New Italian strawberry options could expand the genetic base of planting in Brazil

Strawberry cultivation in Brazil is in full expansion, with an increase in cultivated area recorded in practically all the main producing regions (Minas Gerais, Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina) and in new areas, such as in the states of Espírito Santo and Bahia, where it is cultivated in high altitude regions. Much of this growth can be attributed to phytotechnical research, which in recent years has developed new production systems and cultivars increasingly adapted to the particular climatic conditions of each region.

Combined with the results obtained from scientific production, the globalization of information constitutes a very important tool in the dissemination of new technologies throughout the world. A demonstration of this is that currently a large part of Brazilian producers use cultivars developed in other countries such as Spain and the United States, introduced into the Brazilian market in the last 25 years, as well as seedlings imported from Argentina and Chile.

Inserted in the context of globalization of information and in the search to increasingly contribute to this culture, some Brazilian researchers, with government encouragement through doctoral scholarships, are in Italy with the aim of identifying and evaluating new genotypes with potential of cultivation for the most diverse regions of Brazil. This partnership between Brazil and Italy aims to introduce new commercial materials (cultivars) in the country, of genotypes carrying genetic characteristics of relevant importance for use in Brazilian breeding programs, assisting in the process of developing future national cultivars, which can replace , in part, the current cultivars available on the market and increase the crop's yield, which, in turn, will reflect on the producer's economic return.

Italian commercial cultivars, and a large number of advanced selections, have already been identified with clear potential to expand the genetic base of breeding programs and/or for cultivation in the southern region of Brazil. The selected genotypes are being evaluated by the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) in conjunction with other teaching and research institutions, such as what is currently carried out with the State University of Santa Catarina (Udesc) and the Federal University of Pelotas (UFPel ). This activity is the result of doctoral research projects, which aim to meet the needs of the culture and boost Brazilian strawberry production to a new level, be it quality, production or technical-scientific.

Currently, the observation units are distributed in the states of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina, with expansion planned for other regions in the coming years. The forecast is that, after the necessary evaluation period, some commercial materials will be registered in Brazil and made available to producers through certified national nurseries. Probably, in the medium term, new Brazilian cultivars with mixed genetics will also be available on the market.

Resulting from joint action between the various research bodies presented above, cultivars such as Jonica, Nora and Pircinque, all in the final phase of evaluation in Brazil, deserve to be highlighted.

JONICA

Cultivar obtained from a free pollination of Kilo [Rosalinda x Demetra (Irvine x Tudla)] by researcher Walter Faedi (CRA-FRF), selected in Scanzano Jonico (southern Italy) in 2006, with identification number PIR 04.72.21 .2013 and commercially distributed in 2013 with Italian registration number 2784/XNUMX.

It is a short-day cultivar with low need for cold, with early maturation, very well adapted to cultivation with fresh seedlings with bare roots and plug plants (clod). It presents fruits with a constant average mass throughout the production period. A characteristic that distinguishes it from other cultivars is the maintenance of petals on the ripe fruit during the winter production period.

It presents plants with a medium to high development of new crowns during the production period, compact vegetative habit, medium vigor, medium to high productivity, early flowering with harvest approximately ten days before Candonga, which is the most used cultivar in the south from Italy. The fruit has a high average mass, regular conical shape, good pulp firmness, bright red color, high consistency and medium acidity (Table 1).

Figure 1 - Jonica: plant without production and different cuts of the fruit

NORA

Cultivar obtained through crossing Chandler x Sel. 91.143.5 (86.288.1 x Cortina) by researchers Walter Faedi and Gianluca Baruzzi (CRA-FRF) and developed together with some Italian research bodies (CRA-FRC, Alsia-Basilicata, Università della Basilicata, Università di Palermo and CRPV -Cesena), being selected with the identification MT 99.20.1 in the Metaponto region (southern Italy) in 2001, and commercially disseminated in 2008, under the Italian registration number 2009/0001.

Short day crop with low cold requirements and early maturation very adapted to the southern region, and other regions in protected cultivation. It presents a plant with high rusticity and fruits with a very regular shape due to high pollen fertility. The pulp consistency can be reduced in periods of high temperatures and tends to reduce fruit mass in the final harvest period.

Plants with medium development of new crowns, intermediate vegetative habit, medium vigor with medium to high productivity. Flowering is considered early with elongated fruits, very bright red in color, red pulp, medium consistency and medium to low acidity (Table 1).

Figure 2 - Nora: plants in production and different cuts of fruit

PIRCINQUE

Cultivar obtained through the crossing between Ventana x Nora by researchers Walter Faedi and Gianluca Baruzzi (CRA-FRF), selected in the experimentation area of ​​Scanzano Jonico (southern Italy) in 2006, with the identification of PIR 04.228.5 and disseminated commercially in the year 2010 under the Italian registration number 2010/35654.

Short-day cultivar with low cold requirements and early fruit maturation, very well adapted to southern growing conditions whether grown with fresh seedlings with bare roots or with plugs. It presents plants with high vigor, especially in soils with high fertility, requiring adequate nutritional support. Cultivar adapted to non-fumigated land (common practice in Italy). Fruits with an elongated conical shape and high average mass throughout the production period. May present uneven color at the base of the fruits during the winter productive period.

The plants present high development of new crowns, high vegetative habit, with very high vigor and medium to high productivity. Flowering is early similar to that of Ventana, fruits with high average mass, elongated and very regular conical shape, high firmness, bright red color, bright red pulp, high consistency, medium acidity and very sweet (Table 1).

Figure 3 - Pircinque: plants in production and different cuts of the fruit

Table 1 - Averages of the last three years of cultivation of soluble solids, pulp consistency, fruit mass and production per plant of strawberry cultivars produced in southern Italy

Cultivar	Soluble solids (°brix)	Consistency(g)	Average mass (g/fruit)	Production (g/plant)
Jonica	7,6	597	24	508
Nora	8,0	570	20	348
Pircinque	8,2	635	26	534

Cultivar

Soluble solids (°brix)

Consistency(g)

Average mass (g/fruit)

Production (g/plant)

Jonica

7,6

597

24

508

Nora

8,0

570

20

348

Pircinque

8,2

635

26

534

Source: CRA-FRF database

It is worth noting that even with similar climatic conditions between the southern regions of Brazil and southern Italy, the production system adopted, as well as the type and fertility of the soil, differ considerably. In general, Italian cultivation is carried out in high tunnels with a high planting density, resulting in moderate yields per plant, but high yields per hectare. This difference reinforces the need to identify materials that have ideal characteristics for production and the national market, as well as verify the expression of these characteristics when cultivated in different Brazilian regions.

2014 is the second year of evaluation of these cultivars in the state of Santa Catarina and the first in Rio Grande do Sul, with a few more cycles still needed to confirm the main characteristics and investigate soil and climate influences.

The joint study between the main research bodies directly involved with strawberry cultivation, both national and international, allows, in addition to the development of new cultivars adapted to different cultivation conditions, the direct contribution to the training of new professionals, who will work in area with greater property, as well as providing opportunities for the introduction and development of new technologies, which in the near future may be used by Brazilian producers.

This article was published in issue 88 of Cultivar Hortaliças e Frutas magazine. Click here to read the edition.