Chile is the world's largest exporter of cherries, with shipments in the 2022-2023 season reaching a record 415,315 tons, with the Chinese market being its main destination, accounting for just over 801 TP3T of the total Chilean cherry exports sent to the world.
Therefore, in order to support this national industry with varieties that allow it to "flatten" the production and export curve, as well as to have Chilean cherries that have a long post-harvest life, the ASOEX Fruit Technology Consortium, together with the Catholic University of Chile, and with the support of Corfo, took on the task of developing cherry varieties that adapt to the reality and needs of this productive and export sector of Chile.
“Our main objective is to develop new varieties of early and late cherries that adapt to the climatic, commercial and logistical requirements of Chile, with the aim of facing climate change, post-harvest and competitiveness.", said Marlene Ayala, director of the Cherry Genetic Improvement Program (PMG) of the Fruit Technology Consortium, during her online presentation at this year's Macfrut. She added that, as for early varieties, they are looking for October and early November. While in the case of late varieties, they focus on cherries to harvest at the end of January and February.
Ayala also highlighted that by 2030, the first Chilean 100% cherry varieties are expected to be available, along with the ideotype that the industry and markets expect.
Regarding the ideotype or characteristics sought in new cherry developments, the professional indicated that these were worked on together with the industry, defining, among others, the following aspects: Early harvest and late harvest (to move away from the mid-season harvest concentration dates). Fruit weight: ≥10 grams, fruit size: ≥ 26 mm, fruit firmness: ≥70 durofel, sweetness: ≥17°Brix and with tolerance to cracking.
This PMG has managed to create a large germplasm bank, which has allowed for a large number of genetic combinations of cherries to be carried out throughout the process. The seedlings were established at the Pirque experimental and research station, near the capital, Santiago. In addition, there is another field at the San Vicente de Paul Agricultural School.
Developments
“The Chilean cherry industry needs its own varieties. Until now, we only cultivate imported varieties. However, Chile needs new germplasm adapted to our own climatic, logistical and commercial conditions to maintain its competitiveness as the main exporter in the Southern Hemisphere,” commented the academic and researcher.
Regarding her work as director of the Cerezo PMG, she pointed out: “In 2010, an important project to develop new cherry varieties was started by the ‘Technological Consortium of Fruit’, made up of the Association of Fruit Exporters of Chile (Asoex), several exporting companies and the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile (PUC). Since then, I have been working on improvement and, to date, we have more than 30 advanced selections grafted and under study. Twenty-four of them have been evaluated in terms of yield, quality and post-harvest life.”, he pointed out.
The professional observed that there are currently around 81 second-selection hybrids, chosen from among some 1,000 individuals that were evaluated in the laboratory. Of these 81 selections, 36 have already been grafted and established in the field, and 38 grafted in pots, while the other seven will be grafted this year. She also noted that there are 4 advanced selections, that is, with the potential to become the first Chilean 100% cherry varieties.
