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Five strawberry varieties from Canada
This Article was orginally taken from the North American Strawberry Growers Newsletter
Written by Nova Scotia'a very own , Beatrice Amyotte who works for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Kentville, Nova Scotia.
There are five
new Canadian strawberry varieties with potential for production in the
Northeast. They are ‘AAC Audrey’, ‘AAC Evelyn’ ‘AAC Kate’, ‘AAC Dynamik’, and
BC 10-2-1.
The varieties
were tested in small-plot trials at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)
research farm in Kentville, Nova Scotia, Canada.
The varieties
are recommended for field production in Eastern Canada and the Northeast USA;
they are suitable for both direct and wholesale marketing.
‘AAC Audrey’
‘AAC Audrey’ (tested
as K13-11) is a mid-season June bearing cultivar (Fig. 1) bred by Dr. Andrew
Jamieson at AAFC in Kentville, Nova Scotia.
When grown in
straw-matted row trials in Kentville, Nova Scotia it had medium-high yields,
and followed the same harvest season as ‘Jewel’ and ‘Cavendish’ (Fig. 2). The
fruits were medium in size, and had medium firmness, medium sweetness, and medium
acidity (Table 1). In tasting trials they were described as juicy with ripe
strawberry flavour (K. Burgher-MacLellan, unpublished). Storage trials from
2017 suggests that ‘AAC Audrey’ can be kept in the fridge for 15 days before
the first signs of decay (C. Forney, unpublished).
‘AAC Evelyn’
‘AAC Evelyn’ (tested
as K13-19) is a mid-season June bearing cultivar (Fig. 1) bred by Dr. Andrew
Jamieson at AAFC in Kentville, Nova Scotia.
When grown in
straw-matted row trials in Kentville, Nova Scotia in 2022 it had moderate
yields, and followed the same harvest season as ‘Jewel’ and ‘Cavendish’ (Fig.
2). The fruits were large in size, and had medium firmness, medium sweetness,
and medium acidity (Table 1). In tasting trials they were described as fruity
and juicy (K. Burgher-MacLellan, unpublished). Storage trials from 2017
suggests that ‘AAC Evelyn’ can be kept in the fridge for 15 days before the
first signs of decay (C. Forney, unpublished).
‘AAC Kate’
‘AAC Kate’ (tested
as K12-14) is a mid-season June bearing cultivar (Fig. 1) bred by Dr. Andrew
Jamieson at AAFC in Kentville, Nova Scotia.
When grown in
straw-matted row trials in Kentville, Nova Scotia in 2022 it had medium yields,
and followed the same harvest season as ‘Jewel’ and ‘Cavendish’ (Fig. 2). The
fruits were medium in size, and had medium-high firmness, medium sweetness, and
low-medium acidity (Table 1). In tasting trials they were described as fruity
and juicy (K. Burgher-MacLellan, unpublished). Storage trials from 2017
suggests that ‘AAC Kate’ can be kept in the fridge for 16 days before the first
signs of decay (C. Forney, unpublished).
‘AAC Dynamik’
‘AAC Dynamik’
(tested as FLP112-8) is a repeat bearing cultivar (Fig. 1) bred by Dr. Shahrokh
Khanizadeh at AAFC in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec.
When grown in plasticulture
row trials in Kentville, Nova Scotia in 2020-2022 it had moderate yields and
was the first to return to bearing after midsummer (Fig. 3). The fruits were medium
in size, and had high firmness, high sweetness, and low-medium acidity (Table
1). In tasting trials they were described as juicy and firm with ripe
strawberry flavour (K. Burgher-MacLellan, unpublished). This variety was not
included in storage trials at AAFC Kentville.
BC 10-2-1
BC 10-2-1 is a
repeat bearing breeding selection (Fig. 1) bred by Dr. Michael Dossett at the
BC Berry Breeding Program in British Columbia.
When grown in plasticulture
row trials in Kentville, Nova Scotia in 2021-2022 it had very high yields the
spring after planting (Fig. 3). The fruits were large in size, and had high
firmness, medium sweetness, and low-medium acidity (Table 1). In tasting trials
they were described as fruity and firm with ripe strawberry flavour (K.
Burgher-MacLellan, unpublished). This variety was not included in storage
trials at AAFC Kentville.
Disclaimer
The data in
this article have not been formally published. Trial results will be subjected
to additional analyses and peer review. We encourage all interested growers to
test out the new varieties in small parcels to determine if they are adapted to
your region and compatible with your production system.
Where to get
plants
The varieties
‘AAC Audrey’, ‘AAC Evelyn’, and ‘AAC Kate’ are licensed to C.O. Keddy
Nursery and Lareault
Nursery Inc. The variety
‘AAC Dynamik’ is licensed to Lareault Nursery Inc. Please contact the licensees to obtain plants for
sale in Canada, or to discuss testing opportunities for the USA. Canadian Plant
Breeder’s Rights: 18-9634,
18-9635,
18-9636,
19-9937.
The variety BC
10-2-1 is not yet licensed or available for sale. However it is available for
testing in limited numbers. Please contact Dr. Michael Dossett directly, or by
emailing Beatrice Amyotte.
Research
funding
The five
Canadian strawberry varieties were tested through the Canadian Berry Trial
Network, an activity of the Horticulture Cluster administered by the Fruit and
Vegetable Growers of Canada. The research conducted in Nova Scotia was funded
by AAFC, Perennia Food and Agriculture, and Horticulture Nova Scotia. Annual
updates to industry for the Canadian Berry Trial Network can be found here.
Fruit quality data for the Nova Scotia trials were collected by Charles Forney
and Karen Burgher-MacLellan through research funded by AAFC.
Contact
Beatrice
Amyotte
Agriculture and
Agri-Food Canada, Kentville, Nova Scotia
Beatrice.amyotte@agr.gc.ca
Figures and
Tables
Fig. 1. Five strawberry varieties developed in Canada. Photos
from 2021; fruits in pint containers.
Fig. 2. Marketable fruit production of June bearing strawberry
varieties evaluated in Kentville, Nova Scotia. Trials were planted in 2021 and 2022,
and harvested the year after planting. Trial varieties were grown in 10-plant
plots with four replicates; average marketable yields per variety are shown. The
crop was grown under a matted row production system with conventional
management; no pesticides were applied in the fruiting year.
Fig. 3. Marketable fruit production of continuous bearing
strawberry varieties evaluated in Kentville, Nova Scotia. Trials were planted
in 2019 (A) and 2021 (B), and harvested as indicated. Trial varieties were
grown in 10-plant plots with four replicates; averages per variety are shown.
The crop was grown under a plasticulture production system with conventional
management; no pesticides were applied in the second year.
Table 1. Fruit quality characteristics of strawberry varieties
evaluated in Kentville, Nova Scotia. Trial varieties were evaluated at harvest
in 2021 (June bearing) and 2022 (Repeat bearing) as described in Figs. 2-3. Ratings
are the averages of four plots per variety, and two harvests per plot.
|
Variety |
Fruit Size (g) |
Firmness (kg) |
Soluble
Solids (% Brix) |
Titratable
Acidity
(g/L) |
|
June bearing |
|
|
|
|
|
AAC Audrey |
17 |
5.0 |
8.9 |
0.92 |
|
AAC Evelyn |
19 |
5.0 |
8.7 |
0.88 |
|
AAC Kate |
13 |
5.5 |
8.6 |
0.83 |
|
Cavendish |
17 |
4.7 |
8.8 |
0.92 |
|
Jewel |
14 |
5.0 |
8.4 |
0.99 |
|
Valley Sunset |
19 |
5.0 |
9.5 |
0.93 |
|
Repeat bearing |
|
|
|
|
|
AAC Dynamik |
14 |
6.7 |
9.6 |
0.84 |
|
BC 10-2-1 |
19 |
7.6 |
8.0 |
0.79 |
|
Albion |
19 |
6.7 |
8.5 |
0.87 |
|
Seascape |
17 |
5.3 |
7.9 |
0.93 |
Jonathon Bent was able to quickly go through some of the Davis Stations and bring up some rainfall numbers for the month of June. In summary the recent rainy period was fairly widespread with much needed rain to western NS. Most locations there have received over 100 mm so far in June, which may be more than what those locations received in April and May combined. Northern and Eastern NS have received 70-100 mm rain so far this month.
For context, a normal amount of precipitation for Kentville in June is 81.6 mm for the entire month. Within the first week of June ~130 mm of precip was recorded there (KRDC).
Some other
locations for June
|
Station |
Precip for June (as of June 13) (mm) |
|
Paradise |
113.2 |
|
Bear River |
112.6 |
|
Comeauville |
109 |
|
West Caledonia |
169.4 |
|
Cambridge |
130 |
|
Hillaton |
116.2 |
|
Aylesford |
111 |
|
Upper Rawdon |
110.6 |
|
Mackay Siding |
77 |
|
Middle Musqoudoboit |
84 |
|
Belmont |
66.6 |
|
Kirkhill |
84.6 |
|
Oxford |
106.4 |
|
Wentworth |
87.6 |
|
Earltown |
84 |
|
Hazelglen |
89.6 |
|
Blue Mountain |
77.4 |
|
College Grant |
99.4 |
|
Skye Mountain |
95.4 |
