Some New Varieties of Strawberry for U.P. Hills

Abstract

The strawberry is chiefly a temperate fruit plant, but it can also be grown in sub-tropical climate by obtaining fresh plant material from the hills. It is a highly economical fruit crop in the valley areas of Naini Tal district of Uttar Pradesh. There is further hope to increase its cultivation in other areas because the existing area is not able to meet the total demand of the fruit preservation industry of northern India. At present a few varieties such as Red Coat, Cavalier and Jeolikote Local (introduced long ago from England) are commercially grown. However, the yield and fruit size (as well as quality) of these varieties is low. Further, these varieties are susceptible to diseases in this region of high rainfall. Hence a breeding program was begun to develop varieties suitable to this area.