Experience exchange trip to the former fruit tree breeding station "Iedzēni"

Breeding work at “Iedzēni” began as early as the 1930s. Breeders Roberts Āboliņš (1906-1995) and Aleksandrs Maizītis (1912-2002) carried out fruit tree breeding work at the breeding point, but from 1965 also Rūdolfs Dumbravs (1931-2016).

The aim of the breeding station was to breed new apple, pear and sweet cherry varieties suitable for the climatic conditions of Latvia. The main directions in apple and pear breeding are increasing winter hardiness, selection of scab-resistant forms and selection of small trees, compact crowns, beautiful and delicious fruits.

With the start of the privatization process, in 1996 the breeding point “Iedzēni” experienced painful changes due to the change of owners. “Iedzēni” was taken out of business, and later, when the opportunity arose to restore the main activity of “Iedzēni”, it failed, it was no longer possible to maintain and evaluate the countless apple and pear hybrids. In order to save at least part of the results of the breeders’ lifetime work, many new seedlings ended up in Dobele and Pūre, where their evaluation in the garden continued.

Nowadays, almost everyone has a fruit tree from “Iedzēni” in their backyard. In modern gardens, apple tree varieties isolated from “Iedzēni” selection material and registered in Dobele and Pūre are grown - 'Laine', 'Pure Ametist', 'Daina', 'Eksotika', 'Joko', 'Dace', 'Monta', 'Gita', 'Agra', 'Laila', 'Edite', 'Felicita', 'Paulis', 'Roberts', 'Ella'. Also popular are the apple trees 'Atvasara' and 'Iedzēni'. Columnar apple trees - 'Inese', 'Duets', 'Uldis', 'Zane', 'Baiba'. Sweet cherries - 'Aleksandrs'. Hybrid plums - 'Spīdola'. Pears – 'Suvenīrs', 'Serenāde', 'Kursa', 'Vilma', 'Nova', 'Sēlija', 'Velte', 'Latgale', 'Balva'. The last varieties released from the "Iedzēnu" breeding material to be registered are the pear variety 'Rūdolfs' and the apple trees 'Juris', 'Valentino'.

Today, “Iedzēnus” has been taken over by a new, forward-looking owner with a vision to cultivate what remains and restore what is existing.