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!
29 Aug 2025
Chile has launched with China a 100% digital phytosanitary certification system for agricultural exports. The initiative improves security, traceability and efficiency for key products such as cherries, grapes, plums, grains and flowers, while reducing costs and delivery times.
04 Sep 2025
Despite a high-quality and abundant harvest, cherry growers in the Pacific Northwest end the season with losses: labor shortages, high supermarket prices, and weak demand have strained producers in Oregon and Washington, two of the leading cherry regions in the US.
12 Nov 2025
At Fruittrade 2025, ANASAC shared its strategies to strengthen sustainable fruit farming in Chile. Focused on cherries, the company presented tech solutions and economic incentives to promote low-impact practices and boost international competitiveness.
12 Nov 2025
Two new clonal rootstocks for sour cherry, Argo 1 and Argo 2, have been selected in Bulgaria to provide compatibility, reduced vigor and drought tolerance. A strategic solution for high-density orchards and cultivation in areas with limited water availability.
