Michurinsk may become the berry capital of Russia

Reach a new level of selection so that Michurinsk rightfully becomes the berry capital not only of the region, but, possibly, of the whole country. Scientists of the Research Center for Horticulture named after A.I. I.V. Michurin SPC "Agropischeprom".

Seedlings are bred by breeders under laboratory conditions by in vitro clonal propagation. Its advantages for amateur gardening: productivity, precocity, large-fruited, dessert taste, thornlessness and resistance to diseases and pests. For - industrial - these same qualities increase production volumes through the use of machines in cultivation. As a result, the berry becomes cheaper in the market. These aspects are important in the context of the pandemic and the limited number of manual workers, as well as the import substitution program set by the president.

“Since 2014, the National Research Center for Horticulture has been collecting a genetic collection of fruit, berry and ornamental crops,” says the DIRECTOR of the National Research Center for Horticulture. I.V. Michurin SPC "Agropischeprom" Dmitry Bryskin. - The main task is to assess the usefulness and identify promising samples that are most suitable for cultivation in central RUSSIA. As well as the use of the most valuable genotypes for breeding new varieties.
To date, only the gooseberry gene pool at the National Research Center has 85 varieties, 15 percent of which are foreign selection. In addition, 204 varieties of currants bred by scientific institutions in Russia and abroad grow on the plots of the Scientific Research Center, including 140 species of black and 64 colored currants, honeysuckle - 268 varieties, raspberries - 139 varieties, mainly of foreign selection, 61 varieties of actinidia.

The main task of breeders is to identify the most promising varieties, and then introduce them into agriculture.

“As a result of more than five years of research at the Research Center for Horticulture named after. I. V. Michurin identified promising large-fruited, high-yielding varieties of berry crops resistant to diseases, pests and adverse natural factors, says the HEAD of the laboratory of clonal propagation of the Research Center for Horticulture named after. I.V. Michurina Oksana Surkova. “They are already included in the breeding process and promising seedlings of our own selection have been obtained on their basis.”

Any variety can be replicated in large volumes in 1-2 years, and not in 5 years of propagation by green cuttings or layering, the press service of the Horticulture Research Center reports.

Now the largest biotechnological complex in Russia is being launched in the Michurinsky District. On its basis, not only industrial, but also scientific issues of clonal micropropagation of agricultural plants will be solved. This will allow reaching a new level of selection and making the science city the berry capital, scientists are sure.