Current Research
Germplasm Collection and Utilization of Crop Wild Relatives
The USask Fruit Program is actively collecting, preserving, and studying crop wild relatives as a vital source of genetic diversity to enhance cultivated fruit varieties. Over the past decades, the program has assembled a rich collection that includes Canadian Lonicera caerulea ssp. villosa an extensive Amelanchier collection, and several smaller germplasm resources. These genetic resources are evaluated for their diversity and studied to understand their evolution and adaptation to various environments. Our goal is to identify genetic regions linked to traits essential for thriving in the Prairie climate which will directly support the development of resilient, high-performing fruit crops tailored to local growing conditions.
Developing Novel Genetic Resources
Our team is creating genomic tools to unlock and the genetic potential of fruit crops. We are developing reference genomes and genotyping platforms to support the genetic characterization of diversity panels and mapping populations. Through association studies and comparative genomics, we aim to pinpoint candidate genes responsible for key traits, accelerating the breeding of improved varieties.
Plant Phenotyping and Genetic Mapping of Key Traits
To fully harness the potential of our germplasm, we are refining phenotyping methods across wild relatives, breeding selections, and cultivated varieties. By identifying trait variation within and across plants, we can better assess their breeding value. Our phenotyping studies aim at, but are not limited >to image analysis for fruit shape and plant architecture mechanical testing for firmness, freezing point measurements, metabolic profiling of nutraceutical compounds, standard agronomic evaluations and more. This robust data supports genotype-phenotype association studies, trait mapping, and the development of molecular markers for breeding.
Demonstration Orchards and Outreach for Prairie Fruit Production
The USask Fruit Program’s aim at showcasing their extensive fruit crop collections in demonstration orchards enabling side-by-side comparisons at a single site and across multiple locations throughout Saskatchewan. In collaboration with Canadian Prairie fruit growers and researchers, we are establishing diversity orchards that serve as demonstration and educational resources. These orchards play a vital role in identifying promising accessions for commercial fruit production, helping to advance sustainable and regionally adapted fruit agriculture across the Canadian Prairies. Selected resources from these collections are also featured in our extension and outreach events, where fruit growers and gardeners gain hands-on experience and practical knowledge to support their success.