Articles
AN OVERVIEW ON HISTORY, PROGRESS, PRESENT AND FUTURE OBJECTIVES OF THE QUEBEC APPLE CULTIVAR AND ROOTSTOCK BREEDING PROGRAM
Article number
513_57
Pages
477 – 482
Language
Abstract
The Ottawa apple breeding program initiated in the 1940’s was transferred to St-Jean, Quebec in 1971. The objectives of the program were to develop suitable cultivars for juice and cider production, to breed improved scab resistant cultivars for fresh markets, and to find size controlling rootstocks which would be adapted to Quebec conditions. ‘Blair’, ‘Rouville’, and ‘Richelieu’ are hardy scab resistant cultivars which were released from this breeding program in 1973, 1983 and 1990, respectively.
Recently, two hardy scab resistant cultivars (‘Belmac’ and ‘Primevère’) were released in cooperation with the Purdue-Rutgers-Illinois cooperative apple breeding program.
All of the scab resistant introductions have proven to be immune to North America’s five known races of Venturia inaequalis.
Presently there are sixteen advanced selections with good agronomic characteristics under evaluation at three sites.
Apple rootstock breeding, selection and evaluation are also part of the St-Jean program.
There are 14 advanced hardy rootstocks presently being evaluated at three different sites.
They range in vigor from extreme dwarf to semi-vigorous.
Improved Ottawa 3 (IO3) is a new strain of the Ottawa3 rootstock which is more productive, precocious and easier to propagate.
Present apple cultivar and rootstock breeding aims have emphasized cold hardiness, disease tolerance and dessert quality.
The mandate is to establish a private- and public-sector partnership for cultivar and rootstock development.
Recently, two hardy scab resistant cultivars (‘Belmac’ and ‘Primevère’) were released in cooperation with the Purdue-Rutgers-Illinois cooperative apple breeding program.
All of the scab resistant introductions have proven to be immune to North America’s five known races of Venturia inaequalis.
Presently there are sixteen advanced selections with good agronomic characteristics under evaluation at three sites.
Apple rootstock breeding, selection and evaluation are also part of the St-Jean program.
There are 14 advanced hardy rootstocks presently being evaluated at three different sites.
They range in vigor from extreme dwarf to semi-vigorous.
Improved Ottawa 3 (IO3) is a new strain of the Ottawa3 rootstock which is more productive, precocious and easier to propagate.
Present apple cultivar and rootstock breeding aims have emphasized cold hardiness, disease tolerance and dessert quality.
The mandate is to establish a private- and public-sector partnership for cultivar and rootstock development.
Authors
S. Khanizadeh, R. Granger
Keywords
Apple, Breeding, Rootstock, Canada, Scab Resistant
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