RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF APRICOT BREEDING IN SLOVAK REPUBLIC

Abstract

The low adaptability of the apricot species appeal to breeding programme for creating cultivars that are adapted to the specific conditions of the Slovak production area. The breeding programme of apricot genetic improvement began in 1964 at the RIPP Piestany and has continued since 1978 at the Research Breeding Station Vesele. This programme has been carried out to pursue several objectives: the most important were resistance to frost, fruit quality and resistance to diseases (PPV, Monilinia spp., Gnomonia). Up to now 10 apricot cultivars and 2 rootstocks have been registered. The most promising are 'Veharda' and 'Vemina' with resistance to PPV, 'Veharda' and 'Vegama' with frost resistance, 'Vesna' with tolerance to Gnomonia erythrostoma, 'Veselka' with attractive appearance, 'Vesprima' and 'Vemina' with firm flesh, etc. The best cultivars originated from parental combination between European x middle Asia genotypes and European x Chinese genotypes. Historical breeding efforts have been described as well as the basic taxonomy and eco-geographical groups that are currently accepted for apricot. The collections of apricot genetic resources are placed in the two localities and contain 314 genotypes originated from all eco-geographic groups. The trees are evaluated for phenotypic-agronomic characters, on one hand, and are going to be evaluated for the molecular markers on the other hand. All data are included into the databases of the National Program for Conservation PGR in Slovakia. This current work provides readers with an up-to-date summary of apricot breeding efforts, new apricot cultivars and the utilization of molecular techniques that are employed to assist the breeding effort.