PRINCIPAL RESULTS OF THE RESEARCH PROGRAM FOR THE PERIOD 1999-2003 1.2. for the development of Slovenia FRUIT GROWING: - With the new products used for chemical thinning of apple fruitlets we improved the production technology in the sense of increasing the share of the first class fruits and in the sense of decreasing the alternate bearing of apple-trees. Certain options of the use of some products for chemical fruitlet thinning of fruitlets (plant oils, acidic acid, NaCl) perfectly acceptable for ecological apple production were indicated. - Testing of Nokad and Amid-Thin made possible the registration of these two products in Slovenia. In the opposite case, Slovenia would remain without agentsfunding used for the chemical thinning of apple fruitlets which would cause major problems in the apple production. - We confirmed the hypothesis that olive variety 'Istrska belica' was bearing alternately every second year while the variety 'Leccino' requires a longer period from the first to the second good bearing. A chosen pruning technology could decrease the alternate bearing of olive trees. - It was established that by growing strawberries and blueberries in plastic tunnels these two small fruit species could be produced with lesser number of fungicide spraying and, at the same time, their early ripening would be affected. - Optimal natural growth locations for American blueberries in Ljubljansko barje were determined. - Theoretical bases for certified production of apple plants in Slovenia were defined (making of rules were made) and basic tests of basic mother plant material (serological tests, wood testing indicators) were made. Growing and planting of virus free - certified planting material improves the economy of production in nurseries and orchards. Switch to certified planting material is urgent from the aspect of the Slovenian nurseries becoming part of Europe. VINE GROWING: - Gene bank of grapevine was established in which an 'in situ' collection was made and ampelographic descriptions of 40 ancient (domesticated and autochthonous) grapevine varieties were made using the OIV, UPOV and IBPGR descriptor systems. - More than 100 healthy clones of significant Slovenian wine varieties (f. ex.: 'Rebula', 'Refošk', 'Šipon', 'Laški rizling', 'Žametovka', 'Zelen', 'Pinela', 'Radgonska ranina', etc.) for which the first class grafting material can not be obtained elsewhere were described ampelographically and evaluated technologically. - Research work in the field of physiology of growth and development of grapevine was conducted in the sense of searching for the most suitable ampelotechnical measures (pruning, green pruning, reduction of yield) and in the sense of searching for the most suitable grapevine rootstocks with the best impact on the quality and quantity of grape yield in drought conditions as well. WINE PRODUCTION: - We are capable of determining the origin of alcohol and the authenticity of wines and their geographic origin using isotopic analyses. Such analyses also enable determination of chaptalisation in years when this is not legally allowed. - Determination of quantity and profile of polyphenols in red wines provides guidelines used for the typeway of processing of red grape varieties. - Research of the production of the Slovenian red wine 'Cviček' was taken as a basis for the "Rules on Wine with the Designation of Recognised Traditional Denomination - 'Cviček'" (Official Gazette No. 3/14.1.2000).