AGROALNEXT Project: Biotechnological strategies for the production of pathogen-free fruit trees

There is a very serious problem with viral and viroid infections in fruit trees, resulting in the spread of infected plants and consequent losses in quality and production. It would be crucial to have certification programs that require nurseries to supply pathogen-free stone fruit trees. This has been done for years in citrus and grapevines. To achieve this, it is necessary to develop biotechnological approaches that allow for the production of healthy plants in order to promote the creation of certification programs for pathogen-free Prunus species. Additionally, climate change will necessitate the development of fruit trees better adapted to abiotic stresses. In this regard, it is important to have rootstocks tolerant to adverse climatic conditions.