Articles
BLACKCURRANT BREEDING IN FINLAND
Article number
262_21
Pages
157 – 160
Language
Abstract
Blackcurrant has been included in the breeding programs of the Institute of Horticulture since 1961. In addition to high productivity and good quality of the berries the main aim has been to breed cultivars suitable for machine-harvesting, i.e. improvement of the growth habit of the shoots.
Crossing winterhardy and high yielding but creeping Fennoscandinavian cultivars with Central European and British upright cultivars has resulted in some promising selections.
One of these, selection 67008081, was given the name ‘Mortti’ and released for cultivation this year.
Crossing winterhardy and high yielding but creeping Fennoscandinavian cultivars with Central European and British upright cultivars has resulted in some promising selections.
One of these, selection 67008081, was given the name ‘Mortti’ and released for cultivation this year.
‘Mortti’ originates from a crossing between the Swedish local variety ‘Öjebyn’ and English ‘Wellington XXX’. ‘Öjebyn’ is at present the most popular cultivar in commercial use in Finland. ‘Mortti’ is winterhardy, field resistant to gooseberry mildew and upright in its growth habit.
The flavour of the berries is aromatic and pleasant.
The first Ribes cultivar released by the Institute of Horticulture was the green-fruited ‘Vertti’ in 1986 originating from a selfpollination of ‘Öjebyn’. The greenish-yellow berries of ‘Vertti’ have the typical blackcurrant flavour but they are milder and less sour, which makes them excellent for fresh use as for production of juice and preserves.
Publication
Authors
T.P. Hietaranta, H.M. Hiirsalmi
Keywords
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