ACHIEVEMENTS IN CREATING NEW PLUM VARIETIES IN ROMANIA

Generally speaking, fruit tree breeding, particularly plum breeding, has started from the principle that native varieties should be the basic varieties in Romanian fruit growing, in spite of the great progress made in the field of pomology throughout the world. We adopted this principle since a long experience has shown that native varieties respond better to weather and soil conditions where they developed, and are more resistant to diseases and other factors limiting the production.

As a matter of fact, native varieties have predominated always in the Romanian plum orchards, out of which Tuleu gras, Gras românesc and Vinete românesti (Bistritene) have an important place.

Although they bear high quality fruits, these varieties have some shortcomings as well. Thus, Tuleu gras is not enough resistant to frost and has poor-angled crotches, resulting in a slight branch breakage under the weight of the crop; Gras românesc has clinging stone, shallow rooting and poor resistance to drought; Vinete românesti is extremely susceptible to Polystigma rubrum Pers. D.C.

That is why during the first stage of plum breeding (1950–1959) the main task was to breed these varieties, by crossing them with foreign ones as: Anna Späth, Pêche, Abbaye d'Arton, Quetsche d'Italie, Agen, Kirke, Montfort and others, which have the already mentioned shortcomings in a less degree than the native varieties (N.Constantinescu, 1951).