Breeding for resistance: breeding for Plum pox virus resistant plums (Prunus domestica L.) in Germany

Abstract

In German plum breeding programmes new varieties tolerant to Plum pox virus (PPV) were initially obtained by selecting hybrids originating from crossings between tolerant old varieties while, later on, sharka tolerant varieties bred in Čačak, Serbia were used as crossing partners. Varieties released from these programmes replaced the sensitive ones in all sharka infected regions in Germany. While all the new tolerant varieties can be infected by the virus, PPV symptoms on the fruits are acceptable. However, environmental factors can weaken the plant, causing them to suffer more from PPV infections and to display worse symptoms on fruits, as did occur during some recent very dry and warm years. A breeding programme at the University of Hohenheim is tackling this problem with genotypes that show a hypersensitive response after infection. These genotypes are completely field resistant to PPV, remaining virus free in the field since they cannot be infected via aphid transmission. They are able to isolate the virus after infection. The first hypersensitive variety was ‘Jojo’. Many seedlings originating from crossings with at least one hypersensitive parent are under evaluation. Since the inheritance of the trait ‘hypersensitivity against PPV’ is very good, combining hypersensitivity with excellent fruit quality and good cropping capacity will be possible soon. In 2005, a breeding programme for hypersensitive Prunus genotypes began at the Technical University of Munich.