Articles
EMBRAPA strawberry breeding program – improving new strawberry cultivars for Brazil
Article number
1465_15
Pages
101 – 106
Language
English
Abstract
Brazil is the largest strawberry producer in South America and ranks among the top 10 producers in the world in terms of volume.
Over the past 20 years, Brazilian strawberry production has increased by 61% in area and 92% in production (in tons). Most of the cultivars used by Brazilian farmers were developed abroad.
EMBRAPA (Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation) restarted its strawberry breeding program in 2010. Since then, it has been working to develop new cultivars that meet the needs of Brazilian growers and consumers.
Each year, approximately 70 new crosses are made, and about 5000-7000 seedlings are evaluated in the field.
After an average of four years of EMBRAPA internal evaluation, the advanced selections are tested in trials across various production regions of Brazil (south, southeast and center-west) and in different production systems (soil, soilless and organic). In 2023, the first new cultivar from EMBRAPAs breeding program, BRS-DC25 Fênix, was released to Brazilian strawberry nurseries, and, in 2024 season, started to be cultivated in the main production regions of the country.
This is a short-day cultivar with an excellent flavor and a production potential of around 1200 g plant 1. New selections are currently being evaluated, with a focus on selection 31-09, which shows excellent productivity and fruit quality, and selection 35-22, notable for its plant vigor, resilience and fruit flavor.
The findings indicate that the cultivar BRS DC 25 Fênix and advanced selections from the EMBRAPA breeding program can be competitive with cultivars, from other breeding programs, available in Brazil.
Over the past 20 years, Brazilian strawberry production has increased by 61% in area and 92% in production (in tons). Most of the cultivars used by Brazilian farmers were developed abroad.
EMBRAPA (Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation) restarted its strawberry breeding program in 2010. Since then, it has been working to develop new cultivars that meet the needs of Brazilian growers and consumers.
Each year, approximately 70 new crosses are made, and about 5000-7000 seedlings are evaluated in the field.
After an average of four years of EMBRAPA internal evaluation, the advanced selections are tested in trials across various production regions of Brazil (south, southeast and center-west) and in different production systems (soil, soilless and organic). In 2023, the first new cultivar from EMBRAPAs breeding program, BRS-DC25 Fênix, was released to Brazilian strawberry nurseries, and, in 2024 season, started to be cultivated in the main production regions of the country.
This is a short-day cultivar with an excellent flavor and a production potential of around 1200 g plant 1. New selections are currently being evaluated, with a focus on selection 31-09, which shows excellent productivity and fruit quality, and selection 35-22, notable for its plant vigor, resilience and fruit flavor.
The findings indicate that the cultivar BRS DC 25 Fênix and advanced selections from the EMBRAPA breeding program can be competitive with cultivars, from other breeding programs, available in Brazil.
Publication
Authors
S. Bonow, L.E.C. Antunes, J.E. Schwengber, R.F. Cantillano, B. Ueno, L.F. Dutra
Keywords
Fragaria × ananassa, cultivar, strawberry selections, fruit quality, yield
Groups involved
- Division Vine and Berry Fruits
- Working Group Strawberry Culture and Management
- Division Sustaining Horticulture in a Changing World
- Division Horticulture for Human Health
- Division Plant Genetic Resources, Breeding and Biotechnology
- Division Greenhouse and Indoor Production Horticulture
- Division Precision Horticulture and Engineering
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