In early October 2007, the advisory committee met to set research priorities for the coming year. The group will take these priorities into consideration when making funding decisions at this year's research review.

High Priority
Emphasis on interdisciplinary, team research with significant extension component.

· Rootstock and scion: genomics, genetics, breeding.
  Rootstock: Better rootstocks in terms of quantity and quality of annual individual stock production and rootstock with the ability to reduce the impact of orchard replant issues (disease and pathogen resistance).

  Scion: Continued I.D. of genes and improvement of gene marker tools for continued increase in the efficiency of apple breeding program as well as improved disease and pathogen resistance.

· Methods to improve labor productivity and safety in the full range of horticultural tasks;  improvement in horticultural production systems and the development of true  mechanical assist and robotic harvest systems.

· Specific health benefits of apple

· Food Safety: Improvements in product traceability, pack line sanitation methods.  Improved reliability of sanitizer concentration measurement methods.

Medium Priority
· Continued improvement in postharvest decay control methods, field and pack-house  components.

· Lenticel breakdown: Development of diagnostics and predictive tools and methods.

· Continued improvement in crop load management strategies by chemical and horticultural means.

· Plant Growth Regulator research: Use of ethylene and ethylene blockers to promote  ripening and enhance edibility while reducing the effects of senescence; alternatives to  MCP.

· Control of vigor in high density plantings, leading to increased cropping efficiency and   labor utilization.

· Use of HoneyCrisp as a reference cultivar for improvement of current and future  cultivars. Physiology and subsequent mitigation of soft scald, bitterpit, internal brown,  ethylene reception and activity etc.

· Methods to reduce bruising of apple in the harvest and packing process, including  improvements in field adaptable dry bin filling.

Low Priority
· Organic horticultural systems: Weed control, crop load management, sources of N.

· Calculation of carbon footprint and development of ‘greener’ production systems.

· Understanding, predicting and mitigating stem bowl splitting phenomena.

· Fruit calcium balance.