Albus

Albus is a vigorous, high-yielding, early through late season cultivar for the evergreen production system, with no known disease issues.

Cultivar name: Albus (selection code ‘FL11-51’)

Region best adapted to: central Florida

Production system: performs well in the evergreen system in central FL; additional data to be gathered for performance in south-central FL

Hydrogen cyanamide: not required

Machine Harvestability: no data yet; trials to be conducted in 2023

Per plant yields:

o Central FL (2022): 8.9 – 9.0 lbs/plant, average 9.0 lbs/plant

Known disease susceptibility: none observed to date

Known insect damage susceptibility: moderate level of susceptibility to chilli thrips observed, similar to other cultivars

Fruit quality data:

o Fruit firmness: 208 – 319 g/mm, average 259 g/mm, higher than Farthing and Optimus

o Berry Weight: 1.5 – 2.3 grams, average 1.9 grams, similar to Kestrel

o Berry Diameter: 14.5 – 18.3 mm, average 16.4 mm, similar to Avanti

o Brix: 8.9 – 13.8, average 11.4, similar to Emerald

o Brix/Acid Ratio: 18.1 – 69.5, average 36.7, similar to Avanti

o Fruit scar: normal (small, dry), similar to Emerald

o Wax/bloom: heavy

o Fruit defects: none

o Flavor: high flavor score from taste panels (33.0), Above the average (28.3) and slightly below the positive control (35).

o Aroma: low

Cultivars similar flowering time:

o Central FL – Sentinel, Optimus, Arcadia, Avanti, Chickadee

Other information: High vigor, with large yield from early through late season. Firm fruit with a heavy wax bloom. Good performance with no disease problems observed.