CLONAL SELECTION IN THE GERMAN PRUNE HAUSZWETSCHE

In the F.R.G. plum growing is an important factor in fruit production.
The German prune ‘Hauszwetsche’ is the main variety.
In production there are a lot of types with too small fruits.
In a programme from 1976–1982 we pre-selected 12 of the best clones, and parameter of economic importance such as fruit size, yield and sugar content were recorded.
From these best clones clonal selection trials were planted in 6 different localities in 1978. In 1983 we got the first yield, depending on cultivation of the orchards.
Good clones in 1984 had more than 50 kg accumulated yield and respectable fruit weights of 23–28g.
The results of the first two years of clonal selection under other ecological conditions than in the place of origin confirmed the results of the pre-selection.
The precocity of cropping may be genetically based, but it also depends on tree size.
Trees in the clonal selection trials varied very much in the first two years of cropping in yield and fruit size.
Together with the number of thorns on the shoots this indicates a rejuvenation.

The best clones, ‘Schüfer’, ‘Meschenmoser’, ‘Wolff’, ‘Gunser’, ‘Schraderhof 100’ and ‘Etscheid’ are introduced.
These virus-free clones are propagated for graftwood production and distribution to the farmers.

Workshop on Clonal Selection in Tree Fruit

W. Hartmann

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1986.180.14