SIX NEW STRAWBERRY CULTIVARS FROM EAST MALLING RESEARCH

Since 2004, six new strawberry cultivars have been released from the breeding programme at East Malling Research, two everbearing and four June-bearing. ‘Judibell’ (2005) has extended dormancy which results in a very late season for a June-bearing type - the second half of July in southern England. The berries are moderately firm and attractive with mid-red colour and pleasant flavour. Plants are quite dense with good resistance to Verticillium dahliae and Phytophthora cactorum, and moderate resistance to Colletotrichum acutatum and Podosphaera aphanis. ‘Delia’ (2005) is an early-season type with high yield. The berries are large, uniform and glossy with orange-red colour and excellent shelf life. Plants are moderately vigorous with no particular resistance to any common diseases. ‘Malling Pearl’ (2005) is a high yielding everbearing type that is at its most productive during August and September. The berries are large and conical with an attractive colour and excellent eating quality. Plants have medium vigour and moderate resistance to P. aphanis but are susceptible to P. cactorum. ‘Malling Opal’ (2005) is a sister seedling of ‘Malling Pearl’ with a similar cropping pattern and plant characteristics. ‘Malling Opal’ has larger average fruit size and higher yield than ‘Malling Pearl’ but is less attractive with inferior shelf life and is considered most suitable for pick-your-own and direct marketing. ‘Sallybright’ (2007) is an early-season type with moderate yield and good fruit size. The berries are attractive with strong red colour and good flavour. Plants are vigorous with the flowers held above the leaf canopy. They are robust but have no particular resistance to any common diseases. ‘Sallybright’ is considered suitable for direct marketing and amateur use. ‘Amelia’ (2007) is a late-season type with moderate yield and good fruit size. The berries are firm and attractive with a mid-red colour and pleasant flavour. Plants are vigorous with moderate resistance to P. aphanis and P. cactorum.