Genetic resources of the genus Prunus L. and their role in stone fruit breeding

Abstract

Stone fruits such as apricot, cherry plum, cherry, peach, plum, and sweet cherry are highly popular in the Russian Federation. They are cultivated in the industrial gardens of large agricultural producers, as well as the plantings on farms and household plots. The fruits of these species can be consumed fresh for a considerable period of time. The application of some processing methods (cooling, freezing, and storage in a special atmosphere) significantly extends this period. Stone fruits are also suitable for producing a wide variety of processed products. The biochemical composition of fruits determines their high energy value and dietary properties. The representatives of the genus Prunus L. exhibit great genetic diversity. Due to their high polymorphy, they cover a large area. In regions with favorable weather and climatic growth conditions, stone fruits constitute the main industrial varieties. High requirements for industrial varieties determine the relevance of breeding improvement of available varieties. Representatives of the genus Prunus are characterized by a long juvenile period, different ploidy of species, high incompatibility, as well as heterozygosity for a large number of traits with a comparatively small number of identified genes. This fact significantly complicates genetic studies. The assortment of stone fruit crops in central Russia was renewed in several main directions. Most varieties were created through intervarietal crosses within a species. The current breeding work is aimed at creating new stone fruit species, as well as at improving the existing assortment. Along with the crossing of geographically distant varieties within a species, distant hybridization is one of the promising directions. In this way, new cultivated species were created, e.g., Russian plum (P. rossica Erem.), which is widely used in plantings. Such varieties are characterized by an attractive appearance, large size, pleasant aroma, and great flavor of fruits, as well as resistance to frost and rotting.