Recent apricot breeding programme in Switzerland.

Fifteen years ago, apricot orchards in Switzerland were almost exclusively planted with the cultivar Luizet. Despite its excellent internal quality, Luizet is characterized by a rapid post-harvest evolution that no longer corresponds to the actual commercial quality requirements. Therefore, 60% of the Swiss orchard was renewed, mainly with international cultivars. However, some cultivars exhibit low ecological and climatic adaptation that leads to technical, sanitary and production concerns. Therefore, a breeding programme using Luizet as parent (well-adapted in Central Valais) has been started in 2001. The main objectives of the programme are the improvement of commercial quality (especially shelf-life), the enlargement of the harvest period (especially late ripening cultivars) and, more recently, the resistance to the major apricot diseases. Five promising cultivars were selected and their agronomic and fruit quality characteristics were evaluated. The production and commercial potentiality of these selections is discussed.