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.
15 Oct 2024
In studies of investigating the mechanism by which leaf development affects the onset of leaf senescence, reverse genetic approaches offer the mechanistic understanding of genes and proteins that link leaf development to senescence.
26 Mar 2025
Discover the best vegetation indices to monitor water stress in sweet cherry trees in south-eastern Spain. A study by the Polytechnic University of Cartagena analyses the effectiveness of NDVI, OSAVI and TRRVI with multispectral images to optimise irrigation.
30 Mar 2026
Field analysis in China of cherries shipped from Chile highlights the critical role of postharvest management. Extended storage, long transit times, and market saturation require advanced packaging solutions to preserve freshness, ensure quality, and reduce losses.
30 Mar 2026
The cherry supply chain in Apulia, the core of Italy’s production, is falling behind global competitors. Limited innovation, outdated varieties, and weak logistics are slowing growth, increasing the risk of losing international market share to more advanced producers.
