Agrotechnology

Breeding programs and new cultivars of small fruit crops released in Poland

4^th International Conference on Agriculture & Horticulture

July 13-15, 2015 Beijing, China

Stanislaw Pluta

Posters-Accepted Abstracts: Agrotechnol

Abstract:

In Poland, strawberries, blackcurrants, raspberries, gooseberries and blueberries are important small fruit crops which are grown on commercial plantations as well as in home gardens. The applied breeding programs of small fruit crops are conducted at the Research Institute of Horticulture (formerly Research Institute of Pomology and Floriculture) in Skierniewice, Poland. The breeding of these species (apart from blueberry) has a long tradition in Poland. The main aims and directions include breeding for resistance to pests and diseases, breeding for high yield and fruit quality and suitability for fresh market and processing. Additionally, good adaptation to the polish climate and soil conditions and cultivation technology (including machine fruit harvesting) is required. Traditional hybridization methods are used in the breeding workinvolving the optimal selection of parental forms for crossing with the highest breeding values, an effective use of the genotypes of donors with desired traits and choice of the breeding method. Crossing programs are made annually on plants grown in a high plastic tunnel. From obtained seeds the F1 seedling populations are produced in the glasshouse conditions. Then seedlings are planted in the field for their evaluation and selection of the best individuals and clones. The traditional breeding has recently been supported by the molecular biology including DNA fingerprinting and polymorphism of genotypes and marker assisted selection (MAS). The breeding work has resulted in the release of several valuable cultivars of each crop. So far, new cultivars of strawberry, raspberry, blackcurrant and gooseberry have been released and described in the literature and professional magazines. Most of them are implemented into the commercial production in Poland and other countries.