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Parentage
Bred and selected by Dr Derek Jennings from a cross between two
unnamed seedlings.
Season
7 -14 days earlier than Elsanta in the UK depending on site and
location.
Fruit Quality
Large to very large fruit, which are light orange-red in colour,
very bright and with an exceptionally fine sweet flavour. Very good
Class I percentages with few small or misshapen berries. In HDC
trials Christine was noted as the firmest variety in the trials with
high skin strength and little bruising, and performed better than
Elsanta in shelf life tests.
Yield and Fruit Size
Slightly less than Elsanta which is typical of very early varieties.
Christine produces plants with a crown size range of 9-13mm, which
limits its 60 day crop potential.
Disease Resistance
Highly resistant to Verticillium wilt (Verticillium dahliae) and
powdery mildew (Podosphaera aphanis). Susceptible to crown rot (Phythophthora
cactorum).
Use of the Variety
Plants are more vigorous than Elsanta. Christine requires a generous
supply of water for the full expression of its flavour and yield
potential, and to avoid any seediness in the fruit.
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