Mendel University in Brno, Czech Republic, has published a comprehensive descriptor list for the service tree (Sorbus domestica L.), offering a new tool for preserving and evaluating this lesser-known fruit species.
The descriptor list is based on genetic resource data collected between 2010 and 2023 across several European countries, including the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Austria, Croatia, Italy, France, Germany, Greece and Spain. The resources are conserved in grafted collections at Mendel University, as well as in partner collections in Prague, Holovousy and Tvarožná Lhota.
As climate change increasingly threatens traditional fruit species, researchers are seeking resilient and sustainable alternatives. The service tree, a species positioned between commercial and ornamental plants, is now gaining attention for its adaptability and fruit quality. The newly developed descriptor list enables systematic characterization of morphological, biological and economic traits, alongside evaluations of disease resistance.
Consult the Descriptor list for service tree – Sorbus domestica L.