Updates on Italian strawberry breeding programs coordinated by CREA

The Council for Agricultural Research and Economics (CREA) coordinates a number of strawberry breeding programs from different areas of southern and northern Italy. These areas are characterized by different climate and cultivation techniques: the southern area (Calabria, Basilicata and Campania regions) with mild winter and winter planting system; Romagna area (Po Valley) with medium-chill winter and summer planting; Verona area (Po Valley), medium-chill winter and fall culture; Bolzano area (The Alps mountain area), cold winter and pluriannual culture. These programs are currently co-funded by the public and private sector and consist of: Piraccini Secondo srl (recently merged into Apofruit Italia), Cooperativa Ortofrutticola Torrevecchia, ARSAC (Calabria region autorithy) in the South; and New Plant Soc. Cons., Apo Scaligera Soc. Coop. Agr., Laimburg Research Center in the North. All these programs aim to breed new cultivars that are hardy, resistant or tolerant to the soil-borne pathogens, productive even with reduced inputs (fertilizer, irrigation and pesticide), and high quality fruit with prolonged shelf-life. The latest cultivars released are 'Agnese', 'Callas' and 'CRAPO 135' while four advanced selections 'FC 12.25.1', 'LAM 11.85.17', 'LAM 11.23.22' and 'LAM 09.68.4' are soon to be released.