Murcia's Council of Agriculture and Water, through the Murcian Institute of Agriculture and Food Research and Development (IMIDA), and in partnership with the firm Novamed SL, has obtained five new peach and nectarine varieties through a genetic improvement program. Techniques are being used to accelerate the selection process, as well as in vitro cultivation that makes it possible to obtain early harvest varieties. So far, two yellow and one red peach varieties have been registered. Last year, a platerine and a flat peach were registered. These new varieties are already being used by growers.
IMIDA's director, Adrián Martínez, explained that, "tests began in 2005, and in 2009, a partnership contract was signed with Novamed, which integrates the region's main fruit growers, with the goal of evaluating the new hybrids obtained through crossing between different varieties."
The regional leader pointed out that the objective of the genetic improvement program is to "obtain fruit with better organoleptic qualities, of early harvest and resistant to the main plant diseases." In this sense, he stated that, "improving the flavour, as well as the quality, is an essential objective to conquer consumers." Additionally, he added that, "An early production and harvest is something we can do thanks to the Region's weather, and it allows us to obtain better prices in the market."
According to the researchers José Cos and Antonio Carrillo, obtaining a new variety requires eight to ten years of work. Since the program started, close to 17,000 units have been evaluated, as improving the flavour requires a long selection process in the plantations and performing a great number of crossings. In the laboratory, the fruit's quality parameters are then analysed, such as its sourness, sugar content or texture, among others.
Source: IMIDA
