Funded by the 2009 USDA NIFA Specialty Crops Research Initiative, RosBREED will create a national, dynamic, sustained effort in research, infrastructure establishment, training, and extension for applying marker-assisted breeding (MAB) to deliver improved plant materials more efficiently and rapidly. The Rosaceae family (including apple, peach, sweet and tart cherries, and strawberry) provides vital contributions to human health and well-being, and collectively constitutes the economic backbone of many U.S. rural communities. Rosaceae genetics and genomics are developing rapidly but have not been translated to routine practical application. Specific objectives are to:(1) increase the likelihood of new cultivar adoption, enlarge market potential... [read more]