Plant breeding strategy is described as it applies to nut production in the eastern black walnut (Juglans nigra L.) — a minor crop without a well defined cropping system. The strategy relates knowledge of plant biology to a socioeconomic context with the goal of developing cultivars that produce a greater profit than existing ones. It consists of evaluation, selection and mating schemes, each of which are tailored to the requirements of the crop. Several issues concerning such new crop production are discussed that should be resolved prior to the development of a dedicated breeding programme.
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