The HortResearch apple breeding programme is one of the largest in the world and is based at our research centres in Havelock North (Hawke's Bay) and at Riwaka (Nelson). The programme has produced successful apple cultivars, including Pacific BeautyTM, Pacific RoseTM and JazzTM, which today are being grown commercially throughout New Zealand, Washington (USA) and in Europe. With its firm texture and full flavour, JazzTM sets the standard for fruit quality expected of new cultivars.
Currently, the major focus of the breeding programme is on developing new cultivars with excellent textures across a range of skin colours and maturity dates, and with red or gold flesh and new flavours. New cultivars are also expected to be resistant to the major pests and diseases, such as scab, powdery mildew, fire blight, woolly apple aphid, and leafrollers. Underpinning the breeding of new cultivars is a genetics research programme involving a large collection of highly diverse Malus germplasm, which comprises M. sieversii, the progenitor of the domesticated apple, as well as derivatives of old cultivars from around the world (see Genetics).
The use of genomic tools forms an integral part of the apple breeding programme. Genetic markers have been developed for many resistance genes and MAS is being applied on a regular basis to select seedlings with the desired combination of resistance genes providing durable resistance. Mapping of these genes on the apple framework map helps in our understanding of what constitutes durable resistance and the development of a resistance breeding strategy. Genomic tools are also used to confirm proof of function for e.g. the genes controlling red flesh in apple (See Gene discovery & function).
Potential new cultivars are evaluated more extensively at several sites in New Zealand as well as overseas under different climatic conditions. The production development stage involves the market testing of selections and development of protocols that help growers and exporters to achieve maximum production and optimal fruit quality in the market place.