Interdisciplinary teams in apple breeding and co-authors of varieties

Abstract

The article presents the results of 64 years apple breeding work at the Russian Research Institute of Fruit Crop Breeding (RRIFCB) and shows the high role of the interdisciplinary team. It is noted that at the RRIFCB, leading institute for fruit crop breeding in Russia, over the past period 54 apple varieties of different ripening periods have been created and included in the State Register of breeding achievements admitted for use. Among them 19 are first in Russia and in the world triploid varieties derived from intervalent crossings of type 2 × 4; 24 immune to scab (with the Vf gene), including the first immune to scab domestic variety Imrus (immune Russian) and 5 columnar scab immune varieties. Triploid apple varieties are characterized by more regular fruiting by years, high fruit marketability and partial self-fertility. Scab immune apple varieties when introduced into orchards contribute to a more favourable environmental situation in the orchards and their surroundings and reduce the cost of additional chemical treatments. Columnar varieties make it possible to create super-intensive orchards with an early abundant yield and to simplify and reduce labor-intensive costs for the formation and care of trees. The creation of all these types of varieties was possible thanks to a large interdisciplinary team, which in addition to the main breeder includes specialists of many other specialties: variety specialists, phytopathologists, biochemists, geneticists (about 20 researchers). Among the 54 new apple varieties created at the RRIFCB, only one variety Pamyat Voinu was created by one breeder and two varieties (Orlik and Orlovskoye Polosatoye) were created by the main author and one co-author. The rest of the varieties were created by three and more co-authors. Specialists of different specialties (interdisciplinary teams) are needed for successful breeding work. The success of breeding work also largely depends on the volume of the hybrid fund. With a large amount of material in the plant nursery and breeding orchard, a more rigorous selection for the desired characteristics is possible.