Valorisation de nouvelles variétés de fruits à pépins adaptées aux terroirs wallons pour une arboriculture de qualité

Breeding & development of new pip fruit varieties for growing in the Walloon region with a view to quality fruit tree growing

Context

In the last few years Europe and the world have seen structural overproduction of some commercial cultivars. Therefore, renewal of the range of apple varieties becomes crucial. Belgium has been no exception. In the 2003 season the apple market principally comprised six varieties, with the ‘Jonagold’ variety and its mutants accounting for 74% of total production. Pear production is dominated by the ‘Conference’ variety, which represents 87% of the market. While pears are still profitable, in recent years the market for the ‘Jonagold’ and its mutants has been hit by a financial crisis. Variety renewal is becoming increasingly imperative. The commercially cultivated apple tree and pear tree varieties have been selected for their productivity, appearance, taste, storability, ease of transport and adaptability to intensive growing. On the other hand, nearly all of them are extremely susceptible to disease and in particular, scab. As a direct consequence of this disease susceptibility, commercial pip fruit growing requires very intensive phytosanitary treatment. With a view to developing more environmentally compatible cultural practices, the number of acaricide treatments can be substantially reduced and so, to a lesser extent, can insecticide treatments. In contrast, it is not easy to cut back on fungicide treatments due to the susceptibility of cultivars to diseases.

Objectives

The aim of the project is to create new commercial apple varieties in order to renew and diversify the Belgian market, notably by using the fruit genetic resources in our collection. Before introducing new varieties of pip fruits derived from the CRA W’s breeding programme that are suited to local growing conditions and more pathogen-tolerant, it is first of all necessary to assess their organoleptic and agricultural qualities compared to varieties on the market. This requires the setting up of an experimental network in Wallonia for objective comparison of all these new varieties. This public service initiative offers an alternative to the current trend for all-out privatisation of variety renewal by forming private clubs.

Description of tasks

1. Creation of new commercial apple varieties to enhance the current range Different variety characteristics of great interest can be combined by crossing. Crossing involves parents from our collections and attractive commercial varieties. Scab, canker and powdery mildew tolerance is targeted in our selection process in order ultimately to introduce these properties into commercial varieties of high organoleptic quality. 2. Development of an experimental network in Wallonia for new apple and pear varieties The aim of this first network is to assess the new apple accessions derived from the Gembloux breeding programme. It will also extend to varieties from Belgian and foreign breeders of potential interest to Wallonia. All these varieties will be assessed in experimental plots referred to as stage “A”. They will be grown according to both the “integrated” production method and also an alternative method with very low input levels (6 trees/ variety/ production method). The aim of the experiment is initial sorting of these varieties in semi-commercial conditions and assessing their adaptation to various locations. Later on, a second network involving the Walloon Fruit Trial Extension Service and tree growers will aim to establish stage “B” experimental plots (50 to 100 trees/variety) with the most promising material selected in order to study and compare certain husbandry aspects. 3. Devising protection strategies for accession rights in order to market new varieties The task of all the partners in the project and representatives all along the production chain will be to devise the most appropriate strategy for developing these varieties commercially. This in turn will contribute to the development of innovative, high quality fruit tree cultivation in the Walloon region.

Expected results

This project, which has a timescale of 6 to 8 years, is expected to provide fruit tree growers with new original commercial varieties of high organoleptic quality that posses a good disease resistance. On completion of the project, objective information on the behaviour of the new pip fruit varieties will be available to growers in the Walloon region. The varieties developed by CRA-W will be distributed throughout the nursery industry, with distribution being optimised by the industry itself.