Articles
History of apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) breeding and development of cultivation technologies in Latvia
Article number
1438_29
Pages
247 – 254
Language
English
Abstract
The Latvian climate poses a challenge to apricot growers, due to low temperatures and frequent winter fluctuations, as well as relatively cool and humid summers.
Regardless, breeding with significant results has been done in Latvia.
Two breeders started this process in the 1940-50s – P. Upitis in Dobele, in the Laboratory of Fruit growing (now – Institute of Horticulture – LatHort) and V. Varna at the Botanical Gardens of the University of Latvia (BGLU), using material from the Caucasus, mountains of Central Asia and the northern frontiers of apricot cultivation in Europe.
The primary issues in apricot cultivation are their short dormancy period, susceptibility to spring frosts and temperature fluctuations, susceptibility to fungal diseases, and self-sterility.
Breeding was continued in the 1980s by E. Kaufmane in LatHort and I. Strazinska in BGLU. The first apricot cultivars were registered in 1999 in Latvia (LatHort) – ‘Daiga’, ‘Lasma’, and ‘Velta’. Cultivars ‘Jausma’ and ‘Rasa’ from the BGLU were registered in 2004. Several genotypes (‘Krista’, ‘Dzintars’, ‘Ilga’, etc.) were not officially registered, but are currently included in the germplasm collection.
Nowadays, apricot breeding in Latvia is continued by I. Gravite.
Cultivars ‘Boriss’, ‘Gundega’, ‘Dimaija, and ‘Evelina’ were submitted for registration in Latvia in 2022 and 2023.
Regardless, breeding with significant results has been done in Latvia.
Two breeders started this process in the 1940-50s – P. Upitis in Dobele, in the Laboratory of Fruit growing (now – Institute of Horticulture – LatHort) and V. Varna at the Botanical Gardens of the University of Latvia (BGLU), using material from the Caucasus, mountains of Central Asia and the northern frontiers of apricot cultivation in Europe.
The primary issues in apricot cultivation are their short dormancy period, susceptibility to spring frosts and temperature fluctuations, susceptibility to fungal diseases, and self-sterility.
Breeding was continued in the 1980s by E. Kaufmane in LatHort and I. Strazinska in BGLU. The first apricot cultivars were registered in 1999 in Latvia (LatHort) – ‘Daiga’, ‘Lasma’, and ‘Velta’. Cultivars ‘Jausma’ and ‘Rasa’ from the BGLU were registered in 2004. Several genotypes (‘Krista’, ‘Dzintars’, ‘Ilga’, etc.) were not officially registered, but are currently included in the germplasm collection.
Nowadays, apricot breeding in Latvia is continued by I. Gravite.
Cultivars ‘Boriss’, ‘Gundega’, ‘Dimaija, and ‘Evelina’ were submitted for registration in Latvia in 2022 and 2023.
Authors
E. Kaufmane, I. Gravite
Keywords
germplasm, cultivar, winter hardiness, dormancy period, rootstock
Groups involved
- Division Ornamental Plants
- Division Temperate Tree Fruits
- Division Temperate Tree Nuts
- Division Tropical and Subtropical Fruit and Nuts
- Division Vine and Berry Fruits
- Division Vegetables, Roots and Tubers
- Division Horticulture for Development
- Division Horticulture for Human Health
- Division Landscape and Urban Horticulture
- Division Plant-Environment Interactions in Field Systems
- Division Plant Genetic Resources, Breeding and Biotechnology
- Division Postharvest and Quality Assurance
- Division Precision Horticulture and Engineering
- Division Greenhouse and Indoor Production Horticulture
- Commission Agroecology and Organic Farming Systems
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