Research and development
Breeding of strawberry varieties
Vissers has been researching new varieties for years, which are of interest to professional growers. At our research station in America (the Netherlands), we have access to greenhouses, table tops, and our own tray field. This allows us to independently test new varieties in the most common crops and ensure the selection process is alligned with practical applications.
Developing new varieties is a time-consuming process. The development period takes seven or more years. During this proces, potential varieties are assessed and tested for various traits, cultivation systems, and growing regions. Ultimately, from thousands of seedlings, one or two selections remain that have a chance of being introduced as a new variety.
We specialize in the development of both june-bearing and everbearing varieties. Our goal is to be innovative in these plant types, which will ultimately benefit the strawberry sector. We are convinced that this must be achieved in four key areas: productivity, plant health, plant architecture, and climate resilience. Based on these key points, the intended harvest pattern, and the vision for the future, different crosses are made. The seeds from the hand-pollinated fruits are sown, and the thousands of genetically diverse offspring undergo an intensive selection process.
Selection
The key characteristics by which potential strawberry varieties are selected:
- Harvest;
- Architecture;
- Induction temperature;
- Brix, Flavor, and presentation;
- Disease susceptibility;
- Yield;
- Hardness and shelf life.
The selected varieties are then tested for their performance in various cultivation systems and the different climates and soil types within and outside Europe. If you would like to know more about our breeding program or test new strawberry varieties, please let us know: info@vissers.com
Our range of strawberry varieties offers a wide selection for almost every commercial grower. We have varieties for late as well as early crops, for optimal flavor, optimal yield, or even both.
Our strawberry varieties have also been included in a maturity time overview, where you can easily compare times of maturity.
For a number of years now, Vissers Aardbeiplanten BV has invested time and energy in a breeding programme in an attempt to find new varieties that are interesting for the commercial grower.
The best strawberry plants will not achieve their full potential without a good cultivation system.
Strawberry plants are susceptible to threat from various pests and diseases. A number of precautionary and protective measures are required in order to achieve maximum production.
Strawberry plants are classified as follows:
- Pre-basic material (PBM) - This plant is registered at the Netherlands Inspection Service for Horticulture (NAKT) and has been tested for the absence of viruses. The propagating material obtained from candidate plants is classified as BM.
- Basic material (BM 1, 2 or 3) - These plants are propagated in an aphid-proof greenhouse. The first generation of propagating material is BM1. As long as these plants are raised in an aphid-proof greenhouse, the stock they produce will be classified as BM2. The stock produce by BM2 will be classified as BM3 ans is propagated in an aphid-proof greenhouse. If the generation of BM1 or BM2 or BM3 is raised outdoors, in these circumstances BM5-plants are produced.
- BM4 - The generation BM1 or BM2 or BM3, which are propagated in greenhouses, are suitable for propagation.
- BM5 - The generation BM1, 2, 3 or 4 suitable for propagation
- Certified material (CM) - Propagating material, obtained from BM certified mother plants.
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CAC - Non-certified production plants, therefore not suitable for propagation purposes. The reasons for certification not being granted may be the foreign origin of mother plants, proximity of production fields or a too high percentage of plants with deviating traits.
The text above is derived from the guidelines set up by the NAKT in the Netherlands.Outside the Netherlands apply the same classification less stringent growth conditions.
Vissers varieties
Apart from its own breeding program Vissers Aardbeiplanten is also an initiator and participant in "Hansabred GmbH & Co KG", and share holder of the East Malling Breeding Club in England. Hansabred is a new breeding program me in Dresden, Germany, where Dr. Klaus Olbricht and his team breeds varieties of strawberries. EMBC at East Malling is breeding strawberries for many years and have been able to produce varieties like Elegance and Malling Centenary. Breeder is Dr. Adem Whitehouse and his team.