Embrapa lança variedade nacional de morango mais doce e resistente!
Embrapa Launches National Strawberry Variety
Overview of the New Strawberry Cultivar
- Embrapa is introducing a national strawberry variety with local characteristics, capable of producing for up to seven months.
- Currently, most strawberry seedlings in Brazil are imported from countries like Chile, Argentina, and Spain due to their cold hour requirements for growth.
Development of BRS Fênix
- The new cultivar, named BRS Fênix, aims to balance sweetness and acidity to meet Brazilian consumer preferences.
- This variety promises larger and sweeter strawberries with enhanced resistance during transport, crucial for maintaining quality from producer to consumer.
Production Statistics and Historical Context
- Brazil ranks as the largest strawberry producer in Latin America and the eighth globally, with 197 thousand tons produced in 2021 across approximately 5,000 hectares.
- Previous national varieties released by Embrapa between the 1960s and 1980s have become outdated; thus research resumed in 2010 involving multiple units within Embrapa.
Genetic Research and Cultivar Evaluation
- The initiative included importing germplasm from various countries (e.g., USA, Canada, Italy), leading to genetic combinations aimed at fulfilling Brazilian agricultural needs.
- BRS Fênix will be available on the market from June to December 2024. It is classified as a short-day cultivar that stops production in summer but has an early cycle allowing better profitability.