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Fruit tree and olive culture are dynamic
agricultural activities subjected to constant change and improvement.
Innovation through research has been one of the priorities
of our organization on which the future depends. The implementation
of advanced biotechnological methods in the nursery sector
has allowed our company to guarantee a high quality product,
adapted to compete favorably in a global market.
Our global presence has permitted our researchers
to adapt and obtain products that fulfill the needs of specific
agro-climatic regions and markets.
Because of the importance of R + D, Agromillora
has recently established a new research center, fully equipped
with laboratories, office space, greenhouse facilities, microplots,
and field test plots.
Some of the research projects currently
being developed are the following:
- The exploitation of olive genetic potential
by genome analysis and molecular based breeding.
- Field performance evaluation of low
vigor olive cultivars for “high density” production
systems. This project is being developed jointly with the
University of Cordoba and the IRTA. This project will be
implemented simultaneously in France, Spain, Argentina,
Chile and USA.
- Olive breeding program oriented towards
obtaining new cultivars adapted to intensive production.
Plant material is selected for the following traits: a)
Low size and vigor adapted to mechanical harvest; b) Earliness;
c) High yield; d) Even maturation period; e) Favorable fruit
characters (color, shape, size, firmness); f) Cold tolerance;
g) Adaptation to different soil types; h) Strong root development;
i) Efficiency in the use of water; j) Drought resistance;
k) Crop and oil yield; l) Chemical analysis and composition
of oil; m) Organoleptic traits; n) Disease resistance to
pathogenic fungi and bacteria (Verticilium dalihae, Spilocaea
oleagina, Pseudomonas savastanoi ).
- Olive microrooting trials.
- Elaboration of biological substrates
for improving growth and health of micropropagated plants.
- Quality control system for Prunus using
ELISA, molecular probes and PCR based methods for the detection
of viruses, viroids and phytoplasmas.
- Use of molecular markers (SSR, RFLP,
and RAPD), for cultivar differentiation and detection of
desired traits for their possible use in selection (Marker
Assisted Selection).
- Plant production improvement by micropropagation
(in vitro), micrografting, and embryo culture.
- Breeding and selection program oriented
towards creating new peach and nectarine varieties, mainly
adapted to low and medium chill requirements. Emphasis is
made on hard flesh (non melting), yellow, with improved
taste and broad agronomic adaptation.
- Breeding and selection program oriented
towards creating new Prunus rootstocks. Emphasis is made
in obtaining cultivars that have multiple resistance to
soilborne pests and diseases, and that would also be tolerant
to abiotic stress conditions that limit production, such
as drought, salinity and calcareous soils.
- Use of beneficial organisms, mainly
Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR’s) and Arbuscular
Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) in nursery production systems.
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