APPLIED BREEDING
The Texas A&M Stone Fruit Breeding and Genetics Program works to evaluate stone fruit cultivar performance in order to make recommendations to growers in low and medium chill growing zones. Additionally, the Program seeks 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. The development of improved stone fruit rootstocks is also a priority of the Program.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. The program utilizes the techniques of embryo rescue to germinate the seeds of early ripening genotypes and continuously conducts research to improve the success rate of this procedure.
GENETIC 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.
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.