GTN4302

Fruit breeding
Definition of plant breeding
Breeding objectives

Main aim: Develop superior fruit plants for

their economic use.
Common objectives:
 higher yield
 improved quality – desirable traits
 biotic and abiotic resistance
 earliness
 etc…
General steps in breeding project
Natural variability Created variability
Successful breeding

• Successful breeding NEEDS new genetic diversity

and then select plants with the desired improved
characteristics.
• Breeders needs  Germplasm
Eg: Banana variation
Methods of fruit breeding
Transference a genotype or a
Plant introduction group of genotypes into a
new environment.

Selection Choose superior from mixed

(A) CONVENTIONAL

population.

Produced from a single

Clone individual plant via asexual
propagation.

Polyploidy Induced chromosomes

manipulation.

Crossing of two plants with

Hybridization dissimilar genotypes.
Breeding : early days
• The development started from the wild plant species
from the forest or other regions and cultivated near their
dwellings/settlements – based on certain criteria being
considered such as taste, colour and size.

• The seeds which were discarded, germinate and grow into

new plants  But, the fruits were varied and inferior to
the one they have tested!!. The seedlings of most fruit-
bearing species produce variable offsprings.

• However, THESE OFFSPRINGS ARE ACTUALLY FORM THE

BULK OF GENETIC RESOURCES that can be used to
improve the fruit species through selections.
Breeding : 2nd phase
• As knowledge of agriculture improved, they began
to realize that vegetative propagation will lead to
exact plant characters of the parent trees.

• Plant propagation through other means (plant

parts) and perpetuate the exact plant characters
of the desirable mother plants. They give
vernacular names.

• This asexual propagation is later called clonal

propagation.
Methods of fruit breeding
The propagation of plants by
Micropropagation growing plantlets in tissue
culture.
(B) BIOTECHNOLOGY

The use of genetic

manipulation at DNA levels
Molecular markers
to improve characters of
interest

Recombination of DNA –
Genetic engineering gene insertion
Micropropagation
Genetic engineering
Disadvantages of biotechnology breeding

High cost – materials & facilities

Require high skill

Unstable performance at several locations

Reduced variety

Ethical problems
Fruit breeding in Malaysia

PVP: Plant variety protection

PVP Board - DOA

• http://pvpbkkt.doa.gov.my/
Status of selected Malaysian fruits
DURIAN
• Clone:
DURIAN - breeding
PAPAYA
PAPAYA - breeding
RAMBUTAN

Anak sekolah? Muar gading?

PINEAPPLES
• 3 kumpulan kultivar nanas yang ditanam di Malaysia, iaitu kumpulan Cayenne,
Spanish dan Queen.

1) KUMPULAN CAYENNE
Sarawak
Smooth cayenne

2) KUMPULAN SPANISH
Nanas Merah (Singapore Spanish)
Masmerah
Gandol (No. 19 atau 'java hybrid')
Betik

3)KUMPULAN QUEEN
Moris (Mauritius)
Bintangor (Moris Sarawak)
PINEAPPLES - breeding
Gandul X Sarawak Hybrid from Hawaii

Gandul X Sarawak Hybrid from Hawaii

STAR FRUIT
MANGO
BANANA
MANGOSTEEN JACKFRUIT
Controlled breeding

• It take many years before hybrid seedlings start

bearing fruits, and fully evaluated for
recommendation - very little impact.
• Poor fruit set(rambutan), sterility(banana),
apomixis(- little or no variation-mango,langsat,
mangoesteen).
• For papaya- very successful
 SUMMARY
• Fruit breeding involves a major investment in
people, technology and facilities.

• Research and development takes place over

many years, with no guarantee of success.

• The demand for new varieties, adapted to our

unique growing conditions, is never ending,
driven by the challenges of new pest and disease
pressures, weather patterns and changing market
requirements.
Any question