New varieties of Chilean-bred peaches and nectarines are set to be planted next year in commercial trial volumes. The Universidad de Chile (UC) has worked with the Andes Nursery Association backed by Chilean national development (Corfo) funding to come up with 22 advanced selections already being tested at the university’s trial sites in the Metropolitan and VI regions of the country.

Next year, grower-exporters will plant these types hoping to fast-track any that are successful to full commercial production for export to overseas markets. Professor Rodrigo Infante, who is leading the research team at UC indicates that there have been problems in the past adapting Californian varieties to withstand the long sea voyage necessary for Chilean fruit to reach its market.

Now Infante and his team are also looking to improve the offer of plums and apricots with new varieties that can withstand the rigours of the post-harvest period from tree to plate.

He is also keen to co-ordinate research being undertaken by other consortiums, for example projects between the Universidad Católica and exporters’ association Asoex as well as another consortium set up between growers’ association Fedefruta and various universities. “We are going to link up with Universidad Católica because our aims are the same and we have a common interest,” said Infante.

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