2022 is a year rich in novelties and events for COT International, a French company that researches and distributes fruit varieties. The company celebrated its 30 years of existence with its clients, friends and various supporters. But for this French breeder, 2022 also marks:
the marketing of 3 new protected varieties of apricots
the first low-chilling selections from its breeding program in Murcia, initiated in 2015
the marketing of the first cherry from the hybridization program started in 2010 for this species
3 new selections of yellow-fleshed plums, one of which will be the subject of a COV deposit before planting next winter
Its presence as an exhibitor at Fruit Attraction in Madrid for the 10th consecutive year.
30 years of editing, creating and breeding varieties
“We want to thank each and every one of you for coming here to celebrate with us the 30 years of existence of our company and for your presence and support over the past 3 decades,” expressed Marie-Laure Etève, manager of COT International, to the guests of the day. “We continue to work for you and we are convinced that we will be able to celebrate many more anniversaries with you in the future!”
“It is only the beginning. We have many projects for the coming years and even more selections and hybrids to evaluate in order to propose varieties that are adapted to the needs of the producers, always with the same concern for taste quality.”
Great progress on apricots
The 2022 apricot campaign was marked by a strong precocity at the beginning and middle of the season, with an average of 12 days in advance on the company's orchard in St-Gilles. The high temperatures over a long period of time eventually slowed down the production to end up with “normal” dates in August.
This year’s complicated climate conditions (drought, high ETP, heatwaves) have nevertheless allowed for the validation of some selections which the company has been evaluating for several years, including late varieties such as 2017-373 and 2016-282 (end of July and early August, respectively). They are now waiting for protection and are available from the nursery partners of COT International.
Cokli COT 2016-282 Dcov
Val COT 2017-373 Dcov
The high rainfall in the region of Murcia in March and April delayed the apricot season and allowed the company, which has a second experimental orchard in Blanca, to observe the behavior of 4 very early varieties: ES19-02, ES19-24, ES19-43 and ES20-66.
“These future varieties are remarkable for their productivity, their hardiness (no damage caused by the heavy rains before harvest) and their taste quality (average Brix degree of 15° for each) at a time when the varieties found on the shelves barely reach 10° Brix. However, they are only suitable for warm areas, Low Chilling, with very few cold hours,” explains Marie-Laure Etève.
ES 19-02 / ES 19-24 / ES 19-43 / ES 20-66
The adaptation of the varieties is a key criterion in today’s breeding. COT International therefore offers a new variety for the colder regions that experience frost: the Winter COT 2014-21 variety with very late flowering (7 days more than the Bergeron variety on average).
Winter COT 2014-21 Dcov
Of course, all the new protected varieties of the company are self-fertile, a mandatory criterion for COT International.
Marketing of the first cherry from the COT hybridization program
Since 2010, the French breeder has been diversifying its offer by adding cherry and plum species. Based on its experience with apricots, the company initiated a breeding program for cherries in addition to the work on American varieties from breeder Marvin Nies and the exclusivity for Europe (outside of Spain) for the Californian varieties of breeder SMS Unlimited.
Given that 10 to 12 years are needed to select a fruit variety, it is this year that the first cherry from this program, SUN POP cov COT 12-09, enters the catalog.
Sun Pop 12-09 Dcov
This cherry is self-fertile, crunchy, with a high potential in terms of caliber and it is harvested early in the season (+12-15 days after the Burlat). “What is particularly interesting about this new variety is that it has a very good taste quality, which is always the first selection criterion for COT International.”
“For us, this campaign will be the confirmation of the Epick 16 variety, known as SMS 16, from the Californian program SMS Unlimited. It is also self-fertile and makes a good follow-up to the Frisco. It has a good potential in terms of caliber and it is also firm and sweet,” explains Pascal Bassols-Pot, technical and commercial manager.
3 new selections of yellow-fleshed plums
As for the cherries, COT International has been offering varieties of American-Japanese plums for several years. “Our flagship variety, the Grenadine cov, is a yellow-fleshed August plum, recognized for its very high agronomic potential and excellent taste quality," explains Marie-Laure Etève.
Grenadine cov
“In 2022, after many years of observation, we preselected 3 varieties: PL312/PL314/PL316. Unanimously appreciated for its surprising aromas of exotic fruits, the PL312 will be the subject of a COV registration.”
PL 312 Dcov
COT International considers consumer satisfaction to be essential in its work of selection and creation of varieties. The company has therefore been working for several years on the creation of a red-fleshed range, rich in antioxidants. “The main objective remains to maintain a very good taste quality, as for the Coquine cov.” COT International’s plum calendar continues to grow.
Fruit Attraction for the 10th consecutive year
In order to be as close as possible to its clients and keep up with the latest developments of the sector, COT International will be present at Fruit Attraction 2022 in Madrid from October 4th-6th (Pavillion 4, Booth 4C05E).
For more information:
Marie Laure Etève and Pascal Bassols
COT International
Mas de la Condamine, Chemin de l’abricot
30230 Bouillargues
Phone: +33-6-08-27-38-82
[email protected]
[email protected]
www.cot-international.eu