NEW SWEET CHERRY CULTIVARS DEVELOPED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BOLOGNA

The University of Bologna established a sweet cherry breeding program in the early 1980s and released its first cultivars in the late 1990s.
The ‘Star’ sweet cherry series began with ‘Early Star^® Panaro 2’, ‘Blaze Star’ and ‘Lala Star’, released in 1997. Three additional selections are now proposed for release as new cultivars: `Sweet Early^® Panaro 1’, ‘Grace Star’, and ‘Black Star’. ‘Sweet Early^® Panaro 1’ (DCA Bo 84.706.004) ripens very early (several days before ‘Burlat’), with large, very sweet fruits having a semi-firm flesh and low acidity. ‘Grace Star’ (DCA Bo 84.703.003) ripens medium early (right after ‘Celeste’) and is interesting for its precocity, high yields and attractive, good-size fruits. ‘Black Star’ (DCA Bo 85.723.002) ripens mid-season (a few days before ‘Van’) and is marked by very good precocity, consistently high productivity, and large, firm, flavorful fruits that are resistant to rain-induced cracking.
All 6 of the cultivars released thus far are self-fertile.

IV International Cherry Symposium

S. Sansavini, S. Lugli

Prunus avium, fruit breeding, self-fertility, variety, fruit quality, precocity, yield

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2005.667.3