Fruit from THE PRAIRIE: Mechanically harvestable, cold-hardy fruit bred in Saskatchewan may find niches elsewhere

摘要

Fuit production doesn't get much attention at Canada's 52 deg north latitude, but plant breeders at I the University of Saskatchewan, in Saskatoon, are gaining respect by breeding fruits that are diversifying the prairie farm culture of grain and cattle and affecting fruit growers elsewhere—not only with products but with ideas. Lacking protection from water bodies like the Great Lakes and hillside slopes to provide air drainage and frost protection, its continental climate is subject to the extremelow temperatures of below -40 deg F many winters. Yet this somewhat forbidding territory in hardiness zone 2 is spawning new varieties of apples, tart cherries (calles sour cherries in Canada), and several kinds of herries, plus new cold-hardy plant materials for breeding programs elsewhere.