The basic activity of the Department of Pomology is scientific and research work, and the production of fruit tree seedlings, vegetative and generative rootstocks, and fruit buds. We were the first to introduce a certification scheme and EPPO standards in the production of planting material in Croatia. Today, we are offering CAC and virus-free certified planting material. In its production, the institute has basic and pre-basic planting material at its disposal to grow mother beds, and we are the only plant nursery in Croatia that has those categories available and has the right to multiply the reproduction material of protected varieties. Our planting material comes from our own mother beds and it is under constant supervision by experts.
The production of fruit tree seedlings is based on the latest production technologies and high quality standards, in order for it to be competitive in the domestic, but also in the international market. For that purpose, the Department has developed modern biotechnological methods for the production of fruit seedlings like
– meristem culture and micropropagation
– DNA identification
– biological, molecular, and serological testing methods for viruses
The scientific and research work, and the continuous creation of relationships with other scientific institutions during our 62 years in operation, have ensured the development of the fruit growing production and the transfer of the science of pomology into practice on the principles of competitive and sustainable agriculture. The employees of the Department of Pomology conduct a great amount of agricultural engineering and pomological research into individual species and varieties of fruit, and their relationship with the agro-ecological and pathological factors in this area, for the purpose of achieving more abundant, more regular, and safer yields, better fruit quality, more labour productiveness, and lower production costs.
On the date 03/12/2007, the Agricultural Institute Osijek became the exclusive representative for the reproduction material of the apple variety “GOLDEN DELICIOUS´ clone REINDERS®”, a protected variety and brand, on the basis of a signed Licence Agreement with the company Stichting Vermeerderingstuinen Nederland (Netherlands), represented by R.P.J.M. Koning LL.M. and Praktijkonderzoek Plant & Omgeving B.V. and H.E.P. Reinders. In addition, the Agricultural Institute Osijek has concluded a Licence Agreement for the apple variety “JONAGOLD DE COSTER variety DE COSTA®”, also with the abovementioned company. The latest licence agreement is for “RED JONAPRINCE WILTON´S®”.
We would like to point out that the Agricultural Institute Osijek is the only plant nursery in the Republic of Croatia with exclusive contracts for the production of reproductive fruit planting material.
Through its tradition, experience, knowledge, and quality, the Department of Pomology aims to increase and advance the pomology and plant nursery production which made the Department recognisable and why it is still recognisable in this part of Europe.