We are pleased to publish in our magazine the interview of Dr. PhD José Quero Garcia (JQG), esteemed French researcher from INRAE and authoritative member of the scientific committee of Cherry Times, with the Chilean researcher Dr. José Manuel Donoso (JMD) of INIA Rayantué.
JQG. For how long have you been a sweet cherry breeder?
JMD. I initiated as assistant breeder this work in 2009, then I was for four years, between 2010 and 2014, in the Pere Arús's team doing my PhD. After that I become the program manager until now.
What are the main goals of your program?
Mostly similar to the majority of sweet cherry breeding programs: size, firmness, taste, color, post-harvest life, stalk characteristics, cracking tolerance, fruit maturity, production precocity (or length of juvenility period), productivity and self-fertility (in particular in the extremely early flowering hybrids) but the Chilean program has the particularity additionally of low chill genetics and ultra-early maturity time. At the same time, we are starting research activities on the sensitivity to bacterial canker, in collaboration with Dr. Boris Sagredo...
Want to access the full interview? Sign up for our free Cherry Times newsletter! This is the only way to receive each new article from this column directly in your inbox and stay updated with high-quality advice and analysis. Don't miss this unique opportunity!
Sign up for the Cherry Times newsletter for free!
08 Feb 2024
According to data from Frutas de Chile, Chile sent 598,362 tonnes of fruit to China in the 2022-2023 season, consolidating its position as the second largest destination country, with cherries accounting for 71% of total exports to China.
05 Mar 2026
Climate variability in high-elevation areas of Utah is affecting sour cherry production, raising double fruit risk and challenging phenological models. The study defines the critical post-harvest window and assesses the reliability of leading bloom prediction systems.
12 May 2026
In Romania, the first cherries of the season reach shelves at 80 to 100 RON/kg, while Portugal, Spain and Greece offer far more competitive prices. Consumers are waiting for June, when local cherries may increase supply and ease market pressure.
12 May 2026
A study on light-colored cherries in Konya, Turkey, analyzes energy efficiency, production inputs and greenhouse gas emissions, highlighting the role of fertilizers, irrigation and renewable energy in building a more sustainable and competitive fruit sector.
