LA PRODUZIONE SICILIANA ALLA RICERCA DI INNOVAZIONI VARIETALI

Effects on the quality and nutritional traits of wood strawberry fruits in Sicily.

In Sicily, the common woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca) is spontaneous in the Madonie Mountains (554 m a.s.l.), Nebrodi Mountains (850 m) and Mount Etna (900 m). In this region, the main clone cultivated is ‘Fragolina di Sciacca e Ribera’, named after the towns where the crop originally developed. It is a Junebearing genotype and it is characterized by very small fruits, globose-conical shape, deep red colour, very soft flesh, strong aroma and flavor. Also ever-bearing clones are cultivated in Sicily where they are cropped for many months. Solid soluble content, total titratable acidity, total antioxidant capacity, total polyphenols and anthocyanins content were quantified in berry sampl…

Effects of plant type on two strawberry cultivars in Siciliy

In Sicily fresh plants have for years been replacing the once popular cold-stored ones. Good early cropping is the aim of all strawberry growers in the island s Marsala district. The present trial tested the response of the new strawberry cultivars Sabrosa and Florida Fortuna using fresh plug and bare-root plants. Florida Fortuna plug-plants turned out to be the most promising type as a cash crop in delivering extra early ripening.

Strawberry Variety Trial in Sicily.

The Sicilian strawberry area differs from other Italian strawberry areas for its high earliness with productions that start in November-December. The earliness due to the very low plant winter chilling requirement is a very important characteristic to define the variety adaptability to this environment. Through the "Liste varietali Fragola" project funded by MiPAAF, many new varieties and advanced selections are evaluated annually in Sicily. Here, at the moment, the main variety is Florida Fortuna, followed by Candonga ® Sabrosa and Naiad ® CIVL35. Florida Fortuna, released in Florida, showed to be very interesting especially for its outstanding earliness, a high yield and good fruit qualit…