Plant improvement at the South African Agricultural Research Council's Institute for Tropical and Subtropical Crops - a review of progress made since 2000
2012
Sippel, A.D. | Bijzet, Z. | Hannweg, K.F. | Froneman, I.J. | Husselman, J.H. | Human, C.F. | Combrink, N.K. | Willemse, S. | Penter, M.G. | Maritz, J.G.J.
The Plant Improvement Division of the South African Agricultural Research Council’s Institute for Tropical and Subtropical Crops (ARC-ITSC) focuses primarily on the development and release of new and improved cultivars and selections to the tropical and subtropical fruit industries of South Africa. The improved material is also being made available to our immediate neighbours as well as the rest of the world (e.g. the Eureka! Seedless Lemon), and therefore makes a significant contribution towards forex earned. Comprehensive breeding and/or evaluation programmes are being carried out on many citrus varieties as well as other major subtropical crops such as guava, banana, litchi, macadamia, mango, papaya, passion fruit and pineapple as well as other minor crops. Furthermore, rootstock breeding programmes are being conducted for citrus, litchi and mango. All these species are naturally cross-pollinating, possess a large capacity for genetic variability and can be produced vegetatively. The breeding and evaluation section of the division has produced a number of new fruit selections, many of which have been registered with Plant Breeders’ Rights (PBR). The major achievements of the division with regard to a number of tropical and subtropical crops and other initiatives will be presented.
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