Breeder Nnadozie Oraguzie stands in a Phase 1 block planted in 2011 and 2012. He’ll begin collecting fruiting data when the trees are three to four years old. MELISSA HANSEN Breeding new varieties of fruit is all about numbers—it takes thousands of crosses to find one worthy of commercialization. Researchers at Washington State University are using genetic technology to make smart crosses to improve program efficiency but, more importantly, to increase their odds of success. WSU has a long cherry and stone fruit breeding history dating back to the late 1940s. The blush variety Rainier was the program’s first release […]