Apricot crops in the Spanish Region of Murcia have been exposed to increasingly higher temperatures in recent years. Winters are becoming warmer, and both traditional and foreign species have no time to adapt.
Thus, one of the greatest challenges for researchers is to obtain new fruit tree varieties able to produce in the current climatic conditions. Jesús López-Alcolea is in charge of CEBASfruit®, a public platform belonging to the Spanish National Research Council (CEBAS-CSIC), where research is carried out into the development of new varieties, irrigation, plant pathology, soil, and food technology.
One of his achievements in the apricot tree genetic program is the development of two world-famous varieties, Cebas Red® and Cebas Gold®. "We also work with almonds and Japanese plums. Each year, we plant more than 2,000,000 trees of these three species in Spain. Countries such as Italy and Greece buy 10,000 units each year, and in Turkey's case, we are talking about 500,000 plants," says the researcher.
At the crossroads of requirements
Each species has certain difficulties to overcome, and López-Alcolea explained the objectives that have been set out: "Resistance to viruses, high productivity, floral self-compatibility, early ripening in the case of apricots, with the aim of moving away from summer, and better adaptation to changing climatic conditions."
Logistics, markets, and consumers also have their needs. "On the one hand, growers want the activity to be profitable. On the other hand, intermediate links, such as logistics, distribution, handling, and sorting, require a long shelf life, no damage to the skin, and minimal losses. Lastly, the consumer wants the fruit to have a long shelf life at home and to have a good flavor and color. These are quite a few requirements, but our varieties meet them," says the researcher.
"We have been studying apricot trees for 35 years. Murcia accounts for 70% of Spain's production. It is a dynamic crop with very short ripening periods. To achieve a month-and-a-half ripening calendar, we need 20 varieties. The apricot tree flowers in Murcia in mid-February, and in mid-April, Archena and Molina de Segura can start delivering the first CebasRed to Europe; this has a high added value."
Cebas Gold, a step beyond Cebas Red
"Apricot trees are being uprooted in Murcia because of the lack of cold in winter. In the last 7 years, the change has been so rapid that the varieties have been unable to adapt. Trees won't produce what was expected, and growers can no longer make a profit. Our new apricot varieties are succeeding in the face of increasingly warmer winters. With CebasRed, CebasGold, and Valorange®, we have been able to cover these production needs," says López-Alcolea.
"Cebas Red is our most popular variety. It is the result of a new genetic line introduced eight years ago, which brought productivity, an intense orange and red color, and flavor. It's also highly valued in the logistical chain because there is less waste and the fruit arrives at the supermarket in good condition," says the researcher.
"Cebas Gold is the apricot with the best size, flavor, and color. Its characteristics are quite alike those of the Cebas Red. For example, the color of its skin is a similar reddish orange, but it is larger and tastier because it ripens ten days later, around May 16. Both varieties have a very high capacity to adapt to the Mediterranean climate, just like the traditional ones from Spain, and we hope that it will be as well received as its predecessor," says the manager.
For more information:
Jesús López-Alcolea
CEBASfruit®
Tel.: +34 618 205 946
[email protected]
https://cebasfruit.com