At The Agrovista Technical Day, Leon Jahae introduced new cherry varieties
Last week The English Apple Man reported on two presentations from the Agrovista Technical Day at Brands Hatch in Kent. This week's Journal reports on Leon Jahae who updated the delegates with news of new 'sweet cherry' developments.
Leon Jahae is an old friend of mine and Leon Jahae Top Fruit Consultancy is a partnership between Leon Jahae and his wife Mariete Jahae providing expert services to the agricultural and horticultural sectors.
An extract from Leon's website; "New varieties are introduced on a regular basis and the focus is on extending the season further by introducing earlier and later varieties. "Leon Jahae Top Fruit Consultancy" is always in touch with institutes and nurserymen who develop new varieties. This often allows my growers to trial varieties well before the official releases".
The cherry industry has enjoyed considerable expansion in recent years; the modern Gisela root-stocks, varieties from Canada, Scandanavia and Eastern Europe, in addition to some home grown varieties like Penny together with tunnel protection has taken the industry onto a level of success only dreamed of 20 years ago.
To fully capitalize on the opportunities for UK cherries, extending the season 'at both ends' is important; Leon Jahae told attendees at the Agrovista Technical day that the middle season is fairly well covered, with some excellent varieties. Current early varieties identified by Leon - Burlat a seedling bred in France 30 years ago by Mr Burlat week 2-3. Merchant bred by the John Innes Institute week 3-4. Sweet Early bred in Italy it is a cross between Burlat x Sunburst - week 2. The week number notation shows where each variety sits in the overall harvesting pattern.
Below: left to right; Burlat - Merchant - Sweet Early
The present early cherries with potential to 'stay the course' and the challenges of extending the season were defined by Leon. With investment in new orchards there is a need to 'get it right' as a new plantation will be in situ for 15 - 20 years..........
Below: Giorgia - Korvic - Vanda - Grace Star and Hertford
Leon set out targets for the cherry industry
Yields of 30 tonnes per hectare and 90% + class 1 quality - improving variety, rootstock, planting system and husbandry - a supply of UK cherries from end of May until late September, possibly even into early October - the late sales (September/October) will not necessarily be from the latest maturing varieties - improvement and research on storage and maintaining shelf life.
Leon set out his criteria for new cherry varieties.....
High production and early into cropping....
Ability to maintain high fruit firmness and brix (sugars) with high cropping........
Shelf life and storability is important........
Split resistance and tolerance........
Rot resistance tolerance.........
Not necessarily large fruit but size determines yield..........
Heat tolerance...........
Frost tolerance..........
Bacterial canker tolerance.........
Selection work outdoors........
Selection work on mature trees.........
Leon said; The latter two elements; selection work outdoors and work on mature trees is an important element; "I prefer the selection work done outside because when cherries show split resistance/tolerance outside and this in combination with a fair degree of Bacterial Canker resistance (outdoors) than for sure they will perform even better indoors. So select outdoors to have the excellent cherries indoors".
Looking at the current late season varieties, Kordia, Penny, Regina and Sweetheart, Leon commented the varieties capable of storing to extend the season, will not necessarily be the latest ripening variety, but the variety with the ability to store the best.
Below: Kordia - Penny - Regina - and Sweetheart
Leon identified potential 'new varieties' capable of bolstering 'early/mid season' supply....
Poisdel a week 2-3 cherry - Folfer a week 3-4 cherry - Bellise a week 3-4 cherry and Peter Stoppel numbered varieties and with week 1-3 harvest periods.
Below: Left to right; Poisdel - Folfer and Bellise
New late season varieties identified by Leon Jahae
Below: Left to Right; Areko -Tamara - Fertard - Astrid - Sentenniel & Staccato
Having reviewed the current and potential new varieties, Leon told the attendees that Peter Stoppel in the Lake Constance region of Germany is working on breeding new varieties which 'hopefully' will produce some new commercial cherries capable of adding to the cropping, quality, storability and extension of the cherry season.
New rootstocks
Leon Jahae presented new rootstock possibilities; namely, Gisela 12 and WeiGi 2 and WeiGi 1. These and Gisela all come out of rootstock breeding programmes in Germany.
Summarising the prospects for the future of UK cherry production, The English Apple Man looks back just 20-25 years when a few far sighted growers were trying a number of ideas for improving home grown cherries. Then most cherries were grown on Colt rootstocks, which requires a decent 'winter chill' to trigger a good crop; time and again we would set a crop, only for the majority to drop off at the first sign of fruits colouring (and often earlier) - the 'Gisela' Dwarfing rootstocks 'changed the game' and with the adoption of new varieties more consistent yields followed. There are a number of Gisela rootstocks but G5 is 'the standard' - Gisela 3 is less vigorous than Gisela 5 while Gisela 6 is more vigorous and best used with self fertile varieties. As the understanding of how new varieties interact with the respective rootstocks improved, the industry has forged forward.
An interesting footnote; one of those early pioneers (20 - 25 years ago) would from time to time comment; " I am probably wasting my time with Cherries" - well now the dominant crop by far on that farm is Cherries.......
That's all for this week.....I am suffering with a 'man cold' ........busy week next week.....
Take care
The English Apple Man
PS: In the Journal for 8th January I mentioned a Pluck a Truk picking platform; my vigilant friend Malcolm Withnall pointed out a 'small' mistake. This machine was in fact a Hermes.
Click on Hermes for a YouTube video of a Hermes in action.....