Plums

Abstract

Plums arose in three distinct regions, European plums ( Prunus domestica and others) from southern Europe and Asia Minor, Japanese plums ( Prunus salicina and others) from China, and the American plums ( Prunus Americana and others) from North America. The two major commercial species of plum are P. domestica (primarily for the dried fruit industry) and P. salicina (primarily for the fresh fruit industry). Breeding efforts have resulted in many high quality fruit cultivars that have been adapted for various local environmental and disease pressures. At present though, there have been few successes in breeding for resistance to plum pox potyvirus, a virus that not only affects the marketability of the fruit crop but the health of the tree. A number of research groups have begun to develop the techniques necessary to introduce resistance to plum pox virus through genetic engineering. These efforts have resulted in “HoneySweet”, a prune plum ( P. domestica ) that has been found to be highly resistant to plum pox virus in field trials. Work is continuing on improving the techniques used to engineer a plum pox virus‐resistant plum as well as producing more cultivars of plum with the resistance.

The Return of Results of Deceased Research Participants

“…In fact, the key to a return of results policy "is adequate justification -the benefit to society or to a specific individual must outweigh the harm done through disclosure." 107 Since the literature review found few arguments purporting that the dead can be really harmed, 108 the balance of interests (or adequate justification) will rarely tilt in favor of the deceased when the previously mentioned six criteria are met.…”

Current achievements and future directions in genetic engineering of European plum (Prunus domestica L.)

“…Each use requires different selection criteria in the breeding program. Main breeding goals include resistance to biotic and/or abiotic stress, chilling requirements, tree size, productivity and fruit quality traits (Callahan 2008 ; Neumüller 2011 ). Some traits, such as high productivity and fruit quality, are shared goals for any fruit tree species.…”