Fruit Varieties and Horticultural Digest (J Fruit Var & Hort Digest)
Volume 24 Number 1 Article 5 Pages: 8-8
Year 1970 Month 1
Title: Fruit Breeding at John Innes Institute
Author: APS Citation
Abstract:
The John Innes Institute, Norwich,
England, has been breeding to improve
fruits since 1910. A.G. Brown
recently reviewed the fruit improvement
efforts of the Institute in the
Journal of the Royal Horticultural
Society.
Some of the significant points
which he reports are as follows:
Apple: For a long time, the emphasis
has been on developing varieties
with resistance to scab and mildew.
The newest introduction is
'Merton Joy', an attractive, productive
apple of Sept.-Oct. season, and almost
completely free from mildew. 'Merton
Ace' has just been named, an
early, well colored variety which is
not yet available.
Plum: Efforts are being made to
develop high quality plums that are
self-fertile.
Such a variety, named
'Merton Gem', will soon be released.
It is a light, golden yellow plum with
a bright red blush.
Cherry: Objectives in breeding are
resistance to bacterial canker, self-fertility,
and dwarfing rootstock.
The
newest introductions are 'Merton
Late,' which ripens in early September,
and the variety, 'Merton Crane'.
Strawberry: Efforts are being made
to develop varieties suitable for canning,
ones with dark flesh for yogourt,
and others for mechanical harvesting.
The newest variety, still not released,
is 'Merton Ruby,' a late, mid-season,
productive variety.
