Objectives:

Applied Breeding:

• We evaluate stone fruit cultivar performance in order to make recommendations to growers in low and medium-chill fruit growing regions.

• We work to develop superior early-ripening, low and medium-chill stone fruit cultivars to replace marginal commercial cultivars and to extend the harvest seasons in mild winter regions throughout the world.

• We utilize in vitro embryo rescue techniques to germinate seeds of early-ripening genotypes, and we continuously research methods to improve success of this procedure.

• We work to develop improved stone fruit rootstocks.

Genetic and Germplasm Studies:

• The major germplasm groups of peaches, plums, and apricots are being characterized using RAPD, isozyme, and morphological polymorphisms to study genetic relationships among these groups and their progenitor species.

• Quantitative traits of peaches are being studied for their genetic inheritance.

Global Outreach:

• We are involved in cooperative efforts in mild winter regions of North America, South America, Europe, Australia, and Asia to evaluate germplasm and to cooperate on hybridization efforts.