ISHS Acta Horticulturae 348: II International Strawberry Symposium
STRAWBERRY CULTIVATION AND BREEDING IN FINLAND |
| Authors: | T. Hietaranta, E. Laurinen |
| Abstract:
Strawberry is the most important soft fruit in Finland. In 1990 the cultivation area was 3423 hectares, and the annual crop averages 12000–20000 tons. Cultivars must be adapted to cold winters, usually with snow cover, and short, cool summers. The main cultivar, ‘Senga Sengana’, accounts for about 70% of total production. ‘Zefyr’ is the principal cultivar for early production, but ‘Ostara’, ‘Hella’, ‘Jonsok’, and ‘Mari’ are also used to some extent. New-comers for late production are ‘Bounty’, ‘Korona’, and ‘Hiku’. Variety testing has played an important role in search for new good varieties. Breeding began in 1961 and is based on intraspecific hybridizations, followed by selection made from the crossing families. The main breeding aims are winter hardiness, abundant yield, large fruit size, resistance to grey mould (Botrytis cinerea) and mildew (Sphaerotheca alchemillae) and good quality fruit, in terms of delicate flavour, sweetness (sugar content), good colour of the skin and flesh, skin toughness, flesh firmness and well-shaped fruit. Thus far, two varieties of cultivated strawberry, ‘Hiku’ and ‘Mari’, and one wood strawberry variety, ‘Minja’, have been released. | |
