Genetic markers are speeding up the process of fruit breeding and making breeding programs more efficient, says Washington State University’s apple breeder Dr. Bruce Barritt. “There hasn’t been a revolution in tree fruit breeding for a long time, and finally, it’s come with genomics.” Typically, it has taken 15 years or more to develop a new variety. For example, Honeycrisp, which originated from a cross made in 1960, wasn’t released until 1991. Since WSU’s breeding program began in Wenatchee in 1994, Barritt has typically grown between 5,000 and 8,000 seedlings from crosses he’s made each year. The seeds are grown […]