ISHS Acta Horticulturae 403: International Symposium on Cultivar Improvement of Horticultural Crops. Part 2: Fruit Crops
PROGRESS WITH LOW-CHILL SWEET CHERRY BREEDING IN AUSTRALIA AND USA |
| Authors: | G.D. Richards, K. Kantharajah, W.B. Sherman, G.W. Porter |
| Abstract:
Sweet cherries (Prunus avium L) have become a major horticultural fruit crop around the world. However, they are adapted traditionally to high chill areas-usually from 800 hours chilling to 1700 hours chilling. For mild winter areas, such as the north coast of New South Wales, these are not adapted and will not break dormancy adequately for flower or foliage buds. Low chill cultivars of other Prunus species, such as plum and peachnectarine, have been most successful in Australia, These originated mainly from the Florida breeding program (University of florida, Gainesville) of professors sharp and Sherman. Low chill cherries would extend the maturity season and provide a much needed new temperate horticultural crop for this region. They would also ripen hopefully during the driest period of the year in October and therefore not succumb to fruit splitting or cracking caused by rain. This is a major problem in all cherry growing districts in Australia. Medium chill cultivars are being used in crosses with P. pleioceracus, P. campanulata and other low chilling cherry species to develop low chill selections with edible characteristics. Recent germplasm discoveries in southern China may add to the current backcrossing program, Several low-medium chill selections have been made and are currently being evaluated. | |
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