NEW EARLY RIPENING, SHARKA RESISTANT APRICOT CULTIVARS AT CEBAS-CSIC (MURCIA, SPAIN)

In the last ten years an apricot breeding programme has been developed at CEBAS-CSIC (Murcia, Spain) with the aim to release new early ripening, sharka resistant cultivars. Because most known sharka resistant cultivars are characterized by high chilling requirements, a previous release of sharka resistant cultivars with intermediate chilling requirements was necessary. From these intermediate cultivars and crossing them with diverse very early ripening, low chilling and good quality cultivars, some apricot progenies were obtained. After a prolonged selection process, three new cultivars named ‘Mirlo Blanco’, ‘Mirlo Naranja’ and ‘Mirlo Rojo’ have been recently released. They fulfil high fruit quality, early ripening and sharka resistance. At the same time this work contributes to increase the stock of sharka resistant and high fruit quality cultivars in the range of low chilling requirements.