Amount Requested: $170,000
The National Apple Rootstock Breeding Program develops, evaulates and propagates improved rootstocks, which are used by apple growers to improve productifity and produce higher quality apples.

The requested funds would be used to hire one GS6-9 laboratory technician, one GS3-5 greenhouse/field technician and several summer interns to perform research tasks.  Funds would also be used to develop a plant tissue culture propagation program and greenhouses would be built for disease screening and acclimation.  Machinery for the production and harvest of apple rootstocks would also be purchased.