This Wednesday, Cuna de Platero hosted the technical day 'Presentation of the New Transfer and Research Projects on the Cultivation of Strawberries and other Red Fruits', organized by the Institute of Agricultural and Fisheries Research and Training of the Government of Andalusia (IFAPA).
IFAPA carried out a characterization of both agronomic and quality characteristics of different strawberry varieties in different cultivation systems. The aim was to generate information that could be useful to the sector and facilitate a varietal choice, given the wide range currently available. It presented the results obtained in the 2018/2019 campaign with the characterization of a group of 12 selected varieties which are currently available in the market and are the result of different improvement programs. These varieties were the Calderon, of Masiá Ciscar; the Calinda, of Freshforward; the Samantha (Plared13-107), of Planasa; the NSG 120, of Nova Siri Genetics; the Marquis, of Driscoll’s; the Primavera, of Berry Genetics; the Palmeritas, of Masiá Ciscar; the Petaluma, of the University of California / Eurosemillas; the Primoris, the Rábida and the Rociera, of Fresas Nuevos Materiales, and the Savana, of Planasa.
Juan Jesús Medina, of the IFAPA in Huelva, was in charge of presenting the results obtained with these varieties in conventional cultivation with chemical disinfestation. The tests were carried out at the Fresperiquito farm.
With the varieties already evaluated at different times of the campaign, the Rabida and Plared 13 stood out for their extra-early production volume and low share of second class fruit, while the Rábida, Savana and Plared 13 stood out for their early production. In terms of total production, the Rabida, Rociera and Savana are the most remarkable. The Plared 13 showed greater initial vigor, and as the campaign progressed, the Rociera and Calderon appeared to be the most vigorous varieties. Regarding the content of soluble solids and firmness, two essential features for the fruit to be accepted by consumers and to ensure exports with good post-harvest quality conditions, the varieties performing best were the Rociera, Marquis, Rábida, Primoris and NSG 120.
Carmen Soria and María Teresa Ariza, of the IFAPA center in Malaga, presented the results obtained with these varieties in conventional cultivation with biosolarization. The tests were carried out at the El Cebollar farm.
In this case, in extra-early production, the Rábida, Primavera and Palmeritas stood out the most, and in early production, the Rábida and Primavera performed best. Greater firmness was achieved with the Plared 13 and NSG 120. As for the content of soluble solids, the highest levels were reached by the NSG 120, Rociera, Marquis and Calderón. Also, the ones that had the best sugars / sourness ratio were the Marquis, Plared 13, NSG 120, Primoris, Rábida and Rociera. In the post-harvest, the Primoris, Calinda, Marquis, Palmeritas, NSG 120, Rábida, Plared 13 and Rociera all stood out.
The conclusions of the study in terms of functional quality were also presented. The Calinda appeared to have the greatest amount of phenols and flavonoids; the NSG 120, the most anthocyanins; the Primoris and Marquis, the greatest antioxidant capacity, and the Calderón, the highest vitamin C content.
José Antonio Gómez, of the IFAPA Center in Las Torres, reported the results obtained with these varieties in organic farming, with the tests carried out at Flor de Doñana Biorganic.
In organic farming, no varieties stood out from the rest, either in early or extra-early production; they all had a very similar behavior. In terms of total production, the Rociera did stand out thanks to the great volume and reduced share of second class fruit. The Plared 13 showed greater initial vigor, but as the Rociera and Calderón campaigns progressed, they became the most vigorous. Regarding the content of soluble solids and fruit firmness, the NSG 120, Primoris, Rociera, Primavera, Palmeritas and Marquis were the ones with the best results.
Throughout the day, topics such as the environmental footprint in strawberry cultivation and the use of TIF plastics in soil disinfestation were also discussed.
Source: agrodiariohuelva.es