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.
30 Aug 2024
ANA Chile® provides you with valuable videos with pruning guidelines by consultant Walter Masman. The videos present pruning guidelines for the production of Sweet Aryana® PA1UNIBO and Nimba both grafted on the Colt rootstock.
13 Jun 2024
The brochure is signed by José Manuel Donoso, researcher at INIA Rayentué. "The sweet cherry is one of the most popular fruit trees in the world, however, genetic improvement has been slow due to the large size of the tree and the long unproductive period."
26 May 2026
A California field study shows how Brix and fruit skin firmness affect sweet cherry susceptibility to Drosophila suzukii. Cultivar differences, fruit color and ripening stage point to sharper integrated pest management decisions and lower infestation risk in California orchards.
26 May 2026
SAT La Rinconada cherries in Spain earn the Epigen Healthy Bite Regenerative Agriculture certification: 48 of 110 hectares focus on healthy sugars, more total amino acids, organic acids and antioxidant potential, while cutting water and nutrient use for European customers.
