Murcia expands its stone fruit portfolio with climate-adapted varieties

Three new stone fruit varieties will soon be added to Murcia’s growing catalogue of genetically improved cultivars. These include two yellow peaches and one flat nectarine (platerina), which are expected to enter the registration phase in the coming weeks.

The announcement was made by the Region of Murcia’s Agriculture Minister, Sara Rubira, during a visit to the Imida experimental farm in Abarán. According to Rubira, the aim is to make the varieties available for multiplication by nurseries in time for the next growing season.

This expansion brings the region’s portfolio of newly developed varieties to 26, all of which are offered to local growers through established nurseries such as Viveros del Sureste, Mariano Soria, Jódar, Viversa, BombonFruit, and José Antonio Gómez.

Designed to withstand climate variability, these fruits are appreciated for their early and late harvesting potential, as well as for their flavour, size, colour, and texture. Their adaptability and commercial appeal make them competitive in both domestic and European markets.

The varieties belong to several series already recognised in the sector: ‘Levante’ for yellow peaches, ‘Mistral’ for platerinas, and ‘Siroco’ for flat peaches. Others include yellow-fleshed nectarines (‘Bora’), the established ‘Alisio’ line, and red-flesh plums like ‘Lucía’ and ‘Victoria’.

Murcia’s government, through Imida, has been working for decades on this breeding program, based on traditional genetic improvement methods. Over 50,000 peach crossbreeds have been evaluated agronomically to identify viable new cultivars.

Most of these varieties require several years to become commercially productive, with development cycles lasting up to 5–10 years depending on the fruit type. Research efforts are part of the region’s strategic R&D initiatives, supported by EU Feder funds and co-financed by the regional government.

Murcia remains a key player in Spain’s fruit export sector. In 2024, it exported nearly 143,000 tonnes of stone fruit valued at €256 million — making it the country’s second-largest exporter after Lleida, and accounting for 19% of Spain’s total stone fruit exports. Most of this produce is shipped to European countries, with Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands as primary destinations.

source: ecomercioagrario.com

photo: consorfrut.com