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.
11 Nov 2025
The 2024/25 season revealed serious quality issues in Chilean cherries, with high rejection rates in China. Expert Patricio Morales urges consistent orchard discipline, bigger fruit sizes and smarter management to stay competitive in demanding global markets.
03 Mar 2025
To preserve the quality of cherries, it is essential to control the temperature, relative humidity and gas composition (O₂ and CO₂) in the product environment during storage and transport.
24 Apr 2026
Cheery Glow, Bloom Fresh’s early cherry, is expanding in Chile with 200 hectares. Low chill requirement, high quality and up to 60 days storage make it ideal for export to China, Europe and the United States, helping growers face climate challenges and competitive global markets.
24 Apr 2026
Paclife Conference 2026 focuses on cherries, postharvest, automation and global markets, highlighting how data, innovation and integrated logistics are crucial drivers to ensure quality, competitiveness and value across the Chilean and international export supply chain.
