BREEDING WOODY ORNAMENTALS FOR FIRE BLIGHT RESISTANCE

In 1975 a breeding program for fire blight resistance of Pyracantha and Cotoneaster was started by collecting cultivars and species and testing them for fire blight resistance.

At the same time crosses were made between the cultivars and later on the seedlings of the crosses were tested in a greenhouse by artificial infection. The next stage in the breeding program is selecting in a trial field with a high natural infection pressure.

Also other characteristics, like e.g. winter hardiness, scab susceptibility and plant habitus, are evaluated there. The results of the program until 1985 will be discussed.

For Crataegus another way was followed. From botanical gardens seeds were collected; these seedlings were tested in the greenhouse. The species showed different fire blight susceptibility, the remaining healthy plants were planted in the trial field. During the research also methods were developed for improving the seed germination.