Researchers from James Hutton Institute will open the next International Society for Horticulural Science,RubusandRibissymposium.
Dr Dorota Jarret and Nikki Jennings will present their findings on genetic tools inRubusandRibesbreeding, prepared with colleagues at the Institute Dr Dominic Williams and Dr Julie Graham.
The event, in its 12thyear, will be held in Zurich, Switzerland, at the end of June, with over 200 delegates attending, and is sponsored by James Hutton Institute.
Jarret is a keynote speaker at the symposium, presenting a paper on the development and use of genetic tools inRubusandRibesbreeding at JHI.
The paper acknowledges the significant challenges in growingRubusandRibescrops, describing the modern breeding techniques being developed to address these at the JHI, and their transfer to the James Hutton Limited (JHL) soft fruit breeding programmes.
JHL currently runs berry-breeding consortiums for raspberries, strawberries, blackcurrants, blackberries and blueberries, made up of berry breeders, and part funded by the Scottish government and AHDB.
Jarret said: “It’s always nerve wracking to present to a roomful of one’s peers, many of whom have been true inspiration to me throughout my scientific career however, for both myself and Nikki to be invited to present and indeed, open the programme, is testament to the global reputation and respect of the work of the James Hutton Institute and the breeding programmes delivered by James Hutton Limited.
“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to promote our work and that of our Hutton group colleagues, on such a high profile platform.”
Jennings will present at the symposium on raspberry breeding in Scotland, discussing the promising material emerging for the European industry to meet grower demands of lower agronomical and financial inputs.
She will also touch on the market assisted selection techniques developed at JHI, used to speed up the commercial selection process for the raspberry-breeding programme.
