Ukrainian plant breeder Oleksandr Kostiantynovych Ponomarenko, a member of the Ukrainian Nut Association, continues his research on nut breeding in his garden-laboratory located in Izmail, Odesa region, according to agronews.ua. His work focuses on developing new and improving existing varieties of nut-bearing crops for modern cultivation systems.
Ponomarenko is the author of four registered nut varieties: the walnut "INTP" (registered in 2015), walnut "Sir Majestic" (2018), hazelnut "Bessarabia Giant" (2022), and walnut "ALEX" (2024). He applies breeding approaches inspired by I.V. Michurin and Luther Burbank while adapting them to current requirements in intensive nut farming. His ongoing work aims to enhance the productivity, adaptability, and genetic potential of Ukrainian nut varieties.
At the international food exhibition SEAL, held biennially in Paris, Ponomarenko's large-fruited walnut varieties drew attention from global nut industry representatives. According to Gennadii Yudin, President of the Ukrainian Nut Association, "The unifying feature in this group of varieties is laterality, the ability to bear fruit on lateral branches. The varieties INTER and ALEX belong to the category of large-fruited, high-yielding, relatively disease-resistant. The ALEX variety is a selection and genetic improvement from the INTER variety, with a more even surface and a high kernel yield. Its high productivity and annual crop load are particularly impressive. It can be said without exaggeration that the ALEX and INTER varieties in the large-fruited category are the most significant, productive, and high-quality ones."
In addition to genetic work, Ponomarenko's research includes testing agronomic methods. He has developed a grafting technique using Pterocarya as a rootstock and designed a tool to streamline grafting operations. In terms of plant nutrition, his trials involve replacing chemical fertilizers with a biostimulant based on Chlorella suspension. He also studies environmental influences on tree performance, including the effects of Hartmann and Curry electromagnetic networks on orchard site selection.
Through these ongoing experiments, the Izmail-based breeder continues to refine nut production systems aimed at supporting Ukraine's growing nut farming industry while aligning with the global shift toward sustainable cultivation practices.
Source: AgroNews
