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Parentage
Pandora was raised in 1979 from the cross (Von Humboldt x Redstar)
x Merton Dawn.
Fruit Quality
The berries are a regular conical shape with an orange-red colour
which darken in high temperatures. Skin and flesh are moderately firm
and the berries have an excellent flavour and pleasant, juicy texture.
Yield and Fruit Size
Pandora is rather sensitive to planting dates and the best yields
are achieved by planting fresh runners at the beginning of August, or
earlier if possible. In trials using this system a typical yield in
the first season is 800g per plant Class 1, of which approximately 50%
is over 35mm diameter.
Marketing
Pandora is a dessert variety but has softer skin and flesh than
Elsanta, and consequently a shorter shelf life. It must be picked
frequently and handled with care if the fruit is aimed at supermarket
sales. The late season and excellent flavour make it useful to
pick-your-own growers and those supplying local markets and caterers.
Plant Characteristics
Pandora is male sterile and must be inter-planted with a late
flowering pollinator variety such as Sophie or Florence. Best results
have been achieved by using two different pollinators at a ratio of no
more than 3 Pandora:1 pollinator. Plants are very vigorous and should
be grown as discrete plants at a density of 24,000 per ha or less. The
requirements for nitrogenous fertiliser is minimal but plentiful
irrigation is essential. Planting in the autumn or winter should be
avoided as this may result in over-vigorous and blind plants.
Disease Resistance
Pandora is moderately resistant to wilt (Verticillium dahliae),
crown rot (Phytophthora cactorum), blackspot Colletotrichum acutatum
and powdery mildew (Sphaerotheca macularis.) It is susceptible to red
core (Phytophthora fragariae), angular leaf spot (Xanthomonas
fragariae), and (Diplocarpon earliana).
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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