ISHS Acta Horticulturae 235: XIV International Symposium on Fruit Tree Virus Diseases
PRODUCTION OF VIRUS-TESTED PROPAGATING MATERIAL OF FRUIT TREES IN GREECE. HISTORY, PROBLEMS, OBJECTIVES |
| Authors: | A.C. Rubos, D.E. Tsialis |
| Abstract:
During the period 1930–1960, while in other countries there was significant progress in research on fruit tree viruses, in Greece facing substantial national problems this type of research was a future prospect. In the 1960's and after a collaboration with INRA (France), activities in research for the production of virus-tested material began and a series of measures followed. Among others, these measures included the involvement of several institutions and pomology stations in the field of fruit tree virus reserach, the establishment of the Variety Research Institute of Cultivated Plants and of Centers for Nursery Control and Certification supporting the certification scheme, and the voting of a new dynamic law concerning production and trade of plant propagating material. Whether the developing certification program in Greece has to obtain the form of a large scale program like IR-2, CTIFL, EMLA, CDA, FVF, or of a fine small program like those of W. Germany, Netherlands or Belgium is still under consideration. Internationally, research on fruit tree viruses began in 1923 in U.S.A. and in 1932 in Europe (Nemeth, 1986). Its main characteristic during the period 1930–1960 was the recognition of viruses as the causal agents of various diseases and the fact that these diseases can be transmitted by grafting. In Greece, during the 1920's, the Ministry of Agriculture of the newly regenerated country established a meticulously designed net of agricultural stations and state farms. Their main target was to help the country stay on itself. In-spite of the many problems, agricultural stations and state farms achieved to make the country agriculturally self-supported and to set the foundations for the exporting fruit industry of today. During the period 1920–1950, Greek agriculture was facing substantial problems and research on fruit tree viruses at that time was a future prospect. Because of this, commercial fruit varieties, either local or imported, were propagated within pomology stations and state farms under strict conditions preventing nursery stock infection by various pathogens to the most effective way. At the same time care was taken so that people could be trained in fruit tree production. These people would later support private nursery industry. The decade of 1950's was a period of agricultural recovery and of fundamental basic work relevant to the establishment of a certification scheme. | |
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