NEW APRICOT CULTIVARS FROM CEBAS-CSIC (MURCIA, SPAIN) BREEDING PROGRAMME

A major varietal renewal process is currently underway in apricot species in order to satisfy consumer and industry demands. Consumers appreciate the beauty and aromatic flavour of high-quality apricots, those with an orange ground colour, intense red blush, orange and juicy flesh and high organoleptic qualities. Other criteria, such as size, resistance to manipulation and good conservation aptitude, are taken into account in particular by the apricot industry.

An apricot breeding programme has been developed at CEBAS-CSIC (Murcia, Spain) since the early nineties. Nine new cultivars have been released and registered in the last five years: ‘Rojo Pasión’, ‘Selene’, Murciana’, ‘Dorada’, ‘Toñi’, ‘Estrella’, ‘Sublime’, ‘Maravilla’ and ‘Rosa’, which respond to a large extent to the above-cited market needs. They are low-to-medium chilling requirement cultivars for blooming, with a high level of productivity and early period of maturity (from 10th May to 10th June) with the exception of ‘Dorada’ (around 25th June). High organoleptic quality, attractiveness, resistance to manipulation, good postharvest behaviour, aptitude for canning and Sharka (PPV) resistance are among the main characteristics of the new cultivars. These positive characteristics mean that the nine new apricot cultivars will play an important role in the varietal renewal process in Spain.

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