Economic value of foreign strawberry varieties for cultivation in South-West areas of Central Non-Chernozem Russia

Due to their high productivity, transportability, marketability, and large fruit size, varieties of foreign se lection are increasingly being imported into Russia. However, under the conditions of Central Russia, such varieties may demonstrate poor adaptation to abiotic and biotic stressors, thus failing to fulfi ll their biological potential. In this study, we aim to assess foreign strawberry varieties cultivated in the south-west areas of the Central Non-Chernozem region of Russia to determine their potential as sources of valuable traits in production and breeding programs. The re search was carried out during the 2021-2023 period using the facilities of the Genetic Bioresource Collection of Plants, Federal Horticultural Center for Breeding, Agrotechnology, and Nursery (Russia). The research included 27 foreign varieties of diff erent ecological and geographical origin. The Vostorg variety of medium maturity of own selection was used as a control. The winter-hardy Sara, Nida, and Kama varieties with the frost damage degree of not higher than 1.5 points were selected. In terms of the number of berries (more than 50 pсs per bush), the high genetic potential of the Induka, Nida, and Kama varieties was established. The yield capacity of foreign varieties was low, varying from 2.0 t/ha in Alba to 8.5 t/ha in Nida. Due to the low level of snow cover and provocative thaws in some winters, indus trial cultivation without winter cover of the majority of the studied foreign varieties in Central Russia was established to be inexpedient. A number of foreign varieties can be recommended for breeding as genetic sources of large fruit with the average weight of more than 9.0 g (Darselect, Asia, Vima Zanta), fruit fi rmness of over 10.0 N (Asia, Cleri, Alba, Darselect, Kimberly, Polka, Redgauntlet, Selekta, Tago, Tenira, Vima Xima), and anthocyanin content of more that 80 mg/100 g (Honeoye). Fruits of the Cleri, Holiday, Induka, Polka, Tago, Alba, and Darselect varieties were characterized by the most attractive appearance.