PRODUCTION VALUE AND SUITABILITY OF NEW POLISH BLACKCURRANT CULTIVARS FOR MECHANICAL FRUIT HARVESTING

New blackcurrant cultivars ‘Tisel’, ‘Tiben’ and ‘Tines’ released at the Research Institute of Pomology and Floriculture (RIPF) in Skierniewice, Poland were evaluated for their production value and suitability to mechanical harvest of fruits. ‘Ben Connan’, ‘Ben Lomond’ and ‘Titania’ were used as standard cultivars.
The experiment was established in autumn of 1998 at the Experimental Orchard in Dabrowice (near Skierniewice), Central Poland.
Observations and studies were carried out in 2000–2004. Results obtained revealed significant differences among tested cultivars.
The earliest in fruit ripening were ‘Tisel’, ‘Titania’ and ‘Tines, mid-early was ‘Ben Connan’ and the latest ‘Ben Lomond’ and ‘Tiben’. The average fruit yield for 5 years was 7,9 t/ha.
For ‘Tiben’, ‘Ben Connan’ 6,6 and ‘Tisel’ 6,3 t/ha. ‘Tines’ and ‘Ben Lomond’ produced 5,3 tones of fruits/ha and ‘Titania’ had the lowest average yield (4,5 t/ha). The biggest fruits were harvested from ‘Tines’ (1,4 g) and the smallest from ‘Tiben’ (1,0 g). Remaining cultivars had mid-size fruit (1,1-1,2 g). Bush sizes calculated in m² (high x width) depended on cultivar and year of investigation. ‘Tiben’, ‘Titania’ and ‘Tisel’ had the largest bushes and ‘Ben Connan’ and ‘Ben Lomond’ the smallest ones.
Plants of ‘Tisel’, ‘Tines’ and ‘Titania’ showed the highest field resistance to fungal diseases. ‘Ben Lomond’ was very susceptible to powdery mildew and white pine blister rust.
The efficiency of fruit picking by two types of harvesters was generally high and differences among tested cultivars were small.

IX International Rubus and Ribes Symposium

S. Pluta, E. Żurawicz

Ribes nigrum L., black currant, yield, fruit size, plant growth, mechanical harvest

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2008.777.68