Pometum
A pomet is a collection of varieties of fruit trees and bushes. The word is derived from the Latin word "pomum", meaning 'fruit on trees'. The Pomet in Taastrup is associated with the University of Copenhagen's Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences.
At the Pomet, we have a very extensive collection of varieties. For instance, there are approximately 750 apple varieties, of which around 300 are Danish. Additionally, the Pomet houses collections of varieties such as plums, pears, strawberries, gooseberries, and several other types of both bush and tree fruits.
The core tasks of the Pomet include supporting research and education at the University of Copenhagen, as well as conserving the varieties for the Nordic Gene Bank.
Furthermore, at the Pomet, we aim to promote knowledge and understanding of these varieties and fruit cultivation in general.
We also collaborate with various private entities, including research partnerships or other projects that contribute to advancing knowledge in the field.
Read more about the Pometum (In Danish)
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There are two types of collections at Pometet, Gene collections; the variety collections of plant genetic resources that we in Denmark have committed to preserve for future generations in collaboration with the Nordic Gene Bank. At Pometet, we have Gene collections of apple, pear, plum, sour and sweet cherries, elderberry, walnut, hazelnut, gooseberry, currant, and strawberry.
In addition to the gene collections, we also have variety collections of grapevine, quince, medlar, chestnut, rowan, crab apples, blackcurrant, raspberry, blackberry, blueberry, and we have smaller plantings of species such as apricots, mulberries, figs, etc., mainly used for education and research.
We also have collections that focus on something other than specific variety collections. Among other things, we have a collection of apple trees from Kazakhstan, a collection of apple varieties grown commercially, a collection of columnar apple trees, and a collection of cider apple varieties
You can read more about our collections (in Danish) here:
Are you interested in undertaking a project at Pometet?
Pometet's collections and areas are available to students and researchers at the University of Copenhagen. We also undertake projects for and with various external stakeholders such as businesses and associations.
Pometet has fields with different fruit plantation setups that can be used by researchers and students for experimental investigations. These could include experiments within the plantation, trials with products from the plantation, or other related studies. We also have a forest garden, urban farming plots, and various opportunities to work with biodiversity.
The collections can also be utilized for projects related to Pometet's role as a gene bank.
Pometet also offers various facilities for processing and analyzing products and experimental materials.
Experiments in the plantation or laboratories
Before initiating experiments in the plantation or Pometet's laboratories, an agreement must be made with team leader Lasse Lose.
For all projects, a project form must be completed outlining the experiment, the division of work, and the financial aspects. The project form is filled out in collaboration with Lasse Lose.
Products from Pometet
In certain cases, Pometet can supply fruit, juice, or other products for teaching, dissemination, and research at the University of Copenhagen or for other research and development projects.
Delivery and payment terms are arranged directly with team leader Lasse Lose.
Development of Unique Danish Apple Varieties
In 2013, Pometet invited volunteers to participate in a "Crowd Breeding" project to develop new, robust apple varieties. The project was called "Æbleoasen" (Apple Oasis) and was funded by Fonden for Økologisk Landbrug.
136 participants sowed 10,000 open-pollinated apple seeds from the 54 most robust and flavorful old Danish apple varieties in Pometet's collection.
In 2019, we had the opportunity to evaluate the new seedling apple trees in the project "Development of Unique Danish Apple Varieties." The project is funded by Promilleafgiftsfonden for frugtavlen og gartneribruget.
In 2019, 2020, and 2021, we visited the 52 growers who had successfully cultivated the trees.
Approximately 2,000 trees have been examined for robustness against the diseases apple scab, powdery mildew, apple canker, and sooty blotch. Of these, 50-70% are very robust against scab, mildew, and canker, while only about 25% are free of sooty blotch.
About 25% have borne fruit in 2021, with the first trees to bear fruit being crabapple types.
373 of the new seedling apples have been taste tested. 22% have a good or very good taste. In 2020-21, a preliminary selection was made of 59 eating apples, 16 ornamental apples, 6 cider apples, 1 columnar apple, and 1 rootstock for further investigations.
In 2023, the selected seedling varieties will be planted at Pometet and further evaluated. Read more (in Danish) here
InnoBreed - Innovative Organic Fruitbreeding and uses
InnOBreed is a European collaborative project involving 21 participants from 10 countries regarding the breeding of fruit varieties suitable for organic cultivation. The project includes, among other things, the establishment of a network to evaluate varieties at the European level for organic cultivation. Plant robustness, quality, and minimal input will be part of the assessment. The project also focuses on experiences with participatory breeding.
The following fruit species are included in the project: apricot, peach, grape, cherry, almond, olive, pear, and apple. At the University of Copenhagen, we are working on developing apple varieties.
The duration of the project is four years (July 1st 2022 - July 1st 2026).
Read more about the project (in Danish) here
The Pometum has several tools at hand to help you, whether it is determining the unknown fruit tree in your garden, providing you with a cutting of a different variety of apple so that you can grow a hybrid fruit tree at home or if you are looking for a specific variety of apple.
You can read more about the tools (in Danish) below.
FrugtID - let us help you identify the unknown fruit tree in your garden
Podekviste - order cuttings for your garden via GENBIS
Æbleøglen - Search for a specific variety of apple or try to identify one in your own garden
Courses and Open House
Pometet occasionally offers courses and workshops in various disciplines within fruit cultivation. These may include grafting, pruning, tasting sessions, forest garden cultivation, themed days focusing on specific plant species, and similar topics.
Additionally, we host an Open House once a year where we showcase and discuss our collections and ongoing research projects. This event takes place annually on the last Sunday of September.
During Open House, we also invite numerous guests to share their fruit-related products or knowledge. It's a festive day that we eagerly anticipate, and we hope you'll join us!
If you find this intriguing, please keep an eye on news updates on the homepage of this site or follow us on Instagram and Facebook.
Tours
Contact
The Pometum
Team leader: Lasse Lose
llb@plen.ku.dk
+45 29 17 64 92
GENBIS
