José Quero Garcia INRA/ France

Sustainable production of high-quality cherries for the European market

FA1104 Start date: 16/04/2012 End date: 15/04/2016 Year: 2

2

Scientific context and objectives (1/2) Background: Cherries are highly appreciated fruits.

Europe is the main world producer. However, cherry producers face difficulties due to high labor costs and recent evolutions of the European agronomic sector

Objectives: Develop innovative strategies to safeguard European cherry production through active networking by:

The adaptation of cherry cultivation to climate change

The implementation of new cultivation practices aimed at promoting sustainable agriculture

The promotion of high-quality fruits

3

Scientific context and objectives (2/2) • Research directions: • Coordinated, holistic and multi-disciplinary approach to face

global challenges in cherry production • Integration of all stakeholders involved in cherry production,

commercialization and consumption • Integration of multiple data (genetic, genomic, agronomic,

socio-economic…) in prediction models concerning the adaptation of cherry cultivation to the new European context

4

Working groups

WG 1

Genetic resources and breeding, Genetics and

Genomics

WG

4 S

ocio-economics and

dissemination

WG 3 Crop

Protection

WG 2 Crop

Production

Adaptation to climate change

Sustainable production

High-quality fruits

Classical breeding

MAS and genomics

Varieties evalution

Agronomy and physiology

Post-harvest technology

Phytopathology

Entomology

5

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

YR 1 YR 2YR 3

YR 4

30 30

0 0

1 5

0 0

Parties Non-COST Countries

Grant Holder: INRA José Quero Garcia FRANCE

Action Parties

Austria Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark France Germany Greece Hungary Israel Italy Latvia Lithuania Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland FYRM Turaky United Kingdom

Non-COST countries that joined in: Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Russia, Azerbaidjan Non-COST countries about to join in: Albania, Belarus, Morocco

7

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

YR 1 YR 2 YR 3 YR 4

92

114

17 25 25

58

Total no. of indiv.ParticipantsESRs

Female

Action participants

8

Use of COST Instruments

Activity (No.) Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4

MC/WG Meetings 5 8

STSMs 4 8

Training Schools 0 1

Workshops or Conferences

0 0

Joint Publications 6 8

9

Results vs. Objectives Success in sharing data and experimental protocols as a first step of

collaboration: List of key local sweet cherry landraces for a European diversity analysis Exchange of data on pollination and germination methods (WG1) Exchange of data concerning MAS strategies used in breeding programmes

(WG1) Protocols for the characterisation of double fruits (WG2) Exchange of a set of PCR and real-time PCR primer pairs for the detection of

20 viruses infecting sweet and sour cherry within 8 COST countries (WG3) Socio-economic questionnaire for calculation of gross margin budgets (WG4) Exchange of a questionnaire in order to find the ‘perfect cherry’ for each

country (WG4)

Advances in the organisation of a final COST publication: Cherry book. Two European and two US editors. Chapters outline proposed. Search for lead authors on-going

10

Results vs. Objectives

F

S

BiH I

UK

RO HR

F

LV

A

E

CZ

H

11

Results vs. Objectives

STSM: Svetoslav Malchev: Bulgaria to

France

12

Significant Highlights in Science or Networking (1/2)

Phenological data sent by colleagues from all over Europe

60

70

80

90

100

110

120

130

140

1978 1983 1988 1993 1998 2003 2008 2013

Beg

inni

ng F

low

erin

g (C

alen

dar d

ays)

JorkBonnGemblouxStLaurentdAgnyBozasEtoileToulenneForliStGillesBalandranPlovdivTorreillesLleidaElTornoCiezaLaMaestra

Latitude

14

Significant Highlights in Science or Networking (1/2) Construction of a linkage map using the cherry 6k SNP

array and identification of a novel locus controlling flesh colour. STSMs: Emma Skipper (England to Italy) and Gregorio Lopez-Ortega (Spain to England) Colney x C210-7 (Lapins x Sweet September) : 337

seedlings. 138 individuals genotyped Evaluated in 2013 for fruit quality traits.

15

Significant Highlights in Science or Networking (1/2)

16

Significant Highlights in Science or Networking (2/2) Project: DROPSA: ‘Strategies to develop effective,

innovative and practical approaches to protect major European fruit crops from pests and pathogens’ FP7-KBBE-2013-1.2-04 (Nov. 2013- Oct 2017) Three WPs dealing with Drosophila suzukii One WP led by Brion Duffy, vice-Chair of our Action

17

Significant Highlights in Science or Networking (2/2) Submission of two research grants at the EU level: DivCherry ‘Cherry genetic resources for agriculture

diversification to face climate change, health and food challenges in marginal areas’. Call: Horizon 2020 SFS-7-2014/2015: Genetic resources and agricultural diversity for food security, productivity and resilience. Topic: Traditional resources for agricultural diversity and the food chain. Pre-proposal on evaluation phase

SustCherry ‘Sustainability of cherry production in relation to climate change: genetic resources, phenology and genetic response to environmental variables. Call: FACCE-ERA-NET+ on Climate Smart Agriculture. Failed

18

Challenges Deviation: technology-transfer workshop postponed (end of 2014) Difficulty in obtaining EU funds for research projects with the

exception of critical phyto-sanitary situations (e.g. Drosophila suzukii)

Challenge in organising in Year 3 one technology-transfer workshop and up to 4 training schools

Increase the number and diversity of STSM Start writing chapters for the Cherry book Start activities concerning certain Tasks