- A practical perspective on recent advances in plant breeding for nut production in the Mediterranean region.
Zaragoza, 26 September 2024.- Nut experts from both shores of the Mediterranean took part on Thursday in a technical visit to the experimental station of the Fruit Growers Association of the County of Caspe Afruccas and the nursery El Vivero de Abel, in the province of Zaragoza (Spain).
The visit formed part of the international seminar organised by CIHEAM Zaragoza and the Centre for Agri-food Research and Technology of Aragon (CITA) and enabled participants to see first-hand the results of CITA’s almond breeding programme, pistachio trials and advanced nut management methods to improve crop efficiency and sustainability.
The experts learnt about the trials conducted by CITA and Afruccas, in collaboration with the company Agromillora. The trials are set up to test new cultivation methods for almond, pistachio, hazelnut and walnut and assess key features such as growth habit, flowering, or yield.
Antonio López-Francos, administrator of research projects and networks at CIHEAM Zaragoza and technical coordinator of the international seminar, comments on this field research: “The best varieties will be selected for further trials in different areas of Aragon to continue assessment and improve yields”.
The participants also attended a pistachio pruning demonstration in a trial with the Sirora variety, and saw new experimental designs for planting, canopy formation and pruning in hazelnut orchards. They learnt more about the hedge-training trials and advanced technologies for self-rooted almond cultivation. These trials are being conducted in collaboration with Agromillora as prototypes of new cropping systems adapted to rain-fed conditions or deficit irrigation.
“Hedge-training formations facilitate mechanisation, both in rain-fed and deficit irrigation conditions, and can maintain or even increase almond production. Self-rooting technology, especially in almond, is essential as it makes saplings more economical and they are better adapted to high-density production systems”, adds López-Francos.
The international experts visited a commercial walnut orchard with a mechanised pruning system and later travelled to El Vivero de Abel, a nursery of reference in the production of high-quality almond, pistachio and hazelnut trees. The experts saw examples of micrografting onto the Pilowred® rootstock developed by CITA and the micropropagation system developed at Agromillora. They also examined the micrografts and plant material produced by El Vivero de Abel for commercial applications, fine examples of the new production techniques applied at this specialised nursery.
The field trip concluded with visits to two commercial estates: an irrigated almond orchard with the Guara variety grown in a 6 x 4 design; and an irrigated walnut orchard growing the Chandler variety. Participants saw how these varieties performed under the mechanised Aragonese pruning system developed in Caspe –a relevant innovation that is now being applied elsewhere in Spain and in other parts of the world.
