspective.  An industry representative, Dr. Jorge Rodriquez from Driscoll’s Strawberry Associates, will ensure the colloquium also targets producers. 

The first half of the colloquium will focus on berry crops (blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries) and the second half will focus on tree fruits (apples and peaches).