Abstract
The main objectives of the raspberry breeding programme include selecting for fruit quality, yield, pest and disease resistance, good plant habit for ease of picking and plantation management, and extending the fruiting season. The programme is divided equally between summer and primocane fruiting types. The crossing programme each spring alternates between summer fruiting and primocane fruiting crosses. Seed scarification treatments have been determined, which have improved seed germination and increased the number of progenies that can be pre-selected for spinelessness. The industry is interested in manipulating cropping using tunnel protection to extend the season, but all selection within the breeding programme is currently done in the open field. The industry in England is buoyant and the acreage has been steady since the mid-1990s. Most English fruit is sold fresh via the major supermarkets, but UK fruit competes with imported fruit for several months of the year and fruit quality is of paramount importance. The breeding programme is 75% funded by the government and 25% from the UK fruit industry. All of the funding for trialling comes from the UK fruit industry. New cultivars are usually released via Meiosis Ltd and this also includes trialling selections overseas, including for out-of-season production in different climates. 'Autumn Byrd', was released as a result of its promising performance in North America. Three selections that are soon to be released, 5928/114, 6166/98 and 6432/71, are described.
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