The peach breeding program of CAVAL in Spain

Extremadura, located in south western Spain, is becoming a major peach and nectarine producing region (90.000 t per year). Worldwide both public and private breeders are releasing new varieties through commercial agreements with small and exclusive groups, preventing small growers to plant these new varieties. The CAVAL growers' association, in collaboration with some other institutions has started in 2001 a peach and nectarine breeding programme by making controlled crosses. The main objective of the breeding programme is fruit quality. There is a wide germplasm collection available which is being enlarged. During the first two years over 100 crosses were made, the first seedlings were planted and results are expected within a range of 10 to 12 years.