The Potential Impacts of Genetics, Genomics and Breeding on Organic Fruit Production

New technologies available to plant breeders are increasing the possibility of successful targeted selection for a range of characteristics, resulting in new cultivars that have specific potential for organic production. DNA-assisted selection in traditional breeding programs can increase the efficiency of selection for robust disease or pest resistances while also enabling the breeder to select for good fruit quality and other important horticultural characteristics. Projects such as the EU-funded DARE and HiDRAS resulted in advances in tools enabling the breeder to pre-select for resistance to apple scab (Venturia inaequalis) and powdery mildew (Podosphaera leucotricha); other on-going projects (e.g., Norelli et al.) are developing similar tools for fire blight (Erwinia amylovora). While the RosBREED project focuses on fruit quality traits, its principal aim is to enable breeders to implement DNA-assisted technology and have a much greater impact on the production of new Rosaceae products in the USA. This paper will describe the application of new technologies in traditional breeding programs, as well as discuss the further possibilities for advances in molecular biology and genetic modification to offer new breeding systems acceptable for organic agriculture and expedite development of newly improved cultivars.