Old and local accessions of Pyrus and Malus in Israel

Doron Holland Newe Ya’ar Research Center Agricultural Research Organization, Israel Pyrus and Malus accessions are documented in the Israel Plant Gene Bank http://igb.agri.gov.il/

The bank is responsible for collection, preservation and evaluation of plant species indigenous to Israel including landraces and primitive cultivars. Domesticated plants gene-pools include direct ancestors, landraces and wild relatives.

Israel Plant Gene Bank Bet Dagan, ARO, Israel The live deciduous fruit-tree collection consists of Almond, Plum, Apricot, Pear, Apple, Fig, Pomegranate, and Grapevine accessions . These accessions originate from ancient Israeli agricultural systems. Two trees of each accession are planted in the collection orchard at Newe Ya’ar Research Center, ARO, Israel.

Fruit Tree Collection Fruit tree accessions in the living collection of the Israel Plant Gene Bank at Newe Ya'ar Research Center

Genus Species Common name Hebrew name No. of clones Ficus carica fig Malus domestica apple Prunus persica peach Prunus domestica plum Prunus cerasia plum Prunus cerasifera plum Prunus institia plum Prunus armeniaca apricot Prunus amygdalus almond Punica granatum pomegranate Pyrus communis pear Pyrus syriaca pear Vitis vinifera grapevine

http://igb.agri.gov.il/main/index.pl?page=22 APPLE collection Malus domestica Borkh., Rosaceae APPLE collection

No wild Malus in Israel. 36 accessions are listed in the Gene Bank. The accessions are local including landraces and some suspected to be ‘Golden’ seedlings. 7 are cultivars originated from crossbreeding with local varieties.

14 are selections of local and old accessionshttp://www.groworganic.com/ used as rootstocks. 6 are in usage in Israeli apple orchards. 3An are example rootstocks is the originated known from crossbreeding with locallow-chill varieties. ‘Anna’ cultivar.

‘Anna’ - Red Adassiya x Golden Delicious PEAR collection

Pyrus communis L., Rosaceae

INSTCODE ORIGCTY COLLDATE REGION COLLSITE SAMPSTAT COLLSRC COLLNUMB ACCENAME ISR008 ISR Judean Mountains Wadi Bidan Py. 508-9 Baladi ISR008 ISR Judean Mountains Wadi Bidan Py. 511-12 Succari ISR008 ISR - - - - Py. 535-36 Adasi, Hollandi ISR008 ISR - - - - Py. 540-41 Bari, Dubbi ISR008 ISR - - - - Judean Mountains Al-Libban Py. 541-42 Tourki ISR008 ISR - - - - Judean Mountains Al-Libban Py. 542-43 Baladi Al-Libban ISR008 ISR Upper Galilee near kibbutz Sasa Py. 694-195 Mekomi 1 ISR008 ISR Upper Galilee wadi near kibbutz Sasa Py. 697-198 Mekomi 3 ISR008 ISR Upper Galilee Ein Hotam near Hurfeish Py. 700-201 Bustan ISR008 ISR Upper Galilee Ein Hotam near Hurfeish Py. 701-202 Wadi Hotam ISR008 ISR - - - - Py. 760-261 Shitawi ISR008 ISR - - - - Esdraelon Plain Newe Ya'ar Research Station Py. 836-337 Succari Pyrus syriaca Boiss., Rosaceae

ISR008 ISR Upper Galilee Elkosh Py. 622-123 Bari ISR008 ISR Upper Galilee near kibbutz Sasa Py. 691-192 Suri ISR008 ISR Upper Galilee near kibbutz Sasa Py. 692-193 Bari Sasa ISR008 ISR Upper Galilee wadi near kibbutz Sasa Py. 696-197 Mekomi 2 Py.508-9 Py.511-12 Py.535-36 Py.540-41

Py.541-42 Py.542-43 Py.692-193 Py.694-195

Py.696-197 Py.697-198 Py.700-201 Py.836-337 PEAR collection

Pyrus syriaca is a wild pear found in Israel.

http://flora.huji.ac.il/

16 accessions of two species are listed in the Gene Bank. 14 accessions are local including landraces. 2 are probably old European cultivars (not identified).

Collection advantages and usages

MALUS Low chilling requirements. Source for commercial cultivars (e.g. ‘Anna’). Source for commercial rootstocks (e.g. ‘Hashabi’).

Cacopsylla bidens (Sulc) PYRUS Cacopsylla bidens (Sulc) Low chilling requirements. Source for pest resistance (e.g. Pear psylla ).

P. Syriaca was used in the past as a rootstock. Pear psylla resistance research

Two Pyrus accessions from the collection showed pear psylla resistance in the orchard. An integrated research is aimed to reveal the molecular nature of the resistance and to introduce this agricultural trait to commercial cultivars. First results show lower survival rates of psylla nymphs on the resistant accessions.

Sensitive Resistant Cacopsylla bidens (Sulc) a key pest in pear orchards

Pear psylla damages

Dr. L. Shealtiel-Harpaz, Northern R&D, Israel Thank you!