PISA UNIVERSITY'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE NATIONAL APRICOT BREEDING PROGRAMME: THREE NEW APRICOT CULTIVARS FOR TUSCAN FRUIT GROWERS

After five years of selection, the Dipartimento di Coltivazione e Difesa delle Specie Legnose (DCDSL) at Pisa University can offer three new apricot cultivars resulting from the Italian apricot breeding programme, financed by the Ministry of Agriculture (MiPAF). The first cultivar, ‘Angela’, is an early-maturing cultivar which ripens around 3 weeks before ‘Canino’ and a few days before ‘Priana’. The second one, ‘Gheriana’, ripens 10 days before ‘Canino’, at the same time as ‘Orange Red’. It is a cross between ‘Portici’ x ‘Harcot’, with the best traits of both parents. The third one, ‘Silvana’, is a late-maturing cultivar that ripens 25 days after ‘Canino’ and 10 days later than ‘Fantasme’. It is a cross between ‘Bergeron’ x ‘Canino Tardivo’, and is heavy-cropping.