Ziekteresistentie en smaak: uit de mond zelf van de onderzoekers in Schotland.

Disease resistance

Other agronomic objectives within the programme are resistance to gall mite (Cecidophyopsis ribis) and to Blackcurrant Reversion Disease (BRD). Resistance to gall mite has been a breeding objective in most blackcurrant programmes for many years (Brennan 1996). The most effective source of resistance used so far in western Europe is the Ce gene from gooseberry, and the introgression of this gene into R. nigrum is described by Knight et al (1974). A long-term backcrossing programme to restore acceptable fruiting characters was undertaken, latterly at the Scottish Crop Research Institute, and potential new varieties with resistance to C. ribis are now approaching commercialization. Work to develop molecular markers linked to mite resistance is also in progress. For reversion disease, resistance is derived from a Russian cultivar, 'Golubka', itself a derivative from the species R. dikuscha. This resistance has proved durable in the cultivar 'Ben Gairn' in a range of environments throughout Europe, and the development of new PCR tests for the viral agent causing BRD will facilitate the selection of further resistant material within the programme.

Fruit flavour

Sensory components, such as flavour, aroma and mouthfeel, are also part of the selection process within the SCRI programme. Advanced material is assessed by trained panels and the most suitable selections from the end-users' perspective are progressed in the breeding process. Flavour appears to be the most important sensory attribute, and initial studies have suggested that some flavour characteristics are dominant in their inheritance. Overall, however, sensory attributes show highly complex patterns of inheritance and further work is in progress to examine this so that specific breeding strategies can be used.