If breeding a new fruit with a specific trait is like finding a needle in a haystack, then MAS is like having a metal detector," says HortResearch scientist Dr William Laing of a just announced new kiwifruit breeding technique known as Marker AssistedSelection. In a MAS breeding programme, breeders use traditional crossing techniques to breed new varieties - which are then assessed for their commercial potential by searching their DNA for markers that indicate the presence of genes linked to desirable fruit traits.
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