ISHS Acta Horticulturae 623: XXVI International Horticultural Congress: Plant Genetic Resources, The Fabric of Horticultures Future
RESCUING OF OLD FRUIT LANDRACES IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC |
| Authors: | J. Paprstein, J. Kloutvor, J. Blazek, V. Holubec |
| Keywords: | germplasm, fruits, landraces, obsolete cultivars, collecting, expedition, in situ, on farm, conservation |
| DOI: | 10.17660/ActaHortic.2003.623.7 |
| Abstract:
Changing of land ownership and setting of new agricultural priorities following the political changes in the Czech Republic led to removal of old orchards and alleys where mainly landraces were grown. Therefore, a program for conservation of existing traditional fruit germplasm fragments was founded in 1994. Repeatedly organised collecting missions were directed to border regions of the Czech Republic with the highest occurrence of landraces. Each expedition was prepared in co-operation with experts from national parks and protected landscape regions that provided maps of fruit occurrence. The sites were indicated by GPS. The plant material was identified as to cultivars. Health status was evaluated and the results were loaded to a dbf file connected to the digital map. Altogether 239 samples were chosen for in situ conservation. The selected trees were between 80 and 200 years old. Rare and old cultivars such as ´Libinské´ (frost-hardy), ´Kralické´ (for harsh climate), ´Halberstadske panenské´, and many others with good resistance to diseases and severe climatic conditions were found. Among pears, the following cultivars were found: ´Ríhova bezjaderka´ (fruits 200 g, seedless with missing endokarp), ´Jakubka ceská´ (small fruits, very resistant to unfavourable climatic conditions), ´Krvavka moravská´ (red flesh) and two seedlings with red fruits and good commercial traits. Among plums, an interesting landrace named ´Bílá trnecka´ was found. It seems to be completely resistant to Plum Pox Virus. Several valuable seedlings of Prunus avium from altitudes of 800 to 1000 m were in good health and had no frost damage. They were considered to be useful for timber industry. A sweet cherry named ´Ladeho pozdní´ was found, which has the latest ripening as compared to all known cultivars. Presently the work continues on projects regarding on farm conservation of landraces and valuable wild accessions. | |
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