Apple breeding programs, both public and private, have been expanding in Europe in the last few decades. Almost all Western and Eastern Europe countries have activated or initiated at least one or two programs and Italy now has seven current programs.At present, there are more than 40 apple breeding programs in the 25 countries of Europe. Efforts and resources have been designed to free Europe from dependence on foreign genetic material, especially North American cultivars, that have persisted over50 years. At present only 10 to 15% of the European apple industry's current cultivars are originated in this continent.
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