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Parentage
Malling™Pearl, trialled as EMR286, was bred at East Malling
Research and first selected in 2001. It has a complex pedigree
including Evita, Selva, Elsanta, Providence and Etna.
Fruit Quality
The fruit has a regular conical shape and attractive appearance
with mid red colour and a glossy skin finish. The berries are firm
with a juicy texture and sweet flavour, resulting in excellent eating
quality. Shelf life is good and brix levels have been consistently
higher than Everest in trials at East Malling.
Yield and Fruit Size
The yield is similar to Everest but the average fruit size is
larger, with a significantly higher proportion in the large size
category (>35mm). The percentage waste is low.
Season and cropping pattern
If planted in spring, harvesting will begin in July and continue
until October. In trials at East Malling 60% of the production has
been in July/August and 40% in September/October, which is a similar
pattern to Everest. To maximise the yield it is essential to use
protection with polythene tunnels in the later part of the season.
Marketing Suitability
Malling™Pearl is suitable for supermarkets and direct farm sales.
Plant Characteristics
Plants have similar vigour to Everest but runner production is
greater and it is important to remove the runners regularly to
maximise yield.
Disease resistance
Malling™Pearl is moderately resistant to powdery mildew (Sphaerotheca
macularis). Susceptibility to other diseases has not yet been
assessed.
Use of the variety
Malling™Pearl is a high quality everbearing variety that will crop
heavily over a long season, offering continuity of supply for all
types of retailing.
Accreditations
The breeding of this variety was jointly funded by the
Department for the Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), MEIOSIS
Ltd and the East Malling Trust for Horticultural Research. The
trialling of this variety was funded by MEIOSIS Ltd and the
Horticultural Development Council (HDC).
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