ISHS Acta Horticulturae 488: XI International Symposium on Apricot Culture
APRICOT (PRUNUS ARMENIACA L.) PRODUCTION AND BREEDING IN SOUTH AFRICA |
| Authors: | C. Smith, L. Mollendorff |
| Abstract:
The apricot breeding programme in South Africa was initiated in 1950. The poor adaptability of the existing cultivar range and alternate bearing cultivars was the main reason for starting the apricot breeding programme. The current breeding programme includes some 16 500 seedlings established in orchards. These seedlings are planted on the Bien Donne Experimental farm of INFRUITEC in the Groot Drakenstein Valley situated between Franschhoek in the south and Paarl in the north. Since the start of the breeding programme in 1950, INFRUITEC has released 6 cultivars. These cultivars currently represents 98% of the 1995 total fresh export of apricots from South Africa. The main apricot producing areas are situated in the Western Cape of South Africa. The Northern Cape districts are just beginning to plant apricots while inland plantings in the Transvaal is virtually non existent. South Africa is primarily an export country for apricots with a small local market. The cultivar range is mainly made up by local bred cultivars with Palsteyn (Imperial), a mid season cultivar, as the main apricot cultivar which is mostly planted for fresh fruit exports. | |
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