The breeding programme of peach rootstocks at the Fruit Research Station in Constanta, Romania

The Breeding Programme of Peach Rootstocks at the Fruit Research Station in Constanta had two phases: Phase 1978-1983. This included some initial objectives which were immediately met: a) prospecting native and cultivated tree flora from the area, taking into account some rootstock selections well adapted to local specific conditions; and b) introduction of the valuable rootstocks, as well as the species used world-wide, for increasing the hereditary base. This resulted in the establishment of a germplasm collection necessary for the creation of new rootstocks. The study of genitor (parental) characters was made in this collection with a view of to finding the best genitors. Phase 1983-2002: the objectives, methods, and genetic and material base for a complex programme of genetic breeding were established. Following these studies, genitors for different characters were established and new rootstocks were created by self-pollination, intra- and inter-specific hybridisations. Up until the present time, breeding work in Constanta has produced over 3500 hybrids of F1, C1, and F2 generations.