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Parentage
Sweetheart (formerly EM1148) was
bred at East Malling Research from a cross between Rosie and Onebor,
and was first selected in 1999.Season
The cropping season is similar to Elsanta (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Main crop yield profile for Sweetheart (EM1148) compared
to Elsanta, EMR 2002.
Fruit Quality
Berries are uniformly conic in shape, darker than Elsanta with a
good red flesh colour. Skin has a good strength. Flavour is pleasant
with a balance of sweetness and acidity. Brix levels are usually
higher than for Elsanta.
Yield and Fruit Size
Sweetheart has produced good main crop yields and fruit quality when
grown on less intensive growing systems. In trials it has performed
well as a two-year-old plant (Table 1) and would be well suited to
perennial production. Average berry size is usually larger than
Elsanta.
Marketing Suitability
Suitable for both amateur and retail sales.
Table 1. Harvest data for Sweetheart and Elsanta from trials at EMR.
| |
2004 (60-day) |
2003 (maincrop) |
| |
EM1119 |
Elsanta |
EM1119 |
Elsanta |
| Class 1 (>25mm, g/plant) |
115 |
207 |
1022 |
1012 |
| % Large berries >35mm |
38% |
53% |
64% |
46% |
| % Class 1 |
99% |
82% |
96% |
90% |
| 50% harvest date |
19 Jul |
26 Jul |
14 Jun |
19 Jun |
| |
2002 (maincrop) |
2001 (maincrop) |
| |
EM1119 |
Elsanta |
EM1119 |
Elsanta |
| Class 1 (>25mm, g/plant) |
1309 |
1037 |
868 |
899 |
| % Large berries >35mm |
40% |
25% |
79% |
57% |
| % Class 1 |
79% |
64% |
93% |
78% |
| 50% harvest date |
20 Jun |
20 Jun |
25 Jun |
25 Jun |
Plant Characteristics
Has a compact habit with well-displayed fruit and good plant vigour,
producing a leaf canopy that is more dense than Elsanta.
Disease Resistance
Sweetheart shows moderate resistance to powdery mildew (Podosphaera
aphanis). Tests have shown that it has a similar susceptibility as
Elsanta to both crown rot (Phytophthora cactorum and wilt (Verticillium
dahliae), but there have been no particular problems with these
diseases in farm trials.
Use of the Variety
Sweetheart has performed well under less intensive production
systems, but is less suitable for commercial 60 day production.
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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