SWEET CHERRY CULTIVAR AND ADVANCED SELECTION EVALUATION IN NORWAY

Due to a late harvest season compared to that found in other European countries, the sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) industry in Norway is now expanding, aiming for export markets.
Cultivars producing high quality fruit that ripen late (late July and throughout August) and that are suitable to grow in high density production systems are sought.
In addition, early ripening cultivars are sought for local marketing in early and mid-July.
Testing of cultivars and advanced selections has been carried out at Ullensvang Research Centre since 1959. During the last decade, 130 cultivars and advanced selections have been included in the testing program.
Important parameters like fruit size, fruit firmness, low fruit cracking, high and precocious yield, fresh appearance and good flavour have been evaluated.
Based on the results from this testing program, the following cultivars are currently recommended: a) for early season: ‘Burlat’, ‘Moreau’ and ‘Merchant’; b) for mid-season: ‘Giorgia’, ‘Chelan’, ‘Samba’, ‘Techlovan’ and ‘Van’; and c) for late season: ‘Lapins’, ‘Kordia’, ‘Regina’ and ‘Sweetheart’.

V International Cherry Symposium

M. Meland, O. Frøynes

Prunus avium, fruit quality, fruit firmness, fruit cracking, yield, soluble solids

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2008.795.47