As It Stands: The Palouse Wild Cider Apple Breeding Program.

Area of Science:

• Plant breeding
• Horticulture
• Genetics

Background:

• Hands-on education is crucial for training future plant breeders.
• Incorporating crop wild relatives and DNA information enhances breeding programs.
• The Palouse Wild Cider apple breeding program (PWCabp) was established for student experiential learning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the PWCabp's methods, results, and student involvement.
• To highlight the use of wild relatives and DNA data in cider apple breeding.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of experiential learning in plant breeding education.

Main Methods:

• Students selected cider apple as the crop and defined target attributes like high phenolics and red flesh.
• The program utilized a systematic operational structure, incorporating wild Malus germplasm.
• DNA information was integrated into breeding decisions, and field trials were conducted.

Main Results:

• Two promising high-bitterness cider apple selections were identified and propagated.
• Over 20 students gained practical experience in fruit breeding operations.
• New germplasm with desirable traits was developed through the utilization of diverse Malus germplasm.

Conclusions:

• The PWCabp successfully provided experiential learning for students in plant breeding.
• The program demonstrated the value of using wild relatives and DNA information for developing new cultivars.
• PWCabp trained new professionals and produced valuable new cider apple germplasm.