“Supporting a robust PNW sweet cherry breeding and genetics program”
Author: Per McCord, Cameron Peace, Bernardita Sallato, Steve Castagnoli/Kelsey Galimba
Published: 2022
Summary: The Pacific Northwest sweet cherry breeding program (CBP) is devoting significant efforts in its mission to develop superior cherry cultivars for the Oregon and Washington industries. Since the re-launch of the program in 2018, significant improvements have been made. The breeding pipeline has been re-started in earnest. The majority of seed produced is from bi-parental crosses targeting industry-relevant traits, and embryo rescue has been successfully implemented for early ripening and interspecific crosses. More than 4,000 new seedlings (Phase 1/P1) have been planted over the past three years. Six new selections have been planted in replicated and randomized Phase 2 (P2) trials at Prosser, Pasco, and Hood River, and three selections have been advanced to on-farm Phase 3 (P3) trials for pre-commercial evaluation, including two early-ripening selections (R3 and R19), which have the potential to increase the profitability of the Pacific Northwest cherry industry. Efforts are also being made to shorten the breeding cycle by budding seedlings onto precocious rootstocks, and training own-rooted seedlings to enhance fruiting.
