The Citrus Variety Improvement Program in Spain after Eleven Years

Abstract

The Citrus Variety Improvement Program in Spain (CVIPS) started in 1975 with the following objectives: a) to recover virus-free plants by shoot-tip grafting in vitro from cultivars selected in Spain; b) to release virus-free budwood to citrus nurseries and c) to establish a germplasm bank of healthy plants. In 1983 these objectives were expanded with the importation of citrus budwood from other areas through a quarantine station based on tissue culture in vitro techniques. Sixtythree species and varieties have been introduced through this quarantine station so far. Presently the CVIPS has 267 accessions and 112 have been freed of virus and virus-like diseases and are available to citrus nurseries. So far, over 12 million healthy trees from the CVIPS have been planted in commercial orchards.