For Macfrut 2023 it was an honour to host during the WS cherry tree Prof. Marlene Ayala of the Catholic University of Chile, the person in charge of the main genetic improvement project on the cherry tree, started in 2010 and carried out in the largest cherry exporting country in the world, as well as the third largest cherry producer in the world and, so far at least, among the first importers of technological and varietal innovations.
Thanks to PMGC, the breeding programme supported by ASOEX - Consorcio Tecnologico de la Fruta and CORFO, a group of Chilean fruit producers and exporters, by 2030 Chile will be able to grow its own varieties and, probably, start exporting not only cherries but also new plant patents!
Below is the video of the report presented at Macfrut 2023.
The cherry harvest has been deemed a failure and similar conditions have affected sour cherries. Cherry growers are estimated to have lost 30 to 75 per cent of their crop this year. Governor Gretchen Whitmer asked for federal assistance to the growers.
The objective of the research was to evaluate the performance of the cultivar '0900 Ziraat' grafted onto the semi-vigorous rootstocks Krymsk, Gisela 6 and Piku 1. Four breeding forms were applied to these cultivar/rootstock combinations: VCL, SSA, UFO and KGB.
Poland’s Łutówka sour cherry harvest is nearing its end, while processors have raised prices only slightly. Growers say returns remain below production costs, raising concerns about the future of investment in orchards, modern machinery, crop protection and fertilisers.
Interest in industrial cherry orchards is growing in Ukraine as demand, prices and mechanized harvesting shape growers’ decisions. Stable yields, regional competition and access to processing are becoming major factors for profitability and new investments in the sector.