Plums: Their potential in cultivation, breeding, and use

Plums are one ofthe most important and most overlooked fruits. Their nutritional value, composition, antioxidant potential, and vitamin content place them atthe forefront ofthe food industry. Their potential isso great that plums are one ofthe fruits being considered for space travel. Prunes are not just ahot topic for astronauts. The possibility ofgrowing plums inacultivation box atreduced orzero gravity has also been studied. The sharka virus (Plum pox virus) isresponsible for the major economic losses worldwide. Efforts are being made todevelop the most effective way tocontrol the spread ofthe virus between trees, asthere isstill noreliable treatment against this disease. The main vectors oftransmission inthe orchards are aphids and grafting ofinfected material. Consistent control and testing ofthe health ofpropagating material can reduce the percentage ofinfection byplant material. Therefore, major efforts have been made todevelop effective aphid control strategies toin both conventional and organic production systems. Hand inhand with the development ofchemical treatments goes the breeding ofnew plum varieties that combine natural resistance ortolerance tosharka and the required high value ofthe fruit for the consumer. The trees themselves have not been able todevelop anatural immunity tothe disease, but avariety with the sharka coat protein encoded has been developed through genetic modification. This variety has shown ahigh level ofresistance. Atpresent, the use, development, and cultivation ofGMO plants isunder very strict control, and large-scale production isnot possible, but inthe future, these mutants are likely tobe very interesting breeding material.