**7. Achievements and prospects**

A large number of breeding programs are developed in different countries from Europe. Some of the plum breeding programs have been reduced or stopped in the countries where production has declined or funding is no longer available. At the same time, some breeding programs became more private with less public funding [10, 22].

In *Romania*, during 60 years of breeding work, over 2,000,000 plum flowers were pollinated at different centers: Pitești, Vâlcea, Bistrița, and Strejești. From the hybrid seeds, approximately a thousand hybrids were obtained which, thanks to their variability, enabled the selection of many new valuable hybrids. As a result 40 new plum cultivars were registered. In the first two breeding stages (1955–1970), the cultivars 'Tuleu timpuriu' (1967, 'Tuleu gras' 'Peche'), 'Superb' (1968, 'Tuleu gras' 'Abbaye d'Arton'), 'Gras ameliorat' ('Grase românești'—self-pollination), 'Vinete românești 300' (1970, 'Vinete românești'—selection), and 'Tuleu dulce' (1968, 'Tuleu gras' 'd'Agen') were selected. Among the basic genitors, 'Tuleu

gras' cv. was by far the best, giving the greatest number of promising selections. During this period, the cultivars 'Renclod Althan,' 'd'Agen,' 'Early Rivers,' and 'Wilhelmina Späth,' used as character genitors, proved of particular value. In the third breeding stage (1970–1980), the cultivars 'Centenar' (1978, 'Tuleu gras' 'Early Rivers'), 'Silvia' (1978, 'Renclod Althan' 'Early Rivers'), 'Albatros' (1979, 'Tuleu gras'—open pollination), and 'Pescarus' (1979, 'Renclod Althan' 'Wilhelmina Späth') were registered. This was a very fruitful stage, because the experimental plots and field trials within the national research network gave the possibility to both select the new autochthonous cultivars and also to choose the adequate area for testing each of them. In the fourth stage (1980–1990), the following varieties were registered: 'Ialomița' (1981, 'Renclod Althan' 'Early Rivers'), 'Diana' (1981, 'Renclod Althan' 'Early Rivers'), 'Piteștean' (1981, 'Tuleu timpuriu' 'Early Rivers'), 'Carpatin' (1981, 'Tuleu gras' 'Early Rivers'), 'Dambovița' (1981, 'Tuleu gras' 'Anna Späth'), 'Record' (1982, 'Renclod Violet' open pollination), 'Minerva' (1984, 'Tuleu timpuriu' 'Early Rivers'), 'Flora' (1989, 'Tuleu gras' 'Renclod Violet'), and 'Sarmatic' (1989, 'Tuleu timpuriu' 'Early Rivers'), with large fruit and high yields. In the last stage (after 1990), which is still going on, the greatest number of cultivars was recorded: 'Renclod de Caransebeș' (1990, 'Renclod Althan' 'Wilhelmina Späth'), 'Vâlcean' (1990, 'H 8/12' 'H 5/23'), 'Bărăgan 17' (1990, 'Tuleu gras' 'Early Rivers'), 'Tita' (1991, 'Tuleu gras'—irradiated stones), 'Alina' (1991, 'Tuleu gras'—irradiated stones), 'Andreea' (2000, 'H 27/87' open pollination), 'Delia' (2002, 'Vanat Italy' 'Anna Späth'), 'Iulia' (2002, 'Tuleu gras' 'Renclod Althan'), 'Ivan' (2003, 'Tuleu gras' 'Vanat Italia'), 'Jubileu 50' (2003, 'Tuleu gras' 'De Bistrița'), 'Dani' (2004, 'Tuleu gras' 'Grase românești'), 'Doina' (2004, 'Anna Späth' 'Renclod Althan'), 'Geta' (2004, 'Centenar' 'Ialomița'), 'Matilda' (2004, 'Anna Späth' 'd'Agen'—irradiated with Co60), 'Roman' (2004, 'Tuleu gras' 'Early Rivers'), 'Agent' (2004, selection within a population of seedlings resulted from open pollination), 'Romaner' (2005, 'Tuleu gras' 'Renclod Althan'), 'Zamfira' (2005, 'Anna Späth' 'Renclod Althan'), 'Elena' (2005, 'Tuleu gras' 'Stanley'), 'Alutus' [2010 ('R.C. Althan' 'Early Rivers') ('R.C. Althan' 'Wilhelmina Späth') mixed pollen], 'Topval' (2010, 'Tuleu gras' 'Stanley'), and 'Romanța' (2012, 'Stanley' 'Vâlcean'). Some of these cultivars are proven to be tolerant to PPV besides their high-quality fruit and yields [19].

In *Germany*, plum breeding is carried out in two centers: the University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, and Geisenheim Research Station. In the University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart, new varieties were created by Professor Walter Hartmann, valuable through resistance to plum pox virus, fruit taste, attractive appearance,

dent' 'Auerbacher'), 'Katinka' (1992, 'Ortenauer' 'Ruth Gerstetter'), 'Elena' (1993, 'Italian Prune' 'Stanley'), 'Jojo' (1993, 'Ortenauer' 'Stanley')—the first

Prune' 'Ersinger'), 'Tipala' (1995, 'Tiroler Zuckerzwetsche' 'Opal'), 'Tegera' (1995, 'Ortenauer' 'Ruth Gerstetter'), 'Presenta' (1996, 'Ortenauer' 'President'), 'Colora' (2003, 'Ortenauer' 'Ruth Gerstetter'), 'Azura' (2003,

'Hanita' 'Čačanska Lepotiča'), 'Haganta' (2003, 'Čačanska Najbolja' 'Valor'), 'Haroma' [2003, ('Ortenauer' 'Stanley 34') 'Hanita'], 'Habella' (2003,

and multiple uses of the fruit. These varieties are 'Hanita' (1991, 'Presi-

plum cultivar immune to the plum pox virus—'Felsina' (1994, 'Italian

'Ortenauer' 'Stanley 34'), Hanka ('Hanita' 'Katinka'), 'Juna'

('Katinka' 'Zwintschers'), 'Jofela' (2013, 'Jojo' 'Felsina'), 'Jolina' (2013, 'Jojo' 'Haganta'), and 'Joganta' (2014, 'Jojo' 'Haganta') [3, 6, 72, 73]. At the Research Station of Fruit Growing, Geisenheim, Professor Helmut Jacob carried out an extensive breeding program for 25 years, which resulted in 12 plum varieties, of which 10 for fresh consumption and 2 for distillation [74]. The plums designated for fresh consumption are: 'Topfive' (1987, 'Čačanska Najbolja' 'Auerbacher'), 'Topper' (1988, 'Čačanska Najbolja' 'Auerbacher'), 'Topking' (1988, 'Čačanska Najbolja' 'Italian Prune'), 'Tophit Plus' (1988, 'Čačanska Najbolja' 'President'), 'Top 2000' (1991, 'Stanley' 'NN'), 'Topfirst' (1993, 'Čačanska Najbolja' 'Ruth Gerstetter'), 'Topstar Plus' (1993, 'Ersinger' 'Čačanska Najbolja'), 'Toptaste'

(1994, 'Valor' 'German Prune'), 'Topgigant Plus' (1994, 'Čačanska

Herrenhausen' 'Yellow Plum') [75].

*Plum Breeding*

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.92432*

and 'Ostromila' ('Pacific' 'Serdika 2') [76].

plum breeding program has stopped.

**17**

Najbolja' 'President'), and 'Topend Plus' (1994, 'Čačanska Najbolja' 'Valor'). The two varieties destined for distillation are 'Bellamira' (1994, 'Čačanska Najbolja' 'Mirabelle from Nancy') and 'Miragrande' (1995, 'Mirabelle

In *Bulgaria*, during the 60-year period of the breeding program, 29 plum cultivars were created in centers such as Dryanovo, Troyan, Kyustendil, and Plovdiv. By improving the old Kjustendilska cultivar, breeders like Marinov, Vitanov, Balev, Minev, Enev, Videnov, Georgiev, and Velkov obtained the following varieties: 'Dryanovska,' 'Sinya Yubileyna,' 'Gulyaeva,' 'Gabrovska,' 'Pop Hariton,' 'Burya,' 'Strinava,' 'Nevena,' 'Vitanova,' 'Edra trankosliva,' 'Baleva sliva,' 'Strumska sinya,' 'Kyustendilska ranna,' 'Izobilie,' 'Kyustendilska krasavitsa,' and 'Plovdivska.' After 2000, breeders Zhivondov and Bozhkova created our plum varieties with tolerance to plum pox virus and resistance to late frost and drought: 'Plovdivska renkloda' and 'Sineva' ('Stanley'—open pollination), 'Ulpia' ('President'—open pollination),

In *France*, the plum breeding program started in 1947 at INRA Bordeaux, and eight plum varieties (6 varieties for drying (prunes) and 2 varieties for fresh consumption (plums)) were registered: 'Primacotes®Coten' (1982, 'd'Ente' 'd'Ente 629'), 'Tardicotes®Enduke' (1982, 'd'Ente' 'Grand Duke'), 'Lorida®Enspa' (1985, 'd'Ente' 'Anna Späth'), 'Lemburn' and 'Double Robe' (1985, 'd'Ente' mutagenesis), 'Spurdente®Ferco' (1986, 'd'Ente 707' mutagenesis), 'Fermareine®Bellina' (1993, 'Reine Claude Verte' 'Reine Claude de Bavay'), and

'Ferbleue®' (1985, 'Reine Claude Verte' 'California Blue') [3, 6, 77, 78]. French

In *England*, many of the varieties created by Thomas Rivers are widespread today in culture: 'Czar,' 'Victoria,' 'Early Prolific,' 'Early Transparent,' 'Golden Transparent,' 'Heron,' 'Monarh,' 'President,' 'Early Rivers,' and 'Blue Tit.' 'President' and 'Early Rivers' cultivars are used as parents in breeding work from some

In *Serbia*, about 530 hybrid combinations were made in the European plum breeding program starting in 1949 at the Fruit Research Institute, Čačak, of which around 30,000 hybrids have been produced and 16 varieties have been released. The oldest varieties obtained are 'Čačanska Rodna' (1975, 'Stanley' 'Požegača'), 'Čačanska Rana' (1975, 'Wangeiheim' 'Požegača'), 'Čačanska Secer' (1975, 'd'Agen' 'Pacific'), 'Čačanska Lepotica' (1975, 'Wangeiheim' 'Požegača'), 'Čačanska Najbolja' (1975, 'Wangeiheim' 'Požegača'), 'Jelica' (1986, 'Požegača' 'California Blue'), 'Valerija' (1986, 'Hall' 'Ruth Gerstetter'), and 'Valjevka' (1986, 'd'Agen 707' 'Stanley'). After 2000 several promising new cultivars with high commercial potential were named: 'Mildora' (2004, 'Large Sugar' 'Čačanska Lepotica'), 'Boranka' (2004, 'California Blue' 'Ruth Gerstetter'), 'Timočanka' (2004, 'Stanley' 'California Blue'), 'Krina' (2005, 'Wangenheim' 'Italian Plum'), 'Pozna Plava' (2008, 'Čačanska Najbolja'—selfpollination), 'Zlatka' (2008, 'Large Sugar' 'Zuta Boutilcovidna'), 'Nada' (2012, 'Stanley' 'Scolduș'), 'Petra' (2018, 'Stanley' 'Opal'), and 'Divna' (2018, 'Stanley' 'Čačanska Rana'). Cultivars such as 'Čačanska Lepotica,' 'Čačanska Najbolja,' and 'Čačanska Rodna' were used as parents in different breeding programs in some European countries, especially Germany, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, and Romania [3, 69–71].

gras' cv. was by far the best, giving the greatest number of promising selections. During this period, the cultivars 'Renclod Althan,' 'd'Agen,' 'Early Rivers,' and 'Wilhelmina Späth,' used as character genitors, proved of particular value. In the

gras' 'Early Rivers'), 'Silvia' (1978, 'Renclod Althan' 'Early Rivers'), 'Albatros'

Althan' 'Wilhelmina Späth') were registered. This was a very fruitful stage, because the experimental plots and field trials within the national research network gave the possibility to both select the new autochthonous cultivars and also to choose the adequate area for testing each of them. In the fourth stage (1980–1990), the following varieties were registered: 'Ialomița' (1981, 'Renclod Althan' 'Early Rivers'), 'Diana' (1981, 'Renclod Althan' 'Early Rivers'), 'Piteștean' (1981, 'Tuleu

timpuriu' 'Early Rivers'), 'Carpatin' (1981, 'Tuleu gras' 'Early Rivers'),

(1989, 'Tuleu gras' 'Renclod Violet'), and 'Sarmatic' (1989, 'Tuleu

Althan'), 'Geta' (2004, 'Centenar' 'Ialomița'), 'Matilda' (2004, 'Anna Späth' 'd'Agen'—irradiated with Co60), 'Roman' (2004, 'Tuleu gras' 'Early Rivers'), 'Agent' (2004, selection within a population of seedlings resulted from open pollination), 'Romaner' (2005, 'Tuleu gras' 'Renclod Althan'), 'Zamfira' (2005, 'Anna Späth' 'Renclod Althan'), 'Elena' (2005, 'Tuleu gras' 'Stanley'), 'Alutus' [2010 ('R.C. Althan' 'Early Rivers') ('R.C. Althan' 'Wilhelmina Späth') mixed pollen], 'Topval' (2010, 'Tuleu gras' 'Stanley'), and 'Romanța' (2012, 'Stanley' 'Vâlcean'). Some of these cultivars are proven to be tolerant to

'Čačanska Najbolja' (1975, 'Wangeiheim' 'Požegača'), 'Jelica' (1986,

PPV besides their high-quality fruit and yields [19].

nia [3, 69–71].

**16**

Prunus

'Dambovița' (1981, 'Tuleu gras' 'Anna Späth'), 'Record' (1982, 'Renclod Violet' open pollination), 'Minerva' (1984, 'Tuleu timpuriu' 'Early Rivers'), 'Flora'

timpuriu' 'Early Rivers'), with large fruit and high yields. In the last stage (after 1990), which is still going on, the greatest number of cultivars was recorded: 'Renclod de Caransebeș' (1990, 'Renclod Althan' 'Wilhelmina Späth'), 'Vâlcean' (1990, 'H 8/12' 'H 5/23'), 'Bărăgan 17' (1990, 'Tuleu gras' 'Early Rivers'), 'Tita' (1991, 'Tuleu gras'—irradiated stones), 'Alina' (1991, 'Tuleu gras'—irradiated stones), 'Andreea' (2000, 'H 27/87' open pollination), 'Delia' (2002, 'Vanat

Italy' 'Anna Späth'), 'Iulia' (2002, 'Tuleu gras' 'Renclod Althan'), 'Ivan' (2003, 'Tuleu gras' 'Vanat Italia'), 'Jubileu 50' (2003, 'Tuleu gras' 'De Bistrița'), 'Dani' (2004, 'Tuleu gras' 'Grase românești'), 'Doina' (2004, 'Anna Späth' 'Renclod

In *Serbia*, about 530 hybrid combinations were made in the European plum breeding program starting in 1949 at the Fruit Research Institute, Čačak, of which around 30,000 hybrids have been produced and 16 varieties have been released. The oldest varieties obtained are 'Čačanska Rodna' (1975, 'Stanley' 'Požegača'), 'Čačanska Rana' (1975, 'Wangeiheim' 'Požegača'), 'Čačanska Secer' (1975, 'd'Agen' 'Pacific'), 'Čačanska Lepotica' (1975, 'Wangeiheim' 'Požegača'),

'Požegača' 'California Blue'), 'Valerija' (1986, 'Hall' 'Ruth Gerstetter'), and 'Valjevka' (1986, 'd'Agen 707' 'Stanley'). After 2000 several promising new cultivars with high commercial potential were named: 'Mildora' (2004, 'Large Sugar' 'Čačanska Lepotica'), 'Boranka' (2004, 'California Blue' 'Ruth Gerstetter'), 'Timočanka' (2004, 'Stanley' 'California Blue'), 'Krina' (2005, 'Wangenheim' 'Italian Plum'), 'Pozna Plava' (2008, 'Čačanska Najbolja'—selfpollination), 'Zlatka' (2008, 'Large Sugar' 'Zuta Boutilcovidna'), 'Nada' (2012, 'Stanley' 'Scolduș'), 'Petra' (2018, 'Stanley' 'Opal'), and 'Divna' (2018, 'Stanley' 'Čačanska Rana'). Cultivars such as 'Čačanska Lepotica,' 'Čačanska Najbolja,' and 'Čačanska Rodna' were used as parents in different breeding programs in some European countries, especially Germany, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, and Roma-

third breeding stage (1970–1980), the cultivars 'Centenar' (1978, 'Tuleu

(1979, 'Tuleu gras'—open pollination), and 'Pescarus' (1979, 'Renclod

In *Germany*, plum breeding is carried out in two centers: the University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, and Geisenheim Research Station. In the University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart, new varieties were created by Professor Walter Hartmann, valuable through resistance to plum pox virus, fruit taste, attractive appearance, and multiple uses of the fruit. These varieties are 'Hanita' (1991, 'President' 'Auerbacher'), 'Katinka' (1992, 'Ortenauer' 'Ruth Gerstetter'), 'Elena' (1993, 'Italian Prune' 'Stanley'), 'Jojo' (1993, 'Ortenauer' 'Stanley')—the first plum cultivar immune to the plum pox virus—'Felsina' (1994, 'Italian Prune' 'Ersinger'), 'Tipala' (1995, 'Tiroler Zuckerzwetsche' 'Opal'), 'Tegera' (1995, 'Ortenauer' 'Ruth Gerstetter'), 'Presenta' (1996, 'Ortenauer' 'President'), 'Colora' (2003, 'Ortenauer' 'Ruth Gerstetter'), 'Azura' (2003, 'Hanita' 'Čačanska Lepotiča'), 'Haganta' (2003, 'Čačanska Najbolja' 'Valor'), 'Haroma' [2003, ('Ortenauer' 'Stanley 34') 'Hanita'], 'Habella' (2003, 'Ortenauer' 'Stanley 34'), Hanka ('Hanita' 'Katinka'), 'Juna' ('Katinka' 'Zwintschers'), 'Jofela' (2013, 'Jojo' 'Felsina'), 'Jolina' (2013, 'Jojo' 'Haganta'), and 'Joganta' (2014, 'Jojo' 'Haganta') [3, 6, 72, 73]. At the Research Station of Fruit Growing, Geisenheim, Professor Helmut Jacob carried out an extensive breeding program for 25 years, which resulted in 12 plum varieties, of which 10 for fresh consumption and 2 for distillation [74]. The plums designated for fresh consumption are: 'Topfive' (1987, 'Čačanska Najbolja' 'Auerbacher'), 'Topper' (1988, 'Čačanska Najbolja' 'Auerbacher'), 'Topking' (1988, 'Čačanska Najbolja' 'Italian Prune'), 'Tophit Plus' (1988, 'Čačanska Najbolja' 'President'), 'Top 2000' (1991, 'Stanley' 'NN'), 'Topfirst' (1993, 'Čačanska Najbolja' 'Ruth Gerstetter'), 'Topstar Plus' (1993, 'Ersinger' 'Čačanska Najbolja'), 'Toptaste' (1994, 'Valor' 'German Prune'), 'Topgigant Plus' (1994, 'Čačanska Najbolja' 'President'), and 'Topend Plus' (1994, 'Čačanska Najbolja' 'Valor'). The two varieties destined for distillation are 'Bellamira' (1994, 'Čačanska Najbolja' 'Mirabelle from Nancy') and 'Miragrande' (1995, 'Mirabelle Herrenhausen' 'Yellow Plum') [75].

In *Bulgaria*, during the 60-year period of the breeding program, 29 plum cultivars were created in centers such as Dryanovo, Troyan, Kyustendil, and Plovdiv. By improving the old Kjustendilska cultivar, breeders like Marinov, Vitanov, Balev, Minev, Enev, Videnov, Georgiev, and Velkov obtained the following varieties: 'Dryanovska,' 'Sinya Yubileyna,' 'Gulyaeva,' 'Gabrovska,' 'Pop Hariton,' 'Burya,' 'Strinava,' 'Nevena,' 'Vitanova,' 'Edra trankosliva,' 'Baleva sliva,' 'Strumska sinya,' 'Kyustendilska ranna,' 'Izobilie,' 'Kyustendilska krasavitsa,' and 'Plovdivska.' After 2000, breeders Zhivondov and Bozhkova created our plum varieties with tolerance to plum pox virus and resistance to late frost and drought: 'Plovdivska renkloda' and 'Sineva' ('Stanley'—open pollination), 'Ulpia' ('President'—open pollination), and 'Ostromila' ('Pacific' 'Serdika 2') [76].

In *France*, the plum breeding program started in 1947 at INRA Bordeaux, and eight plum varieties (6 varieties for drying (prunes) and 2 varieties for fresh consumption (plums)) were registered: 'Primacotes®Coten' (1982, 'd'Ente' 'd'Ente 629'), 'Tardicotes®Enduke' (1982, 'd'Ente' 'Grand Duke'), 'Lorida®Enspa' (1985, 'd'Ente' 'Anna Späth'), 'Lemburn' and 'Double Robe' (1985, 'd'Ente' mutagenesis), 'Spurdente®Ferco' (1986, 'd'Ente 707' mutagenesis), 'Fermareine®Bellina' (1993, 'Reine Claude Verte' 'Reine Claude de Bavay'), and 'Ferbleue®' (1985, 'Reine Claude Verte' 'California Blue') [3, 6, 77, 78]. French plum breeding program has stopped.

In *England*, many of the varieties created by Thomas Rivers are widespread today in culture: 'Czar,' 'Victoria,' 'Early Prolific,' 'Early Transparent,' 'Golden Transparent,' 'Heron,' 'Monarh,' 'President,' 'Early Rivers,' and 'Blue Tit.' 'President' and 'Early Rivers' cultivars are used as parents in breeding work from some European countries. Thomas Laxton has created varieties such as 'Laxton Beautiful' and 'Laxton Cropper.' At the East Malling Research Station, 'Cox's Emperor' and 'Yellow Egg' varieties were obtained but also other more recent varieties: 'Avalon' (1990, 'Reeves'—open pollination), 'Excalibur' (1990, 'Cox's Emperor' open pollination), and 'Guinevere' (obtained in 2000)—these three varieties being created to replace the old Victoria' cultivar. England plum breeding program has stopped [3, 6].

stage; 'Julius,' 'Esloni Varane,' and 'Polli Viljakas,' obtained in the second stage; 'Amitar,' 'Ave,' 'Kadri,' 'Liisu Norgen,' 'Sargen,' 'Vilkana,' 'Vilmitar,' and 'Vilnor,' created in the third stage, from 1964 to 1985); and 'Kaidi,' a variety created in the

'Adelyn'; 2010, 'Laxton's Early' 'Ruth Gerstetter'), 'Lotte' (2010

Crescent' 'Jefferson'), 'Zane,' 'Laine,' and 'Lienite' [10, 88, 89].

In *Latvia*, the breeding program carried out at the Latvia State Institute of Fruit Growing, Dobele, based on a large germplasm fund (184 plum accessions, of which 25 are indigenous varieties), contributed to the completion of the plum assortment with 12 new varieties: 'Agra Dzeltena' (now is growing only as pollinator), 'Inese,' 'Minjona,' 'Zemgale,' 'Lase,' 'Ance' (2010, 'Jubileum' 'Opal'), 'Adele' (sin.

['Jubileum' 'BPr 5613' ('R.C. Reforma' 'Ruth Gerstetter')], 'Sonora' (2010, 'La

In the *Czech Republic*, at the Research Breeding Institute of Pomology, Holovousy, 13 new plum cultivars were released: 'Amátka' (2011, 'Čačanska Lepotica' 'Gabrovska'), 'Dwarf' (2011, 'Asatan' 'Čačanska Najbolja'), 'Staňa' (2011, 'Stanley' 'Gabrovska'), 'Kamir,' 'Hololepa,' 'Simona,' 'Samera,' 'Lipniská,'

'Malenovická,' 'Paní Háje,' 'Těchobuzická,' 'Valentýnka,' and 'Vítek' [91].

the results of the breeding programs were 'Edda' (1980, 'Czar' 'Peche') in Norway and 'Opal' (1925, 'Oullins Gage' 'Early favorites'), 'Herman' (1983, 'Czar' 'Ruth Gerstetter'), 'Ariel' (1983, 'd'Autumn Compot' 'R.C. Althan'), 'Jubileum' (1985), 'Madeleine' (1987, 'Hackmann' 'Victoria'), 'Emil' (1989), and

and 'Verity' (1967, 'Imperial Epineuse' 'Grand Duke'), 'Vision' (1967,

'Vision' 'Valor'), Valerie ('Valor' 'California Blue'), 'Vanette' ('Early Rivers' 'Stanley'), 'Vibrant' ('Valor' 'California Blue'), and 'Violette'

geur' (1987, 'Ruth Gerstetter'—open pollination), 'Victory' (1992,

'Violetta' (1991, 'Grand Duke' 'Herman') in Sweden [6].

In *Sweden* and *Norway*, countries with a climate less favorable to plum culture,

In *Canada*, at present, the plum breeding program has been suspended. However, from the old breeding program, starting in 1913 at the Horticultural Research Institute of Ontario in Vineland, 10 European plum cultivars were named: 'Valor'

'Pacific' 'Albion'), 'Veeblue' (1984, 'Imperial Epineuse' 'President'), 'Voya-

In the *USA*, at the New York Agricultural Experiment Station, Geneva, several cultivars have been released: 'Hall' (1923), 'American Mirabelle' (1925), 'Stanley' (1926, 'd'Agen' 'Grand Duke'), 'Albion' (1929), 'Iroquois' (1966, 'Prugna di Italy' 'Hall'), 'Mohawk' (1966), 'Oneida' (1966), 'Seneca' (1972), 'Moyer Prune' (1984), 'Castleton' ('Valor' 'Iroquois'), 'Longjohn' ('Iroquois' 'CA4A33L'), 'Polly' ('Oneida'—self -pollination), 'Kenmore' ('Standard' 'Stanley'), and 'Amers' ('Stanley' 'Standard'); the last five cultivars are registered after 2000. Among them, 'Stanley' cv. is the most widely grown cultivar worldwide [6]. At the Missouri State Fruit Experiment Station, in 1947, three European plum cultivars were released: 'Radiance,' 'Bluebell,' and 'Bluefree' ('Stanley' 'President'). At the University of California at Davis, cultivars for dessert use were released ('Emperor' cv.), but also cultivars suitable for drying ('Sutter', 'Tulare Giant' in 2000, and 'Muir Beauty' in 2005) [9, 94]. Other European plums released in the USA at Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station are 'Gardner' (1923) and 'Hildreth' (1982) [9].

In *Poland*, plum breeding program started at the Research Institute of Pomology and Floriculture at Skierniewice in the 1960s, and seven new cultivars were registered: 'Kalipso,' 'Emper,' and 'Polinka' (obtained by control hybridization); 'Dabrowice Prune' (seedling of the common plum—'Wegierka Zwykla'—from open pollination); 'Nectavit,' 'Tolerant'; and 'Promis' (clones of the common

last stage starting in 1986 [86, 87].

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.92432*

*Plum Breeding*

plum—'Wegierka Zwykla') [90].

('Verity' 'Bluebell') [92, 93].

**19**

In *Italy*, there are plum breeding programs both in public (at Universities Bologna, Firenze and Forli) and in private, and the following varieties have been obtained: 'Parlantina' (1987), 'Grossa di Felisio' (1988), 'Big Egg' (1989), 'Firenze 90' (1990), 'Grossa di Solarolo,' 'Empress,' 'Sugar Top' (2000, 'Susino II' 'Stanley'), 'Prugna 29' (2000, 'French improved' 'Stanley'), 'Liablu' (2000, 'Empress' 'Ruth Gerstetter'), and 'Maria Novella' (2000) [6, 10, 79].

In the present, in *Russia*, there are 12 plum breeding programs. After 2000, 44 new plum varieties were released: 'Aleksiy,' 'Bolhovcanka,' 'Kantemyrovka' (at the All Russian Research Institute of Fruit Crop Breeding, Orel), 'Ballada,' 'Osenniy Suvenir,' 'Prikubanskaya,' 'Debjut,' 'Golubaja Mechta,' 'Milena,' 'Podruga,' 'Gertsog,' 'Krasotka,' 'Charodeyka,' 'Osennyaya,' 'Krasnodarskaya,' 'Beglyanka' (at the North Caucasian Zonal Research Institute of Horticulture and Viticulture Krasnodar), Vengerka Korneevska, Nižegorodkaya, Renklod Scherbinskiy (at Nizhny-Volzhsky Research Institute of Agriculture, Moscow), Vecherniy Zvon, Viola, Galateya, Pamyat Finayeva (at the Samara Zonal Experimental Station of Horticulture, Samara), 'Volžanka,' 'Kazanskaya,' 'Pamyat Hasanova,' 'Rakitovaya,' 'Teknovskaya Golubka' (at Tatar Scientific Research Institute of Agriculture, Kazan), 'Zanyatnaya,' 'Syniy Dar,' 'Suhanovskaya,' 'Utro,' 'Yahontovaya,' 'Kantemirovka' (at the All Russian Horticultural Institute of Breeding, Agrotechnology and Nursery, Moscow), 'Indira' (at the Kuibyshev Experimental Station for Horticulture Samara), 'Predgornaya,' 'Sverhrannyaya' (at the Dagestan Breeding Experimental Station of fruit and Berry Crops, Buynaksk), 'Antonina' (at the Maritime Fruit and Berry Experimental Station of the Maritime Research Institute of Agriculture in Vladivostok), 'Startovaya,' 'Zarecnaya Rannaya,' 'Renklod Kursakova,' 'Nochka' (at the All Russian Research Institute of Genetics and Breeding of Fruit Plants in Michurinsk), 'Viktorina,' and 'Baykalskaya' (at the Nikitsky Botanical Garden—National Science Center Yalta and the Scientific Research Institute of Horticulture of Siberia, Barnaul) [3, 80–83].

In *Belarus*, at the Institute for Fruit Growing, Minsk, the following varieties were created: 'Dalikatnaya' (2005, 'Evrasia 21' 'd'Agen'), 'Kroman' (2005, 'Perdigron' 'd'Agen'), 'Charadejka' ('Doneckaya rannayaya' 'Victor'), 'Narach' (2008, 'd'Agen' 'Renclod Althan'), 'Venera' (2009, 'Narach' 'Wangenheim Fruhzwetsche'), 'Ranaya Losickaya', 'Vengerka Belorusskaya' (2010, 'Stanley' 'Dalikatnaya'), 'Volat', and 'Nagrada Nemanskaya' [10, 84, 85].

Important achievements in the plum breeding are also in the *Republic of Moldova*, the work being started by Hramov in 1946 and continued by Condratiev, Juraveli, and Leviţcaia at the Research Institute for Horticulture and Alimentary Technologies, Chisinau. Of these we mention 'Chisinovskaia Raniaia,' 'Vengherka Krupnaia Sladkaia,' 'Vengherka Jubileinaia,' 'Soperniţa,' 'Raniaia Hramova,' 'Udlinionaia,' 'Pamiati Kostinoi,' 'Pozdniaia Hramova,' 'Pamiati Vavilova' (2010, 'Reine Claude Verte' 'Vanat Italy'), 'Crasa Oseni' (2010, 'Reine Claude Verte' 'Ispolinscaia'), 'Superpresident,' 'Ajur 1,' 'Naiboleco,' and 'Cabardinca' [3, 6, 10].

Plum breeding in *Estonia*, started in 1945 by Julius Eslon at the Polli Horticultural Institute, has had four stages so far, the varieties registered being the following: 'Karski,' 'Polli Munaploom,' 'Suhkruploom,' and 'Polli Varane,' created in the first

European countries. Thomas Laxton has created varieties such as 'Laxton Beautiful' and 'Laxton Cropper.' At the East Malling Research Station, 'Cox's Emperor' and 'Yellow Egg' varieties were obtained but also other more recent varieties: 'Avalon' (1990, 'Reeves'—open pollination), 'Excalibur' (1990, 'Cox's Emperor' open pollination), and 'Guinevere' (obtained in 2000)—these three varieties being created to replace the old Victoria' cultivar. England plum breeding program has

In *Italy*, there are plum breeding programs both in public (at Universities Bolo-

In the present, in *Russia*, there are 12 plum breeding programs. After 2000, 44 new plum varieties were released: 'Aleksiy,' 'Bolhovcanka,' 'Kantemyrovka' (at the All Russian Research Institute of Fruit Crop Breeding, Orel), 'Ballada,' 'Osenniy Suvenir,' 'Prikubanskaya,' 'Debjut,' 'Golubaja Mechta,' 'Milena,' 'Podruga,'

'Gertsog,' 'Krasotka,' 'Charodeyka,' 'Osennyaya,' 'Krasnodarskaya,' 'Beglyanka' (at the North Caucasian Zonal Research Institute of Horticulture and Viticulture Krasnodar), Vengerka Korneevska, Nižegorodkaya, Renklod Scherbinskiy (at Nizhny-Volzhsky Research Institute of Agriculture, Moscow), Vecherniy Zvon, Viola, Galateya, Pamyat Finayeva (at the Samara Zonal Experimental Station of Horticul-

ture, Samara), 'Volžanka,' 'Kazanskaya,' 'Pamyat Hasanova,' 'Rakitovaya,' 'Teknovskaya Golubka' (at Tatar Scientific Research Institute of Agriculture, Kazan), 'Zanyatnaya,' 'Syniy Dar,' 'Suhanovskaya,' 'Utro,' 'Yahontovaya,' 'Kantemirovka' (at the All Russian Horticultural Institute of Breeding,

Agrotechnology and Nursery, Moscow), 'Indira' (at the Kuibyshev Experimental Station for Horticulture Samara), 'Predgornaya,' 'Sverhrannyaya' (at the Dagestan Breeding Experimental Station of fruit and Berry Crops, Buynaksk), 'Antonina' (at the Maritime Fruit and Berry Experimental Station of the Maritime Research Institute of Agriculture in Vladivostok), 'Startovaya,' 'Zarecnaya Rannaya,' 'Renklod Kursakova,' 'Nochka' (at the All Russian Research Institute of Genetics and Breeding of Fruit Plants in Michurinsk), 'Viktorina,' and 'Baykalskaya' (at the Nikitsky Botanical Garden—National Science Center Yalta and the Scientific Research Insti-

In *Belarus*, at the Institute for Fruit Growing, Minsk, the following varieties were

Important achievements in the plum breeding are also in the *Republic of Moldova*, the work being started by Hramov in 1946 and continued by Condratiev, Juraveli, and Leviţcaia at the Research Institute for Horticulture and Alimentary Technologies,

Plum breeding in *Estonia*, started in 1945 by Julius Eslon at the Polli Horticultural Institute, has had four stages so far, the varieties registered being the following: 'Karski,' 'Polli Munaploom,' 'Suhkruploom,' and 'Polli Varane,' created in the first

'Perdigron' 'd'Agen'), 'Charadejka' ('Doneckaya rannayaya' 'Victor'), 'Narach' (2008, 'd'Agen' 'Renclod Althan'), 'Venera' (2009, 'Narach' 'Wangenheim Fruhzwetsche'), 'Ranaya Losickaya', 'Vengerka Belorusskaya' (2010, 'Stanley' 'Dalikatnaya'), 'Volat', and 'Nagrada Nemanskaya' [10, 84, 85].

created: 'Dalikatnaya' (2005, 'Evrasia 21' 'd'Agen'), 'Kroman' (2005,

Chisinau. Of these we mention 'Chisinovskaia Raniaia,' 'Vengherka Krupnaia Sladkaia,' 'Vengherka Jubileinaia,' 'Soperniţa,' 'Raniaia Hramova,' 'Udlinionaia,' 'Pamiati Kostinoi,' 'Pozdniaia Hramova,' 'Pamiati Vavilova' (2010, 'Reine Claude Verte' 'Vanat Italy'), 'Crasa Oseni' (2010, 'Reine Claude Verte' 'Ispolinscaia'),

'Superpresident,' 'Ajur 1,' 'Naiboleco,' and 'Cabardinca' [3, 6, 10].

gna, Firenze and Forli) and in private, and the following varieties have been obtained: 'Parlantina' (1987), 'Grossa di Felisio' (1988), 'Big Egg' (1989), 'Firenze 90' (1990), 'Grossa di Solarolo,' 'Empress,' 'Sugar Top' (2000, 'Susino II' 'Stanley'), 'Prugna 29' (2000, 'French improved' 'Stanley'), 'Liablu' (2000, 'Empress' 'Ruth

Gerstetter'), and 'Maria Novella' (2000) [6, 10, 79].

tute of Horticulture of Siberia, Barnaul) [3, 80–83].

stopped [3, 6].

Prunus

**18**

stage; 'Julius,' 'Esloni Varane,' and 'Polli Viljakas,' obtained in the second stage; 'Amitar,' 'Ave,' 'Kadri,' 'Liisu Norgen,' 'Sargen,' 'Vilkana,' 'Vilmitar,' and 'Vilnor,' created in the third stage, from 1964 to 1985); and 'Kaidi,' a variety created in the last stage starting in 1986 [86, 87].

In *Latvia*, the breeding program carried out at the Latvia State Institute of Fruit Growing, Dobele, based on a large germplasm fund (184 plum accessions, of which 25 are indigenous varieties), contributed to the completion of the plum assortment with 12 new varieties: 'Agra Dzeltena' (now is growing only as pollinator), 'Inese,' 'Minjona,' 'Zemgale,' 'Lase,' 'Ance' (2010, 'Jubileum' 'Opal'), 'Adele' (sin. 'Adelyn'; 2010, 'Laxton's Early' 'Ruth Gerstetter'), 'Lotte' (2010 ['Jubileum' 'BPr 5613' ('R.C. Reforma' 'Ruth Gerstetter')], 'Sonora' (2010, 'La Crescent' 'Jefferson'), 'Zane,' 'Laine,' and 'Lienite' [10, 88, 89].

In *Poland*, plum breeding program started at the Research Institute of Pomology and Floriculture at Skierniewice in the 1960s, and seven new cultivars were registered: 'Kalipso,' 'Emper,' and 'Polinka' (obtained by control hybridization); 'Dabrowice Prune' (seedling of the common plum—'Wegierka Zwykla'—from open pollination); 'Nectavit,' 'Tolerant'; and 'Promis' (clones of the common plum—'Wegierka Zwykla') [90].

In the *Czech Republic*, at the Research Breeding Institute of Pomology, Holovousy, 13 new plum cultivars were released: 'Amátka' (2011, 'Čačanska Lepotica' 'Gabrovska'), 'Dwarf' (2011, 'Asatan' 'Čačanska Najbolja'), 'Staňa' (2011, 'Stanley' 'Gabrovska'), 'Kamir,' 'Hololepa,' 'Simona,' 'Samera,' 'Lipniská,' 'Malenovická,' 'Paní Háje,' 'Těchobuzická,' 'Valentýnka,' and 'Vítek' [91].

In *Sweden* and *Norway*, countries with a climate less favorable to plum culture, the results of the breeding programs were 'Edda' (1980, 'Czar' 'Peche') in Norway and 'Opal' (1925, 'Oullins Gage' 'Early favorites'), 'Herman' (1983, 'Czar' 'Ruth Gerstetter'), 'Ariel' (1983, 'd'Autumn Compot' 'R.C. Althan'), 'Jubileum' (1985), 'Madeleine' (1987, 'Hackmann' 'Victoria'), 'Emil' (1989), and 'Violetta' (1991, 'Grand Duke' 'Herman') in Sweden [6].

In *Canada*, at present, the plum breeding program has been suspended. However, from the old breeding program, starting in 1913 at the Horticultural Research Institute of Ontario in Vineland, 10 European plum cultivars were named: 'Valor' and 'Verity' (1967, 'Imperial Epineuse' 'Grand Duke'), 'Vision' (1967, 'Pacific' 'Albion'), 'Veeblue' (1984, 'Imperial Epineuse' 'President'), 'Voyageur' (1987, 'Ruth Gerstetter'—open pollination), 'Victory' (1992, 'Vision' 'Valor'), Valerie ('Valor' 'California Blue'), 'Vanette' ('Early Rivers' 'Stanley'), 'Vibrant' ('Valor' 'California Blue'), and 'Violette' ('Verity' 'Bluebell') [92, 93].

In the *USA*, at the New York Agricultural Experiment Station, Geneva, several cultivars have been released: 'Hall' (1923), 'American Mirabelle' (1925), 'Stanley' (1926, 'd'Agen' 'Grand Duke'), 'Albion' (1929), 'Iroquois' (1966, 'Prugna di Italy' 'Hall'), 'Mohawk' (1966), 'Oneida' (1966), 'Seneca' (1972), 'Moyer Prune' (1984), 'Castleton' ('Valor' 'Iroquois'), 'Longjohn' ('Iroquois' 'CA4A33L'), 'Polly' ('Oneida'—self -pollination), 'Kenmore' ('Standard' 'Stanley'), and 'Amers' ('Stanley' 'Standard'); the last five cultivars are registered after 2000. Among them, 'Stanley' cv. is the most widely grown cultivar worldwide [6]. At the Missouri State Fruit Experiment Station, in 1947, three European plum cultivars were released: 'Radiance,' 'Bluebell,' and 'Bluefree' ('Stanley' 'President'). At the University of California at Davis, cultivars for dessert use were released ('Emperor' cv.), but also cultivars suitable for drying ('Sutter', 'Tulare Giant' in 2000, and 'Muir Beauty' in 2005) [9, 94]. Other European plums released in the USA at Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station are 'Gardner' (1923) and 'Hildreth' (1982) [9].

Recently, at the USDA Kearneysville WV, the researchers are focused on creating plum varieties with resistance to PPV using gene manipulation methods, and the first transgenic cultivar—'Honey Sweet'—was registered, which included a gene from the virus coat protein [39].

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