NEW STRAWBERRY CULTIVARS IN SWISS INTEGRATED FRUIT PRODUCTION

In Switzerland food from integrated and organic production systems, including fruits and vegetables, have been promoted by several super market chains.
Strawberries are susceptible to several fruit rots (Botrytis cinerea, Colletotrichum sp., Gnomonia sp.) and are difficult to produce without repeated fungicide applications.
The wet climatic conditions in some regions of Switzerland are favourable for several diseases.
On the sandy loams predominant in prealpine regions Phytophthora fragariae, Phytophthora cactorum and other root diseases are prevalent.
Thus the climate, soil and market-requirements in Switzerland require robust cultivars. ‘Elsanta’ is restricted to sandy, well-drained soils. ‘Elvira’, a traditional standard cultivar of the early-ripening group, is beginning to degenerate (excessive flower formation, misshapen fruits).

Testing robust new breeding lines with a high fruit-quality is therefore important.
Potential new cultivars identified in strawberry growing are Darline, Mars and Thuriga.
In a network of ten fruit farms in different regions of Switzerland further promising cultivars such as Lambada, Darboise, Darsidor, Eros, Maraline, Symphony and other selections are being evaluated.

III International Strawberry Symposium

R. Neuweiler

Fragaria x ananassa, cultivar evaluation, selection, description

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1997.439.155