I'm a hobby apple breeder also a commercial fruit grower and have successfully created some unique new apple varieties. The crosses involved crossing one diploid with another diploid but I ran into a problem when I tried crossing a diploid,Spitzenberg pollin source) with a triploid (Ribston Pippin) and none of the crosses produced fruit so no seeds. Does anyone out there have an idea as to why that didn't work? Jack
Look up meiosis and the formation of gametes. When eggs and sperms (pollen grains) form, they have half the number of chromosomes as the rest of the individual. In a triploid, the division of chromosomes is unequal in meiosis so the resulting cells get odd numbers of chromosomes and aren't able to function correctly.
In short, triploid plants are usually sterile. In the case of apples, they can set fruit, but their seeds are usually inviable and the pollen doesn't function properly.
Sorry for such a short explanation, but a complete one would take several pages.
Do not try to use triploid apples.
I've heard from the Pomona Quarterly writings that 'Golden Delicious' is a great parent tree for good fruit. you'd want to cross it with a more disease resistant type for scab and mildew.
The British have been at it a while and mention a couple of really good parent apples as well.
I am into russets, but commercially speaking, cannot recommend them since the public talks flavor but buys pretty fruit, when it comes to apples.
I would use Hudson Golden Gem if I were going to create an improved Russet for the PNW.
Here is a great pdf file on apple breeding to look at:
I think the Cox Orange Pippen is a popular stud too.
http://www.homeorchardsociety.org/ebook ... e_6_08.pdf
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style ... 97305.html
I prefer working with grapes, since it doesn't take quite as many years and they 'hybrid direct producers', can grow on their own roots, in most cases.
For testing the seedlings, get a mini dwarf root and use that as the rootstock to force early production, or Bud 9 or M 9
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