This chapter outlines the evolution of apricot which took place not only in its original gene centers but also after its domestication in new, secondary areas. During this process, Ice Age, migration of nations as well as the influence of mountains played a significant role in the diversity of this fruit species where many clones of genetically similar cultivars and ecological groups of apricots were formed. The chapter presents the list of donors of main biological and economic properties which are important in breeding to increase the adaptability of the species. The chapter summarizes some of the breeding results and inheritance of characters related to frost hardiness of blossom buds, fruits and plum pox virus (PPV).

One of the consequences of the globalisation of food markets is the effort enabling the control of food security and its origin. This might be traced by using different chemical composition analyses. However, for Central Europe, there is a lack of knowledge about the original reference values as well as their heterogeneity among the lands and countries. This study focused on characterizing the mineral profiles of apple tree fruits and comparing these profiles among different districts in Central Europe. The fruits of the apple cultivars ‘Gala’ and ‘Golden Delicious’ originated in the Czech Republic and Poland. The mineral and isotopic content of the apple fruit flesh was analysed using ICP-MS. The data were processed using the ANOVA test and compositely analysed using the PCA and LDA models. The results show relatively high variation in element distribution, particularly ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, Mn, Zn, Cu, Ca, P, and B, ranging between 20.6 and67.9% for both cultivars on average. However, their high variability within particular districts complicates the resolution of the LDA model. The reasons are linked to the geomorphological and pedological heterogeneity of the analysed districts as well as the particular sensitivity of the set of chosen primers to agronomic practices and tree performance. For this region, only partial separation among districts could be obtained by P, Ca, and Cu content, as well as the isotopic ratio of ¹⁰B/¹¹B. However, the resolution of the geographical discrimination needs to be improved by an enhanced set of primers, the use of more precise analytical techniques for the Sr isotopic ratio, or by multiple chemical analyses. Furthermore, the heterogeneity of the analysed districts could be tackled by more detailed analyses at the level of micro-regions.

The European plum (Prunus domestica L.) is a hexaploid species that is grown worldwide for its tasty fruits. Many pomological forms and varieties exist, and thus it is important for genebank curators, breeders, growers, and/or control authorities to distinguish them with certainty. The purpose of this study was to select and verify a set of simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers for reliable genotyping, and to optimize their use in a one-reaction format for easy routine practice. After testing 78 SSR markers from different diploid Prunus species, 8 SSR markers were selected, multiplexed, and successfully verified as being able to distinguish all 242 unique genotypes tested. The selected markers were relatively easily scored and highly heterogenic, giving more than 35 alleles/genotype on average. The allele atlas was created to become a valuable tool for allele calling that should lead to standardized and reliable genotyping results between laboratories. The population analysis confirmed high diversity of the Czech germplasm collection used. The kit was also successfully tested for diploid “plums” of various origins and interspecies hybrids, as these are sometimes phenotypically indistinguishable from hexaploid European plums. The one-tube approach substantially simplified the plum genotyping laboratory workflow, minimizes errors, and saves labor, time, and money.

Sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) exhibits relatively low genetic diversity because of the self-compatibility of some varieties and repeated crossings of the same genotypes. High-quality markers are therefore needed for their reliable discrimination. However, the most currently used simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers offer only limited resolution for genotyping purposes. Here, thirty new highly polymorphic SSR markers were extracted from whole-genome sequences of 299 sweet cherry genotypes. Then, 16 highly polymorphic SSR markers were selected, multiplexed into one PCR, and successfully verified on a collection containing 294 unique genotypes. Compared with the set of 16 SSR markers recommended by the European Cooperative Programme for Plant Genetic Resources (ECPGR) for sweet cherry genotyping, our newly developed system has a seven orders of magnitude lower probability of the random identity of two genetically distinct samples than the ECPGR set (10⁻¹⁹ vs. 10⁻¹²). This higher resolution not only enables more precise genotyping but can also be successfully used for parentage or population analyses. This new and unique one-tube approach for sweet cherry genotyping will substantially simplify genotyping workflows, minimize errors, and save labor, time, and cost.

The highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) is a promising fruit species due to its high nutritional value and health benefits. This study, conducted between 2020 and 2024, monitored the phenological and pomological characteristics of 32 different blueberry cultivars grown in the Czech Republic. The evaluation was carried out according to Czech Republic standardized methodologies, BBCH (Biologische Bundesanstalt, Bundessortenamt und Chemische Industrie) and GRIN (Genetic Resources Information Network), and included parameters such as fruit size, flavor, aroma, firmness, color, and soluble solids content (SSC in °Brix). The correlation between individual traits was assessed, along with their phenotypic stability. The results showed that all cultivars exhibited high pomological values, making them suitable for breeding programs. The cultivars ‘Collins’ and ‘Patriot’ received the highest flavor ratings. Firmness, aroma, and color traits were found to be correlated with consumer preferences. The interannual coefficient of variation (CV) obtained for the evaluated blueberry cultivars differed for both pomological and phenological traits, allowing the identification of genotypes with high stability (CV ≤ 10%) and their potential use in targeted breeding programs and industrial production. The ‘Pink Lemonade’ blueberry cultivar, in particular, combines unique color characteristics with a strong aroma. Overall, this study provides valuable insights for future breeding efforts aimed at improving blueberry quality and cultivar adaptability under different cultivation conditions.