GENETICS AND MANAGEMENT TOOLS FOR EFFICIENT ORCHARD PRODUCTION: PROSPECTS FOR A SUSTAINABLE ORGANIC FRUIT INDUSTRY

Abstract

The notable potentialities of new breeding tools underpinned by molecular biology to develop new genotypes of high quality fruit for the organic orchard industry are explored. In effect, the prospect of bringing online new cultivars has so far proved fruitless, at least where apple is concerned. Today research centres throughout the world are using molecular screening techniques to identify and transfer useful genes that will enable crops, including OFP - organically-managed products - not only to upgrade resistance/tolerance to diseases and pests, abiotic environmental stresses and climate changes but also to incorporate other tree and fruit traits that will enable growers to lower overhead and increase their competitive market edge. Researchers are also working on improving organic orchard management practices in efforts to overcome or reduce the two main handicaps that have so far hobbled organics: reduced per-unit yields and crop losses because of quality defects or insufficient protection. Reasons why appear to include poor timing of energy inputs with respect to peak crop demand periods and the fact that allowable crop protection compounds are too few in number or not effective enough to deal with critical mass levels of pathogen populations. One approach discussed in addressing these issues is the use of alternative biotech tools like cisgenesis, an approach that rules out the insertion of genes from foreign species. A method already tested successfully in the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland and Italy, cisgenesis introgresses only genes already present in the same genus or species as that of the cultivar in question that carry useful new traits that cannot otherwise be acquired.