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Development of a recurrent apple breeding programme in New Zealand: a synthesis of results, and a proposed revised breeding strategy

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This paper describes an apple breeding population that has been developed in New Zealand since 1990 to broaden the genetic base for cultivar breeding. The population is now in its third generation, with recurrent selection for general combining ability being the underlying approach. During the 20 years of the programme, nearly 1,000 trees have been progeny tested. An early focus on selection within open-pollinated tests has been replaced by selection within control-pollinated tests. Genetic evaluation methods along with estimates of genetic parameters (e.g. heritability, genetic correlations, and genotype-by-environment interactions), genetic gain, and genetic diversity are summarised in this paper. The third-generation crossing programme involving nearly 350 parents is almost completed and seedlings from these crosses are in the nursery. In the revised breeding strategy, three hierarchal populations are envisioned to better integrate this broad-based population with the more commercially focused cultivar breeding programme: main breeding population (MBP), elite breeding populations (EBP) and cultivar development populations (CDP). A two-subline structure and a minimum of two crosses per parent will be implemented in the MBP. EBP will focus on developing parents for breeding goals of the CDP. Forward-selected (based on estimated breeding values) candidates from the main- and elite populations will be used as parents of the CDP. Cloning of seedlings in elite populations and also in the first-stage of cultivar development, will be investigated as a tool for enhancing predictability and shortening the cycle for delivering genetic gain.

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Acknowledgements

This work was partially funded by Prevar™ Limited under contract COX0406 from the New Zealand Foundation for Research, Science and Technology. Dominique Noiton and Nnadozie Oraguzie were instrumental in the establishment of apple breeding population. A number of staff members, including Alastair Currie, Janice Fraser, Madeleine Hofstee, Christian Sampler, Alen Rako, Stan Bradely, Lester Brewer, Claire Whitworth, Jenny Fraser, Chris Morgan, Craig Howard, and Roger Wallis helped in implementation and assessment of progeny trials. Alan White, Alastair Currie, Luis Gea and Ron Beatson made many useful comments on an earlier version of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Private Bag 1401, Havelock North, 4157, New Zealand

    Satish Kumar, Richard K. Volz & Vincent G. M. Bus

  2. The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Old Mill Road, RD 3, Motueka, 7198, New Zealand

    Peter A. Alspach

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  1. Satish Kumar
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  2. Richard K. Volz
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  4. Vincent G. M. Bus
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Correspondence to Satish Kumar.

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Kumar, S., Volz, R.K., Alspach, P.A. et al. Development of a recurrent apple breeding programme in New Zealand: a synthesis of results, and a proposed revised breeding strategy. Euphytica 173, 207–222 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10681-009-0090-6

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