Uzbek scientists create new strawberry variety

Scientists of the Research Institute at the Ministry of Agriculture of Uzbekistan have produced a new strawberry variety - "Tong ifori". The fruits are suitable for growing in a greenhouse and are intended both for domestic market and export.

"Today, Uzbekistan has all the necessary conditions for growing strawberries in the open ground and greenhouses in order to supply this berry to the market all year round. This process is carried out in close cooperation with specialists from South Korea and China," the report says.

It is noted that previously only imported high-yielding varieties were presented on the market, which was purchased for foreign currency from foreign suppliers. Now, "Tong ifori" variety can be purchased at the Research Institute of Vegetable Crops and Potatoes which can easily substitute its imported analogue.

The "Tong ifori" variety is suitable for growing in a greenhouse. The vegetation period of the plant is 193-200 days, the period before the first harvest in a temperate climate is 107-115 days. The colour of the fruits is light red, each weighing 20-25 grams. The dry matter content in fruits is 10.8% (10.2-11.2), sugar - 9.5% (7.2-7.8), ascorbic acid per 100 grams of product - 66.98 mg (54.8–68.0), nitrate content - 68 mg/kg. The yield ranges from 1.8 to 2.2 kg/m2.

The main regions supplying fresh strawberries to the market are Tashkent, Namangan, Ferghana, Andijan and Samarkand regions.

Strawberries in foreign countries

The USA is the largest producer of strawberries (Fragaria spp) with an annual harvest of 825 thousand tons. In Spain, 305 thousand tons of strawberries are grown, in Japan - 209 thousand tons, in South Korea - 203 thousand tons. Poland and France are the leaders in Europe with an annual production volume of 100 thousand to 180 thousand tons of strawberries.