Important personalities of Czech fruit plant research and breeding

Fruits, as it has been proved by many archaeological discoveries, accompanied and still accompanies Man from the beginning of its existence. At first Man gathered fruits only occasionally in the nature. It's only after some time that he learned how to grow these plants and later how to breed them by some kind of empirical selection. However fruits have not only been used as alimentation, they also became a source of pleasure and beauty as well as an instrument making the environment healthier. Most of the fruit species cultivated in our country come from the European and Asian temperate zone. Residues of apples, pears, sweet and sour cherries, prunes, hazel nuts and later on of walnuts and grapevines were found in our country at a period ascending to the Stone (or Neolithic) age in middle European archaeological localities. From the first century AC residues of peaches have also been discovered. It seems that it's only from the Laten period (Celtic culture 4th-1st century BC) and under the influence of grown up antique cultures that a more intensive development of the cultivation of fruits and an increase of their qualities took place.

Keywords: fruit growing, history, breeding, known persons