Chile targets the Chinese market and launches its first independently developed cherry variety

Recently, the new cherry variety Selection 21 (S-21) jointly developed by the Chilean Agricultural Research Institute (INIA) and the Biofrutales Fruit Variety Research and Development Alliance was officially unveiled. Biofrutales manager Rodrigo Cruzat said that the main factors considered when developing varieties include not only early maturity, but also a long post-harvest life to ensure that they can reach the main market China, while ensuring fruit firmness and green stems. Ideal new varieties of fruits The size should be above 28mm, which not only has a high taste, but also has a yield of more than 18 tons/hectare. Over the past 14 years, Biofrutales has tested 50,000 different cherry trees in experimental fields in Coquimbo and O'Higgins, of which only about 40 have entered the second phase of selection. work, and finally 7 strains have entered the final breeding stage. Recently, S-21 has been unanimously approved by the INIA New Variety Release Regional Committee and will ...