New varieties put to test
Growers in three provinces participating in DIAP-funded project to determine which apple and cherries hold most potential.
By Susan McIver
commercialization of apple and sweet cherry varieties is now in the implementation phase. The Developing Innovative Agri-Products (DIAP) initiative, a federal program which supports industry-led science and technology projects, is providing $2.3 million of the project’s total budget of $3.2 million.
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The remainder is coming from the Okanagan Plant Improvement Corporation (PICO), which manages the project, and from grower organizations in B.C., Ontario and Quebec.
Federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz announced the DIAP funding at the B.C. Fruit Growers’ Association 2010 annual meeting. In May, Paul Birzins was appointed manager of the new nationwide project.
“It’s my job to oversee all aspects of the project and to ensure funds are allocated into the categories outlined in the work plan approved by the government,” said Birzins, who reports directly to PICO’s general manager and CEP, John Kingsmill.
Nick Ibuki, former manager of the PICO budwood orchard, was hired as horticultural research technician to assist Birzins.
Ibuki is primarily responsible for conducting the test trials in fruit growing regions of B.C., Ontario and Quebec and for developing more comprehensive and stricter testing regimes.
Birzins is also a part-time coordinator of the Tree Fruit Variety
18 SUSAN MCIVER
Nick Ibuki, left, horticultural research technician, and Paul Birzins, project manager, inspect developing buds on a test apple variety being grown in Summerland.
Management Council, which participates in the selection, introduction, commercialization and abandonment of new varieties and is having direct input into the B.C. component of the grower testing program.
“It’s the only organization in B.C. that brings together leading growers, packers and sellers, industry organizations and both levels of government,” said Birzins. To date emphasis in the DIAP- funded project has been on apples. Significant initial progress has been made in four core elements: cultivar research and development, grower testing and field services, post-harvest
British Columbia FRUIT GROWER • Spring 2011
storage and quality characterization and sensory evaluation.
An ongoing process of selecting the most promising of new clones for advancement in the testing program is underway.
“Last spring, 27 new crosses were made. In August 44 new clones were advanced to second stage and budded,” Birzins said.
The basic goal of grower testing is to determine the new varieties best suited for each geographic region. “We’ll pre-select the varieties for each region using criteria such as frost susceptibility. A late-ripening apple variety wouldn’t be suitable for eastern conditions,” Ibuki said.
project designed to accelerate the development and
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