New evergreen cherry tree could revolutionize stone fruit production in warmer climates

Written by Macarena Bravo | Lee esta noticia en Español

A new study by researchers at the Center for Agri-Food Research and Technology of Aragon (CITA) in Spain and the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) showed that a promising evergreen cherry tree has been developed for breeding and research. The cultivar is unique within the species, since it doesn’t enter winter dormancy and maintains active growth throughout the year. 

The breakthrough was developed by Ana Wünsch, Senior Researcher at the Department of Plant Science at CITA, and Afif Hedhly, an ARAID Foundation researcher at the Aula Dei Experimental Station (EEAD-CSIC). 

CITA emphasized that this cultivar is a key tool for agricultural research, as it will allow for a deeper understanding of the regulation of seasonal growth and the adaptation of stone fruit trees to temperate climates, a growing challenge for the sector.

An evergreen cherry tree that defies temperature

Cherry trees, like other stone fruit trees, require winter chill to induce flowering and ensure production. However, the decrease in chilling hours due to climate change is affecting productivity across different regions, driving the development of new adaptation strategies.

In this context, the evergreen cherry tree will allow researchers to study the genetic and molecular mechanisms that control winter dormancy. This will advance the development of varieties more adapted to warm regions, subsequently expanding cultivation zones.

The cultivar was obtained through traditional plant breeding techniques and is the result of years of research led by Wünsch.

Currently, doctoral candidate and researcher Nerea Martínez-Romera is working on the physiological and molecular characterization of the evergreen cherry tree as part of her thesis. 

The presentation and initial characterization of this evergreen cherry tree were recently published in the scientific journal Frontiers in Plant Science, consolidating the research as a relevant contribution to plant development and food chain resilience in the face of climate change.

Interior photographs from the Center for Agri-Food Research and Technology of Aragon.

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