Recognition of the microbiome colonizing the apple orchard localized in different latitudes. Identification of the varying symbionts potentialy influencing the genotype diversity of apple. Phenotyping (in eg. - low fungicide / low water) conducting measurements of: trunk diameter, intensity of flowering, maturity date, number of fruits and fruit traits, disease phenotyping, apple scab, powdery mildew.
Plnat genotyping (SSR, CAPS and SNP markers et cet.). Investigation of the putative sequences of total DNA regulating apple important traits. Gene expression profiling, based on the new generation sequencing and by quantitative PCR assays. Recognision of the diversity of the microbion, depending on the climatic conditions.

The National Institute of Horticultural Research in Skierniewice Poland is a governmental R&D organization supervised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Its research activity covers all areas related to fruit, vegetable, ornamental plant and bee sciences, from basic studies on physiology, biochemistry and molecular biology, through biotechnology, creative breeding, protection of genetic resources, agronomy, plant pathology, fruit and vegetable storage and processing, food safety, horticultural engineering, economics and marketing. Since all of the fruit and many vegetable plants are entomophilous and require bees for pollination, bee science was also included in the Institute’s programme.

The Institute also takes part in several governmental research programmes on food safety, integrated and organic fruit and vegetable production, protection of genetic resources and in campaigns aimed at changing nutritional habits of the Polish consumers toward increased consumption of fruits and vegetables. Due to active extension and implementation programmes and close cooperation with major stakeholders, the Institute has contributed in a large extent to the development of horticultural production in Poland.
Besides research, the Institute is also involved in commercial activities, especially in food analysis. Several Institute’s laboratories has ISO/IEC 17025 and/or GLP certificates and perform analysis (pesticide residues, heavy metals, nitrites and nitrates and mycotoxins) for food producers and wholesalers. It is estimated that Institute’s laboratories have 50% share of commercial food analysis market in Poland.
The Institute actively participates in building European Research Area. Cooperative links have been established with most of the horticultural research centres and clusters in Europe and several joint research project, co-financed by European Commission and other international organisations, were initiated.

Big part of the research activities of our Institute is dedicated to the apple, the most important fruit crop in Poland. At the Institute we also maintain a big collection of apple cultivated varieties and wild species, conduct research on apple gene mining as well as broad apple breeding program. Our apple cultivars have been introduced into commercial cultivation not only in Poland.