SELECTION AND BREEDING OF HAZELNUT CULTIVARS SUITABLE FOR ORGANIC CULTIVATION IN THE NETHERLANDS

Although hazelnuts are native to The Netherlands, the acreage of hazelnut orchards has always been very limited. Foreign cultivars have been evaluated in experiments and are grown on a small scale, but sub-optimal yields and quality, and susceptibility to disease have prevented a further increase in acreage. In order to overcome these difficulties many hazelnuts growing in hedges and other green areas in The Netherlands were selected and evaluated for their characteristics. This produced at least three cultivars (‘Emoa 1’, ‘Emoa 2’ and ‘Emoa 3’) with excellent yield potentials and other good quality characteristics (size, shape, taste, pellicle removal). Since the cultivars have a low susceptibility to disease, they are particularly suitable for organic cultivation. The acreage of ‘Emoa 1’, ‘Emoa 2’ and ‘Emoa 3’ is still limited, but first yield and quality results are very promising. Orchards are generally planted with hazelnuts alone (‘Emoa 1’, ‘Emoa 2’ and ‘Emoa 3’ together with pollinators) but in one orchard hazelnuts were grown together (intercropping) with walnuts (Juglans regia L.) and Sea Buckthorn (Hippophaë rhamnoides L.).