Wild Cherry Breeding (Prunus avium L.). Chapter 10
Résumé
Wild cherry (Prunus avium L.) is native from central-eastern European temperate forests and it has only recently been introduced in intensive forest tree farming practices outside its natural range. Characterised by allogamy with pollination provided by honey bees, it is also able to spread by root stumps in juvenile phases of the ecosystem. Wild cherry cultivation for wood production has started in the early 1980s in Western Europe and then, more recently, in Eastern Europe. It is now an important commercial species in all the temperate areas of Europe – namely Spain, France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Great Britain – where most progress has been made in breeding and selection. Due to the higher aesthetic value of its wood, wild cherry is nowadays overcoming other valuable species such as walnut. Unfortunately, selection and breeding programmes have now effectively come to a reduction of funds for planting. This monograph presents the main biological features of the species relative to breeding and it describes the work carried out in breeding and propagation techniques across 14 European countries. Main results in terms of genetic parameters and trade of reproductive materials are then summarised. Numerous references are provided for the interested reader.
Mots clés
seed
wild cherry
forest tree breeding
merisier
genetic diversity
gene flow
natural range
natural distribution
geographical distribution
use of wood
wood production
breeding objective
breeding methodology
progeny
clonal trial
vegetative propagation
improved variety
selection index
seed orchard
european cooperation
breeding progress
breeding perspective
genetic resources
climate change adaptation
genetic breeding
genetic improvement