Articles
BREEDING AND SELECTION OF TEMPERATE FRUITS FOR THE TROPICS AND SUBTROPICS
Article number
522_27
Pages
241 – 245
Language
English
Abstract
Efforts to promote temperate fruit growing in tropical and subtropical regions have
involved the introduction of cultivars originally selected for other production systems and
consumers.
These cultivars required treatment with chemicals and other management
practices to break dormancy.
Attempts to understand the adaptation of these species to
complex tropical and subtropical ecosystems are rare, and breeding programs have taken
little advantage of local germplasm and native species.
In this paper I stress the
importance of: a) developing and analysing world genetic resources of temperate species
with possibilities for the tropics and subtropic; b) recombination of contrasting and
complementary gene pools, involving both progenitors from temperate regions and
genotypes with extremely low chilling requirements; c) in situ screening and selection in
close association with fruitgrowers in order to increase breeding efficiency; d) screening
for adaptation to subtropical climates, concentrating on early stages, starting with seed
germination and continuing with seedling behavior during the first year of growth in the
field; and, most important, e) selection criteria for fruit quality based on sensory
evaluation in the markets where the fruit will be consumed.
involved the introduction of cultivars originally selected for other production systems and
consumers.
These cultivars required treatment with chemicals and other management
practices to break dormancy.
Attempts to understand the adaptation of these species to
complex tropical and subtropical ecosystems are rare, and breeding programs have taken
little advantage of local germplasm and native species.
In this paper I stress the
importance of: a) developing and analysing world genetic resources of temperate species
with possibilities for the tropics and subtropic; b) recombination of contrasting and
complementary gene pools, involving both progenitors from temperate regions and
genotypes with extremely low chilling requirements; c) in situ screening and selection in
close association with fruitgrowers in order to increase breeding efficiency; d) screening
for adaptation to subtropical climates, concentrating on early stages, starting with seed
germination and continuing with seedling behavior during the first year of growth in the
field; and, most important, e) selection criteria for fruit quality based on sensory
evaluation in the markets where the fruit will be consumed.
Authors
S. Perez-Gonzalez
Keywords
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