Industry Report 2006-2007 - Apple & Pear Australia Limited (Page 9 of 15) in pdf

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apple and pear australia volume 4 2007

Biotech & Breeding

Ap05008 - extension to Ap00010

Ap06049

BreeDing for resistAnce to Apple BlAck spot BeyonD 2000

perfect peArs - the nAtionAl peAr BreeDing progrAM

Aldo Zeppa - QLd department of primary Industries & Fisheries

susanna richards - department of primary Industries, Victoria, tatura Centre

The Queensland Department of Primary Industries and

Perfect Pears is a national pear breeding program funded by state

evaluation of elite selection, to determine which selections are fast-

Fisheries (DPI&F) has bred apples with resistance to apple

Departments of Primary Industries, HAL and APAL. It has two broad

tracked for evaluation to Australian Pome Fruit Improvement Program

scab (colloquially known as apple black spot). There are

aims: firstly, the development of new varieties to provide Australian

(APFIP) sites.

presently 350 scab resistant selections growing in the test

growers with the impetus to expand their pear production and take

block at Applethorpe Research Station in Queensland.

up more intensive production systems that can raise unit orchard

The commercialisation strategy for the release of new varieties from

Provisional PBR for one of these selections (RS103 130) was

productivity; secondly, new fruit products that will re-invigorate

the program has continued to be developed. The two major nurseries,

granted in Australia in December 2005 and a US plant patents

consumers’ interest and confidence in pears, to facilitate market

Flemings and the INN international consortium and ANFIC who are

application submitted in December 2006 is pending.

expansion and increase per capita consumption.

linked with AIGN (Associated International Group of Nurseries) visited

the breeding program in season to view some of the elite selections.

RS103 130 and one other scab resistant selection have

The program has initially used conventional breeding strategies to

scored well in consumer evaluations conducted in Brisbane

establish over 63,000 seedling trees from 160 inter-varietal European

This season’s results continued to show the potential of a mid- and a

by DPI&F’s post harvest sensory science group, where these

pear crosses and 20 inter-specific crosses between European and Asiatic

late-season selection (Photos 1 and 2). The mid-season selection (Photo

apples were compared with Royal Gala, Fuji, Red Delicious

pears. In the future, the program aims to adopt new biotechnologies to

1) has strong red blush on a green background with a smooth reasonably

and Red Jonagold. RS103-130 is a mid-season scab resistant

facilitate varietal development.

symmetrical shape. It develops a soft, juicy, texture with aromatic

apple maturing mid to late March (6 - 8 weeks after Gala), and

flavours similar to the variety Comice. This selection has the potential

has a broken red stripe to almost full block red over-colour

The key breeding objectives are to develop new pear varieties with a

to handle and store well similar to Packham and will be assessed under

on a yellow green to yellow background. Fruit is round-conic

combination of attractive fruit appearance, superior flesh eating quality,

CA storage next season. It has been fast-tracked for evaluation and has

shaped with a medium length stalk. Flesh is off-white in

good storability and shelf life. Different maturity types to extend pear

started to fruit at APFIP sites this season. The late-season selection

colour, medium textured and crisp. It is juicy with a sweet,

seasonality and the incorporation of scab resistance to reduce fungicide

(Photo 2) has a crisp, sweet flesh and can be eaten directly off the tree

low-acid mild flavour. Consumers rated the appearance of

use are also target traits.

similar to a nashi. Its potential for storage may be limited, but further

RS103 130 and Red Delicious as better than Gala or Fuji. They

testing is required.

rated the texture, flavour and overall likeability of RS103-130,

During the 2006/2007 season, the National Pear Breeding Program

Fuji and Gala as similar, and all three varieties as much better

continued to identify and evaluate new pear selections and determine the

A small mid-season pear selection with extensive red blush was

than Red Delicious for these three traits.

harvest range and storage potential of current selections. There are now

identified for the first time this season. It has firm texture like Corella

scab resistant selection rs103-130 on tree.

230 selections under advanced evaluation in replicated trellised trials,

but with a subtle European pear flavour, and stores well under air

Consumer evaluation also favourably compared a second scab

and a further 24 new seedling hydrids were identified.

storage for three months. The sizing potential of this new selection

resistant apple selection (mid to late February maturity) with

will be investigated next season, and will be fast-tracked to APFIP

Gala, Jonagold and Hi Early Delicious. All four apples rated

Assessment protocols were streamlined so that genetic data collected

evaluations.

similarly for appearance. The scab resistant selection and

on new seedlings and existing selections can be directly compared

Jonagold rated similarly for three criteria, namely texture,

to expedite the assessment of optimum harvest periods and storage

flavour and overall likeability; also both of these apples out-

potentials. Selections were harvested at three different periods and

performed Gala and Hi Early Delicious in these three criteria.

assessed out of storage after two and three months. In the following

Additionally, the scab resistant selection displayed a low level

season elite selections will be evaluated under both air and control

of flesh browning when compared to Gala and Jonagold at five

atmosphere storage. Growers will again be invited to assist with the

successive time intervals over a 90 minute period.

In April 2006, the Brennan Review, conducted by plant

breeding consultant Dr Paul Brennan recommended changes

in the evaluation protocols of the DPI&F apple breeding

program. These recommendations were implemented during

the 2006-07 season, and incorporated into the program to

quantify parameters for the 350 scab resistant selections in

the test block at Applethorpe Research Station. Adoption of

these recommendations intensified the rigour of evaluation

so that inferior types are culled sooner. All 350 selections

produced varying quantities of fruit this season; although 20

percent were only in 2nd leaf and will need to be evaluated for

several more seasons.

Funded by: Queensland Department of Primary Industries and

Apple samples as presented for consumer evaluation by dpI&F sensory scientists

Fisheries, APAL levy funds, Horticulture Australia Ltd.

photo 1: A mid season european pear selection with attractive green/red skin.

photo 2: A late season nashi type selection with good eating quality off the tree.

photo 3: A small mid season european pear selection with extensive blush.

apple and pear australia volume 4 2007 page

Industry Report 2006-2007 - Apple & Pear Australia Limited Page 9

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