East Malling Research (EMR) has found two new everbearer selections from its strawberry breeding programme that could be released later this year.

The two strains have been showing considerable promise in initial selections in EMR’s quest to develop a range of varieties with over-lapping seasons which crop in succession from April to October.

EMR286 and EMR287 are sister seedlings which were initially selected at EMR in 2001. Both have a similar cropping season to Everest running from July into September and in the trials have produced similar or higher yields than Everest but with larger average fruit size. They are both attractive, conical-shaped berries that are lighter in colour with consistently higher brix levels than Everest. Eating quality is one of the outstanding attributes of the new berries, according to an EMR spokesperson, as they are sweet in flavour and juicy in texture.

The main difference between the two new strawberries is that EMR286 tends to be firmer than EMR287 and so has a better shelf life in warm weather conditions.

“EMR286 and EMR287 will complement Flamenco, another high quality everbearing variety from EMR which tends to start cropping later and produces most fruit in September and October,” said the spokesperson.

Soft fruit nurseries are already propagating the new varieties and a large quantity should be available in 2005 to establish trial plantings.

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