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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fort Pierce, Florida » U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory » Citrus and Other Subtropical Products Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #301836
Title: Update on sensory evaluation of University of Florida strawberry selections

Author
item Plotto, Anne
item Baldwin, Elizabeth - Liz
item Bai, Jinhe
item Narciso, Jan
item WHITAKER, VANCE - University Of Florida
item CHANDLER, CRAIG - University Of Florida

Submitted to: Proceedings of Florida State Horticultural Society
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/11/2014
Publication Date: 12/31/2013
Citation: Plotto, A., Baldwin, E.A., Bai, J., Narciso, J.A., Whitaker, V., Chandler, C. 2013. Update on sensory evaluation of University of Florida strawberry selections. Proceedings of Florida State Horticultural Society. 126:247-250.

Interpretive Summary: The University of Florida strawberry breeding program has included eating quality as a selection factor for new strawberry cultivars, in addition to plant yield and disease resistance. The present work demonstrates the role of sensory evaluation in the strawberry breeding program. Indeed, the newest releases have improved eating quality over the earlier cultivars.

Technical Abstract: The University of Florida strawberry breeding program has evaluated eating quality of fruit from advanced selections using sensory taste panels. Selections FL 05-107, FL 06-38 and FL 09-127 were compared with the commercial cultivars ‘Strawberry Festival’ and FLorida Radiance’ during two consecutive years, along with other hybrids. Plants were grown in replicated blocks. Fruit were harvested monthly during the season and evaluated by a trained panel one or 2 days after harvest. Fruit were also analyzed for soluble solids content (SSC) and titratable acidity (TA). FL 05-107 produced the firmest fruit, followed by FL 06-38. FL 05-107 also had high eating quality, with high sweetness and strawberry flavor most of the time. FL 09-127 was one of the sweetest strawberries, with high strawberry flavor. Sweetness of FL 09-127 could be explained by high SSC, which was significantly higher than the other selections on four harvests out of five. Sensory evaluation provides data assuring that newly released cultivars will have optimal eating quality.