Seed sampling and re-sampling for selected populations

Seeds were sampled from the selected trees of the selected CWR populations according to the sampling design developed for this project in Task 1.2 and presented in MS2. From each mother tree, 20 to 30 healthy fruits were collected, and at least 20 healthy, mature seeds were extracted and kept separately at tree level. In total, 2,838 mother trees from wild species of Malus, Pyrus, and Prunus were sampled for leaves. However, due to varying climatic conditions and the year of each sampling site, seed samples were collected from 1,828 mother trees. Seed collection could not be completed in some CWR populations this year, as not all trees bear fruits (the level of fructification and its quality was unknown when trees were selected in early spring). Fruit re-sampling will continue next year in the relevant populations.