Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
(N/A)
FAYETTEVILLE,AR 72703
Performing Department
Horticulture
Non Technical Summary
This project primarily is focused on developing small fruit, primarily blackberry, and grape cultivars. Blackbery emphasis will be placed on erect plant growth habit, primocane fruiting, high productivity, good fresh and processed quality, large fruit size, firm fruit for shipping ability, small seed size, tolerance to low winter temperatures, heat tolerance of primocane-fruiting types, and resistance to major diseases. Grape development will focus on: 1.high quality, attractive, hardy, seedless table grapes, with adequate shelf life and ability to be utilized in local markets; 2. adapted wine grape selections for processing quality and viticulture adapted to Arkansas; 3. adapted, enhanced quality, winter hardy muscadine cultivars adapted to the regions of Arkansas from the Arkansas River Valley and southward.Molecular genetic investigations on these crops will elucidate new information on important fruit and plant characters and to use that information to expedite breeding progress.
Animal Health Component
90%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
10%
Applied
90%
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
1. To develop both thorned and thornless (with primary emphasis on thornless) blackberry cultivars adapted to the upper South which are suitable for hand harvest. Emphasis will be placed on erect plant growth habit, primocane fruiting, high productivity, good fresh and processed quality, large fruit size, firm fruit for shipping ability, small seed size, tolerance to low winter temperatures, heat tolerance of primocane-fruiting types, and resistance to major diseases. 2. To develop adapted, high quality, attractive, hardy, seedless table grapes, with adequate shelf life and ability to be utilized in local markets.3. To test existing wine grape selections for processing quality and viticulture adapted to Arkansas.4. To develop adapted, enhanced quality, winter hardy muscadine cultivars adapted to the regions of Arkansas from the Arkansas River Valley and southward.6. To conduct molecular genetic investigations on these crops to elucidate new information on important fruit and plant characters and to use that information to expedite breeding progress.
Project Methods
Hybridizations will be continued on blackberries and muscadine grapes using as parent material the most promising clones available. New genetic acquisitions will be made as they become available and evaluated for genes of potential value in breeding. Seed germination procedures previously shown to ensure maximum seedling emergence will be used. Seedlings will be grown to fruiting age and evaluated for their potential as new cultivars or for use in further breeding. Promising selections will be established in replicated test plantings in two locations in Arkansas for area adaptability. Advanced selections will be propagated and made available to experiment stations in other states for regional tests. Selections from the table grape breeding effort begun in 1964 will be further evaluated for potential release, although hybridizations will not be continued for this crop.Molecular genetic studies will be conducted, using appropriate experimental procedures, as needed to facilitate and expedite the cultivar development program.