RosBREED: Bridging the chasm between discovery and application to enable DNA-informed breeding in rosaceous crops

Authors: IEZZONI, AMY - Michigan State University; MCFERSON, JAMES - Washington State University; LUBY, JAMES - University Of Minnesota; GASIC, KSENIJA - Clemson University; WHITAKER, VANCE - University Of Florida; Bassil, Nahla; YUE, CHENGYAN - University Of Minnesota; GALLARDO, KARINA - Washington State University; MCCRACKEN, VICKI - Washington State University; COE, MICHAEL - Cedar Lake Research Group; HARDNER, CRAIG - University Of Queensland; Zurn, Jason; HOKANSON, STAN - University Of Minnesota; VAN DE WEG, ERIC - Wageningen University And Research Center; JUNG, SOOK - Washington State University; MAIN, DORRIE - Washington State University; DA SILVA LINGE, CASSIA - Clemson University; VANDERZANDE, STIJN - Washington State University; DAVIS, THOMAS - University Of New Hampshire; MAHONEY, LISE - University Of New Hampshire; Finn, Chad; PEACE, CAMERON - Washington State University

Submitted to: Horticulture Research
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/30/2020
Publication Date: 11/1/2020
Citation: Iezzoni, A.F., McFerson, J., Luby, J., Gasic, K., Whitaker, V., Bassil, N.V., Yue, C., Gallardo, K., McCracken, V., Coe, M., Hardner, C., Zurn, J.D., Hokanson, S., van de Weg, E., Jung, S., Main, D., Da Silva Linge, C., Vanderzande, S., Davis, T.M., Mahoney, L., Finn, C.E., Peace, C. 2020. RosBREED: Bridging the chasm between discovery and application to enable DNA-informed breeding in rosaceous crops. Horticulture Research. 7. Article 177. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41438-020-00398-7.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41438-020-00398-7

Interpretive Summary: The RosBREED project was a 10 year effort to develop new tools and resources to facilitate DNA-informed breeding for disease resistance and horticultural quality in peach, strawberry, blackberry, apple cherry, rose, and pears. This project was unique from other projects as the project targets were selected based on stakeholder input. The process used by RosBREED and the tools, resources, and discoveries developed by this large project are presented and can serve as a model for other crops to follow.

Technical Abstract: The Rosaceae crop family (including almond, apple, apricot, blackberry, peach, pear, plum, raspberry, rose, strawberry, sweet cherry, and sour cherry) provides vital contributions to human well-being and is economically significant across the U.S. In 2003, industry stakeholder initiatives prioritized utilization of genomics, genetics, and breeding to develop new cultivars exhibiting both disease resistance and superior horticultural quality. However, rosaceous crop breeders lacked certain knowledge and tools to fully implement DNA-informed breeding – a “chasm” existed between existing genomics and genetic information and the application of this knowledge in breeding. The RosBREED project (“Ros” signifying a Rosaceae genomics, genetics, and breeding community initiative, and “BREED”, indicating the core focus on breeding programs), addressed this challenge through a comprehensive and coordinated 10-year effort funded by the USDA-NIFA Specialty Crop Research Initiative. RosBREED was designed to enable routine application of modern genomics and genetics technologies in U.S. rosaceous crop breeding programs, thereby enhancing their efficiency and effectiveness in delivering cultivars with producer-required disease resistances and market-essential horticultural quality. This review presents a synopsis of the approach, deliverables, and impacts of RosBREED, highlighting synergistic global collaborations and future needs. Enabling technologies and tools developed are described, including genome-wide scanning platforms and DNA diagnostic tests. Examples of DNA-informed breeding use by project participants are presented for all breeding stages, including pre-breeding for disease resistance, parental and seedling selection, and elite selection advancement. The chasm is now bridged, accelerating rosaceous crop genetic improvement.