New variety development

Variety performance has several facets, and each are important for growers to consider as they affect profitability in their individual production systems.

Performance components

• Overall yield
• Timing (related to pricing at time of harvest)
• Berry size (harvest labour efficiency and customer satisfaction)
• Plant characteristics; plant size (relating to planting density) and number of runners (labour to remove runners in orchards)
• Pest and disease susceptibility, rain susceptibility

Genetics (variety) is one major determinant of performance. Other horticultural factors also play major roles in the outcome, including climate, pest and disease control, and plant nutrition.

Variety performance data should be generated in the climates and growing systems that we have in New Zealand, in order to be relevant to our growers. 

NZBP organises two annual variety trials per year, one in Auckland and the other in Christchurch. These trials also serve to check the quality and trueness to type of the material coming from licensed propagators.