New strawberry variety yields over 30 tons per ha

The Potato, Vegetable and Flower Research Center is a unit located in Da Lat city, Lam Dong province, operating under the Institute of Agricultural Science for Southern Vietnam (IAS). According to its information, the new strawberry variety PS 8.10 has been transferred to some strawberry-growing households and achieved high efficiency.

Dr. Nguyen The Nhuan, Director of the Potato, Vegetable and Flower Research Center, said that a program for breeding and selecting new strawberry varieties had been implemented by the Center since 2018.

Based on material sources imported from Korea and some strawberry varieties cultivated in Lam Dong province, several hybrid combinations have been evaluated as promising, including PS 1.07, PS 7.01, PS 8.07, PS 8.14, PS 17.04, and PS 8.10. Among these varieties, PS 8.10 stands out the most.

PS 8.10 has a growth period of 95-100 days, quite resistant to powdery mildew and anthracnose. This variety's fruit has a cone shape, red when ripe, fragrant, delicious and sweet. It is popular among the consumers and highly evaluated in the market.

According to Dr. Nguyen The Nhuan, the strawberry variety PS 8.10 has the potential to give high and stable yield. Through a small area trial in 3 crops in Lam Dong province, the average yield was 32.1 tons/ha/year, 29.1% higher than the control variety. On a large scale, the average yield was 30.3 tons/ha/year, 23.4% higher than the control variety.

This results from joint research between the Center for Potato, Vegetable and Flower Research and the Korea International Agriculture Center (Kopia) - the Korea Rural Development Administration (RDA) based on breeding strawberries cultivated in Da Lat with Korean strawberry varieties. New models of strawberries are grown organically combined with beekeeping techniques and usage of blowers to increase pollination for strawberry plants.

From 2021 up to now, the strawberry variety PS 8.10 has been reproduced by the Potato, Vegetable and Flower Research Center and transferred to some strawberry farmers in Da Lat city. Accordingly, the people and the market have accepted this strawberry variety. Farmers have also requested to expand the strawberry growing area in the near future.