The first experiences with cherry breeding at the VSUO in Holouvosy in the Czech Republic date back to the late 1960s. The main variety selected from this programme is Kordia, which in recent years has become one of the world's leading varieties in the medium-late ripening period, mainly due to its high fruit quality standards.
The primary objectives of the WSUO programme are cherry quality (size, texture and colour), resistance to cracking and rot, shelf life and plant productivity. MAS technologies are used in the breeding programme for the early selection of genotypes on several traits: self-fertility, spring frost resistance, drought and climate change tolerance and low chilling requirements.
WSUO, besides Kordia, has commercially propagated 28 cherry varieties. The best known are Early Korvik, Christiana, Felicita, Irena, Justyna, Kasandra, Tamara, Techlovan, Tim and Vanda.
Below is the report of Lubor Zelený, cherry breeding project manager at WSUO in Holouvosy, presented at the workshop on cherry variety innovation at Macfrut 2023.
23 Jun 2025
Hungary's 2025 sour cherry harvest plummets to just 35,000 tons following devastating spring frosts. With key growing regions severely impacted and processing industry stocks nearly depleted, the market faces significant price hikes and widespread supply shortages across Europe.
17 Apr 2024
Initial results show that the Attract & Kill strategy combined with multifunctional nets can reduce the use of insecticides while providing effective protection. The programme will continue in 2024 with the extension of the experimental field in Vignola.
12 Aug 2025
US cherry exports to China have plunged due to trade tensions, redirecting supply to markets like Vietnam and Hong Kong. Prices have hit record lows, sales are soaring, and new trade deals are in progress, signaling a significant shift in the global cherry market landscape.
12 Aug 2025
An innovative hybrid phenological model combines biological knowledge and machine learning to predict cherry blossom. Tested in Japan, South Korea and Switzerland, it delivers higher accuracy and adaptability than traditional models, even with limited data.
