The ISF-Forlì (Italy) apple breeding program started in 1980 with the objective to release improved apple dessert cultivars, characterized by resistance to apple scab (Venturia inaequalis) and adapted to the Po Valley environmental conditions. Since 1993, this program was included in the Italian National Project "Frutticoltura", financially supported by the Ministry of Agriculture (MiPA). For several years, crosses were performed following a complementary recombination mating scheme using apple scab-resistant varieties (e.g., Enterprise, Florina, Freedom, Golden Lasa, Golden Orange, Gold Rush) and standard varieties with superior agronomic traits (e.g., Braeburn, Fuji, Golden Delicious, Pink Lady, Topred Delicious) as parents. Superior segregants were selected, which combined the best characters from each parent. About 150 cross combinations were made and 11,000 seedlings evaluated in Forlì-Cesena province. Further 6,800 seedlings have not set fruit yet. Results and performances of most promising advanced selections, compared to control varieties, are reported.

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