Accelerating pear breeding progress with early-flowering plants
Author: Richard L. Bell
Published: 2013
Summary: The objectives were to transform ‘Bartlett’ pear scion cultivar and ‘Old Home’ x Farmingdale’ pear rootstocks with PtFT1 and BpMADS4 genes. Following selection and verification of transgenic clones, tree architecture and flowering were to be evaluated in the greenhouse. Flowering clones were to be artificially pollinated with cross-compatible parents and fruit and seed development, objective measures of fruit quality (size, % soluble solids, titratable acidity), and seed yield would be evaluated. Finally, one clone of ‘Bartlett’ and one clone of OHF97 would be selected for future studies of horticultural practices to minimize the generation cycle and maximize fruit/seed production.
