An overview on history, progress, present and future objectives of the Quebec apple cultivar and rootstock breeding program.

摘要

The Ottawa apple breeding programme initiated in the 1940s was transferred to St. Jean, Quebec, Australia in 1971. The objectives of the programme were to develop suitable cultivars for juice and cider production, to breed improved scab resistant cultivars for fresh markets and to find size controlling rootstocks which would be adapted to Quebec conditions. Blair, Rouville and Richelieu are hardy scab resistant cultivars which were released from this breeding programme in 1973, 1983 and 1990, respectively. Recently, two hardy scab resistant cultivars (Belmac and Primevere) were released in cooperation with the Purdue-Rutgers-Illinois cooperative apple breeding programme. All of the scab resistant introductions have proven to be immune to North America's five known races of Venturia inaequalis. Presently, there are sixteen advanced selections with good agronomic characteristics, which are under evaluation at three sites. Apple rootstock breeding, selection and evaluation are also part of the St. Jean programme. There are 14 advanced, hardy rootstocks presently being evaluated at three different sites. They range in vigour from extreme dwarf to semi-vigorous. Improved Ottawa 3 (IO3) is a new strain of the Ottawa3 rootstock which is more productive, precocious and easier to propagate. Present apple cultivar and rootstock breeding aims have emphasized cold hardiness, disease tolerance and dessert quality. The mandate is to establish a private and public sector partnership for cultivar and rootstockdevelopment.