Title: Breeding Cold-hardy Fruit Crops in Minnesota
Abstract: The Univ. of Minnesota has one of the oldest, continuous fruit breeding programs in North America.It serves a region that experiences all the vagaries of a continental climate, with temperatures ranging from above 35C in the summer to below -40C in the winter.Precipitation, as rain during the growing season and snow during the dormant season, can vary dramatically from year to year.These would not seem to be the most ideal conditions for fruit growing.Indeed, as newspaperman Horace Greeley reportedly said in 1860, "I would not live in Minnesota because you can't grow apples there." The goal of the breeding program is to develop fruit cultivars that will survive and bear fruit regularly at a commercially profitable level under these conditions.The success of the program is due to a) long-term continuity of dedicated researchers and financial support for the breeding effort, b) the capability to evaluate genotypes for cold hardiness in laboratory freezing trials and in multiple-location field trials during advanced testing, and c) the collection, evaluation, and use of key cold-hardy germplasm. HISTORY OF THE PROGRAM AND PRESENT ACTIVITIESThe origin of fruit improvement in Minnesota can be traced back to 1865 when ≈ 150 apple cultivars were obtained from Russia for testing (Snyder, 1983).Some of this material became the base for initial apple breeding efforts.Settlers in Minnesota were discouraged by the dearth of fruits that could be grown in the new state.The Minnesota State Horticultural Society lobbied the legislature to provide funds for a fruit breeding effort.In 1878, the Minnesota legislature appropriated $2000 for land acquisition and $1000 in annual operating expenses for an experimental farm at Excelsior.Peter Gideon, originator of the widely grown 'Wealthy' apple, was named superintendent.This first farm was sold in 1907, and in 1908 the proceeds were used to purchase new property south of Excelsior.This farm became known as the Fruit Breeding Farm and, today, as the Univ. of Minnesota Horticultural Research Center (Alderman, 1976).Several individuals had key roles in providing continuity to fruit