Genetic resources of Prunus armeniaca L. in the Czech Republic

Within the frame of a "National program", the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic has been supporting the program of preservation and management of genetic resources of horticultural plants since 1993. At the present time, we preserve and manage more than 300 types of apricot. In order to fulfill the description work of the genetic resource and to provide information to breeders, the collection of apricots has been evaluated so that we could select the genotypes and characters relating to an increased level of adaptation to the environment. Frequencies of phenotypes of characters related to adaptability were differently represented. The highest frequency was observed on the character self-fertility (0.354) and the lowest one in the character of late blooming (0.059). Donors of different characters were chosen for the breeding program. The selected characters were frost hardiness of flower buds during winter, tolerance of juvenile fruits during spring, dormancy duration of flower buds, self-fertility and late blooming. Some of the chosen donors also have fruits corresponding to market requirements. Genetic improvement of apricots of Prunus armeniaca L. is possible in all the above mentioned characters.