Two local sweet cherry cultivars promoted as RGF accessions in Belgium

Since 1975 and with the enthusiastic contribution of the general public, the Walloon Agronomic Research Center (CRA-W) of Gembloux (Belgium) initiated the collection and conservation of old fruit tree cultivars to preserve the biodiversity represented in these cultivars.
The characters of the collected trees were annually assessed and cultivars were selected that exhibited low disease susceptibility, good hardiness, low input requirement and particular qualities for table, cooking or processing uses.
These were promoted under the initials ‘RGF’ and were reintroduced to their original areas through nurseries.
They may also serve as a parent for breeding.
Two local cultivars of sweet cherry were selected for this label in 2013: ‘Helshoven’^RGF and ‘Semis Ghijssens’^RGF. The growth, bloom and fruit characteristics as well as S-allele compatibility, fruit cracking, and Monilia and Cylindrosporiosis susceptibility of these 2 cultivars are presented in this work.

VII International Cherry Symposium

H. Magein

Prunus avium, biodiversity, variety evaluation, cracking, diseases resistance, fruit quality

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2017.1161.7