Advances in breeding and ways of improvement of ecological conditions in apple orchards

In the institute a united scientific team works at the development of new apple varieties. It has developed more than 50 apple varieties that have been included in the State Register of breeding achievements admitted for use. Over 20 scab immune apple varieties (Vf) have been released in the institute for the first time in Russia, including widely introduced varieties like Aleksandr Boyko, Vavilovskoye, Bolotovskoye, Veniaminovskoye, Imrus, Candil Orlovski, Kurnakovskoye, Maslovskoye, Priokskoye, Rozhdestvenskoye, Svezhest, Solnyshko, Stroevskoye, Yubiley Moskvy, Yubilar and Yablochny Spas. For the first time in the world as a result of intervalence crossings such as diploid x tetraploid, a series of triploid apple varieties has been developed and zoned. These varieties are characterized by more regular fruit-bearing, high marketable and consumer qualities of fruit and higher autogamy. Of great interest are six columnar apple varieties, three of which have already been included in the State Register (Priokskoye, Vostorg and Poezia) while Girlianda, Orlovskaya Yesenia and Sozvezdia are passing the state testing. Columnar apple varieties from the institute breeding program are characterized by high early fruiting and productivity. The task is set to develop apple varieties combining scab immunity, triploidy and columnar habit in their genomes (“three in one”). From the extensive hybrid pool a number of elite seedlings have been allocated (candidate varieties) that combine scab immunity, triploidy and columnar habit in their genomes. Such varieties will provide: early and abundant fruiting (owing to columnar habit (Co); scab immunity (owing to Vf gene); more regular yields with high marketable and consumer qualities of fruit (owing to triploidy (3x)). The development of such varieties will reduce the pesticide load in the orchard, improve the environment in the orchard and its surroundings and make the orchard production more pure.