Productivity of Modern Raspberry Varieties and Prospects for Their Selection

Abstract

Industrial raspberry plantations do not provide the domestic Russian market with products in full. Open-ground raspberries are only available in July, August, and September. These time intervals can be extended by using tunnel shelters and remontant varieties. The aim of this study was to evaluate foreign remontant raspberry varieties for industrial cultivation in the Central Russia region and their potential use in breeding programs to improve domestic varieties. The data was collected from four-year-old plants over three years. The studied varieties—including ‘Amira’, ‘Enrosadira’, ‘Maravilla’, ‘Mapema’, ‘Kwanza’, and ‘Eros’—were grown in film greenhouses. The vegetative and generative parts of the plant were assessed, as well as the characteristics of the fruits. The plants were grown in film tunnels (10 m × 100 m × 4.7 m). Thirty fruits were randomly selected for the study, in which quantitative and qualitative parameters were evaluated. The parameters of the vegetative and generative organs were also measured. According to the study results, based on raspberry fruit quality indicators, four raspberry variety groups were distinguished. The content of soluble solids was highest in the Maravilla variety, amounting to 14.14 ± 0.71 Brix. Based on a set of characteristics, it was established that if agronomic activities including irrigation and basic fertilizer application are observed, the varieties ‘Maravilla’, ‘Enrosadira’, and ‘Mapema’ are promising for use in the central zone of Russia.