RECENT PROGRESS IN THE FINNISH RASPBERRY BREEDING PROGRAM

Since the poor winterhardiness of the red raspberry (R. idaeus L.) varieties is the most important limiting factor for cultivation, the major aim in breeding has been to improve winterhardiness.
The other important objectives have been raising the yield and the improvement of characteristics important for the fresh market.

Finnish wild strains have been used as parents because of their winterhardiness and good flavour.
By crossing the red raspberry with the arctic bramble (R. arcticus L.), it may be possible to combine the aroma of the arctic bramble with the ease of cultivation of the red raspberry.
The foreign varieties used in these crossings are ‘Boyne’, ‘Carnival’, ‘Comet’, ‘Glen Clova’, ‘Indian Summer’, ‘Malling Promise’, ‘Muskoka’, ‘Ottawa’ and ‘Veten’.

The evaluations of the unselected breeding material (about 2 000 seedlings) was finished in 1992. The total number of selected clones is now 97, situated at four locations.
The selections have been made on the basis of three years’ record.
Some of the clones are promising, as they have a good winterhardiness and acceptable fruit size combined with a delicate flavour.