WINTER HARDINESS IN SMALL FRUIT BREEDING

Due to the protective action of the snow the strawberry and the arctic bramble weather the winter better than other berries in Finland. Even so one must also in their breeding take into account the adaptability to the local climate. In the spring of 1984 the Department of Horticulture released its first strawberry variety for cultivation, the 'Hiku', which is a good cropper, vigorous and truly winter hardy.

The bush berries are susceptible to frost damage, particularly above the snow-line. The so far best blackcurrant selection of the Department of Horticulture, which will be proposed for cultivation variety, combines good yield, upright growth, resistance to gooseberry mildew and a good winter hardiness. This selection comes from the crossing 'Öjebyn' x 'Wellington XXX'.

Regarding the highbush blueberry, of which there are no foreign varieties available that are suitable for our climatic conditions, a highly winter hardy variety, the 'Aron', was released for cultivation in the spring of 1982. It comes from the back-cross 'Rancocas' x (bog blueberry x 'Rancocas').

A breeding project has been launched for the raspberry, which in order to improve on the winter hardiness focuses on utilizing the gene pools of the wild raspberry.

Based on interspecific breeding of the raspberry and the arctic bramble we have produced the nectar raspberry, of which two varieties, the 'Heija' and the 'Heisa', have been released for cultivation and of which the latter is rather winter hardy.

Concerning the sea buckthorn the aim is to develop varieties for cultivation that are adaptable to Nordic climatic conditions.

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