APRICOT BREEDING IN GREECE FOR FRUIT QUALITY AND RESISTANCE TO PLUM POX VIRUS DISEASE

An apricot breeding project is carried out in the Pomology Institute of Naoussa, for the achievement of the following objectives: resistance to PPV, high fruit quality, high productivity, suitability to processing, late blooming, early to medium time of ripening.

To introduce genetic variability, the following apricot cultivars of different origin have been used as parents in the controlled crosses: Early Orange, Stella, NJA₂ Veecot, Sunglo, Harlayne (for resistance to plum pox virus); Pr.
Tirynthos, Ouardi, Pr.
Porou (for early ripening); Bebecou, Koliopoulou, Bebecou ID, Bergeron, Reale d’Imola, San Castrese and Sundrop (for suitability to processing); Bebecou, Harcot, San Castrese, Everani, Kostjuzenska, Jubilejna (for fruit quality). During a period of eight years a high number of hybrids has been created.
Observations were obtained in the second year, after planting of the seedlings in the orchard.
Data for the different characteristics of the hybrids and their reaction to plum pox virus infection, after natural inoculation by aphids in the field or artificial inoculation by grafting, were recorded.
A small number of hybrids has presented a considerable interest so far, for resistance to PPV, productivity and fruit quality.

XI International Symposium on Apricot Culture

I. Karayiannis, A. Mainou, A. Tsaftaris

Prunus armeniaca L., breeding, selection, productivity, fruit quality, Sharka

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1999.488.12