Pear Breeding

Dr. Kate Evans

Washington State University Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center, Wenatchee, Washington

Kate will work closely with David Neale, Amit and others on the initial resequencing project as well with Richard Bell and others on expanding breeding program efforts.

Kate overseas the WSU pome fruit breeding program, from crossing through seedling selection, propagation, product publicity and liaising on multiple levels with interested parties. She also develops and uses molecular markers for marker-assisted selection and fingerprinting in Malus and Pyrus. Kate overseas the fledgling WSU pear rootstock breeding program, including working with colleagues Amit Dhingra and Stefano Musacchi to import and evaluate germplasm from Europe and other worldwide locations to build the breeding program. She will work closely with David Neale, Amit and others on the initial resequencing project as well with Richard Bell and others on expanding breeding program efforts.