Institut für Züchtungsforschung an Obst
The Julius Kühn Institute (JKI) for Fruit Breeding Research in Dresden-Pillnitz maintains an extensive gene bank collection comprising mainly apple, pear and cherry varieties, as well as one of the largest collections of wild fruit species in Europe. Despite its breadth, certain gaps remain, particularly with regard to species originating from Asian centres of genetic diversity.Central Asia is recognised as one of the world’s most diverse regions for temperate fruit tree species, both at the species and intraspecific level. Local cultivated varieties and wild fruit species from this region have evolved under highly diverse and often extreme environmental and climatic conditions. As a result, they represent a rich reservoir of genetic diversity and possess valuable traits, including adaptation to specific environments and resistance to a wide range of biotic and abiotic stress factors. These characteristics make Central Asian fruit genetic resources highly relevant for future breeding programmes aimed at improving resilience and adaptability.The aim of this project is to initiate an international cooperation with scientific partners in Uzbekistan, focusing on the conservation and utilisation of fruit genetic resources. Such a partnership would enable the exchange and enrichment of fruit tree genetic resources between both countries and foster mutual knowledge transfer. In particular, the collaboration would support the exchange of expertise on the characteristics of genetic resources, conservation strategies, management practices, and methods for germplasm characterisation and evaluation.The expected outcomes include improved conservation of fruit genetic diversity and a significant contribution to fruit breeding research and breeding programmes in Europe.
German Research Foundation
