PROJECT SUMMARY
Title: Tree Fruit GDR: Translating Genomics into Advances in Horticulture
PD: Main, Doreen
CO-PD: Jung, Sook
CO-PD: Peace, Cameron
CO-PD: Evans, Katherine
CO-PD: Oraguzie, Nnadozie
CO-PD: Abbott, Albert
CO-PD: Layne, Desmond
CO-PD: Gmitter Frederick
CO-PD: Mueller, Lukas
Institution: Washington State University
Institution: Washington State University
Institution: Washington State University
Institution: Washington State University
Institution: Washington State University
Institution: Clemson University
Institution: Clemson University
Institution: University of Florida
Institution: Boyce Thompson Institute
Abstract
Accounting for two-thirds of all U.S. fruit and nut crop production, the Rosaceae and Citrus
industries provide unique and valuable contributions to consumers’ dietary choices and overall
health. The vibrant Rosaceae and Citrus industries are faced with very real challenges to global
competitiveness and sustainability that can only be met by development of improved cultivars
through genomics-assisted breeding. Building on the well established Genome Database for
Rosaceae (GDR), tree fruit Genome Database Resources (tfGDR) will provide fundamental
bioinformatics and database capabilities for Rosaceae and Citrus. It will be designed specifically to
meet the needs of basic, translational and applied researchers, and industry stakeholders. Built in
collaboration with Solanaceae and using standardized code, this comprehensive genomics
database platform will be extendable to other specialty crops. Specific objectives are to: (1) collect,
analyze, integrate genomics, genetics and breeding data to facilitate gene discovery and markertrait associations, (2) provide data-mining resources of genomic, genetic, breeding and cultivar
performance data for breeders and growers to expedite development and adoption of new and
existing cultivars, and (3) extend community outreach in genomics, genomics-assisted breeding
and crop management. This Standard Research and Extension proposal addresses SCRI Focus
Area 1: research in plant breeding, genetics, and genomics to improve crop characteristics (50%),
Focus Area 2: Efforts to identify and address threats from pests and diseases (25%), and Focus
Area 3: Efforts to improve production efficiency, productivity and profitability over the long term
(25%).