Breeder's Description

Millewa

June-Bearer, Exceptionally Large Fruit

Head Licence & Worldwide Marketing Rights for UPOV Countries, excluding Australia & New Zealand held by MEIOSIS
Bred by Department of Primary Industries Victoria, Australia

Parentage

Millewa was selected from a cross between the University of California cultivar Chandler and the AVS cultivar Adina made in 1992 at the Department of Primary Industries - Knoxfield, Victoria, Australia, and tested under the selection number 92-007-33.

Fruit Quality

Berries are exceptionally large, frequently producing fruit exceeding 40 grams in size during spring. The skin is bright red in colour and moderately glossy resulting in attractive fruit, the appearance being maintained throughout the fruiting season. Berries are wedge to conic shaped with significant variation between primary, secondary and tertiary fruits and rarely produce the ridged fruit typical of Adina. The flesh colour is medium red with a lighter coloured core and.

The fruit are substantially firmer than Pajaro and are moderately resistant to damage from rain, and highly resistant to powdery mildew. The calyx is large, spreading and detaches easily. Results from grower trials over seven years indicate that with a combination of moderate acid, high sugar and a moderate aroma, the flavour of Millewa will be well accepted by consumers.

Plant Characteristics

Plants of Millewa are of globose form, moderate density, and runner freely.

In trials in Australia, Millewa has consistently out yielded the University of California variety, Pajaro when planted in late autumn and produced similar yields to its parent, Adina. Millewa has shown no particular susceptibility to pests but has demonstrated a strong resistance to powdery mildew. Plants have a moderate chilling requirement, which must be met for satisfactory plant growth.