THE IMPORTANCE OF SELECTION FOR AN ECONOMICAL PRODUCTION OF THE GERMAN PLUM CULTIVAR ‘HAUSZWETSCHE’

In the Federal Republic of Germany plum growing is an important factor of the fruit production.
The german plum ‘Hauszwetsche’ is the main variety, but fruits are with an average of only 26 to 28 mm diameter too small.
Therefore we made a pre-selection.
Important parameters were fruit size, yield, sugar content and pattern, etc.

In the years 1975 to 1980 we found a great variability in fruit weight (11 to 32 g) and ripening time (about 3 weeks). More than 170 different types were observed. 12 of the best clones were made virusfree and will be treated on standard conditions.
The five best clones are propagated for scion production.
The best clone had a fruit weight of 27 g on the average of six years and a good yield with 1.25 kg per cm stem girth.

An economical examination of the plum production in the years 1977 to 1980 confirmed the importance of selection.
Orchards with average clones of ‘Hauszwetsche’ are not economic.
The cultivation with the best clones may be more profitable than apple or sour cherry production.

Fruit Breeding, XXI IHC

W. Hartmann

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1983.140.13