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.
27 Mar 2025
The April issue of PHYTOMA magazine explores solutions to combat Drosophila suzukii, the fly that damages cherries. Learn about proven control strategies, including anti-insect nets and the use of sterile insects. Updates on 22 May in Balandran.
05 Jun 2024
‘Although we have lost important volumes, we expect to have good quality and larger cherries than in previous years,’ says Yigit Gokyigit, of Alanar Fruit. ‘We will be able to harvest up to 400 tonnes of cherries from our orchards.
25 May 2026
In Massimo Biondi’s biodynamic cherry orchard near Cesena, cover crops, microbiota and organic matter improve fertility, resilience and water management. Sweet varieties on Gisela 6 target yields between 80 and 100 quintals per hectare, showing living soil value in orchards.
25 May 2026
Chile’s cherry logistics to China face pressure after a 2025-2026 season with above 445,000 tonnes exported and lower-than-expected returns. At the Global Cherry Summit, Frutas de Chile highlights efficiency, cold chain and reliable transit timing for Cherry Express services.
