three varieties will be officially launched at this year’s Fruit Focus, to be held at EMR on July 27. Malling Pearl and Malling Opal are two everbearing varieties, while Judibell is a June-bearing type.
The strawberry-breeding programme at EMR aims to develop a range of high quality varieties with overlapping seasons, which crop in succession from April to October. A major emphasis for new varieties is placed on excellent fruit quality, including good flavour, attractive appearance and good shelf life.
In addition, improved resistance to pests and diseases is another important characteristic. Strawberry breeding and trialling at EMR is jointly funded by: Defra, Meiosis Limited, the Horticultural Development Council and the East Malling Trust for Horticultural Research.
All varieties released from the EMR programme are commercialised by Meiosis Limited.
Technical director of KG Fruits Ltd, Richard Harnden, says: “Commercial fruit growers have keenly followed the development of Malling Opal and Malling Pearl, and are pleased that sufficient plants are available for commercial on-farm trials in 2005.
“Both selections offer improved eating qualities and a sweeter flavour than many of the existing varieties in the mid-July to October production period, which should be appreciated by consumers and help to keep the late-season strawberry market buoyant.”
One of the first growers to try Judibell is Richard Simkin who farms near Wolverhampton, in the Midlands. “Judibell seems to have important qualities for PYO growers,” says Simkin, who grew his trial on unsterilised land. “Its very late cropping season gives us another weekend or two of strawberries, which is really valuable. It’s also a robust plant and doesn’t suffer from disease - we certainly don’t want prima-donna varieties. I think for any PYO grower Judibell is certainly well worth trying.”
EMR’s chief executive, Colin Gutteridge, expects the new varieties to be quickly snapped up by the industry. “Malling Pearl and Malling Opal are a breakthrough in terms of fruit size and quality for August production. Judibell has a unique cropping season and will crop well in late July, when demand is usually strong,” he says.
Malling Pearl (formerly EMR286) and Malling Opal (formerly EMR287) are similar in appearance, being sister seedlings arising from the same cross. Although they are very similar, there are differences between the varieties, which may influence the preferences of individual growers. Initial results from trials suggest that Malling Opal has had the larger average fruit size and consequently slightly higher yield, while Malling Pearl produces firmer berries with a more uniform shape.
The fruit quality of Malling Pearl and Malling Opal has been consistently appreciated in taste tests conducted with representatives from major supermarket chains, according to EMR, and both have “a sweet flavour and juicy texture”. Both also offer growers a high-yielding variety, which produces large, attractive fruit with excellent colour. In trials both varieties have produced 60 per cent of their crop in July/August and 40 per cent in September/October.
Judibell (formerly EM965) seems likely to be well suited to less intensive growing systems and for PYO growers. It is an exceptionally late-season June-bearing strawberry, being significantly later than all other varieties, including Pandora and Sophie. Judibell crops in July and early August, the 50 per cent pick date being some five weeks later than Elsanta. An additional benefit is that Judibell has good tolerance to Verticillium wilt and powdery mildew, similar to the variety Florence.
Judibell was named after Judi Bell, a former assistant to the breeder at EMR, Dr David Simpson. Judi (now Mrs McKendrick) worked with David for some 15 years and was involved in the breeding and selection of many previously released East Malling varieties, including Alice, Florence and Flamenco.
No comments yet