Patrecia

Patrecia is late blooming but early fruit set, with high yield potential. Produces large berries in the early-mid part of the season.

Cultivar name: Patrecia (“UF52-20”)

Recommended for Florida: yes

FL region best adapted to: north-central Florida

Production system: deciduous

Hydrogen cyanamide: recommended; required for leafing and early season production.

Machine Harvestability: no data yet; however, berries of Patrecia grow in tight clusters, which may make machine harvesting this variety difficult.

Per plant yields (Density 1,452-1,742 plants/acre):

o North-central FL (2018-2021) 3.1 – 13.8 lbs/plant; average 8.2 lbs/plant

Known disease susceptibility: none observed to date

Known insect damage susceptibility: none observed to date

Fruit quality data:

o Fruit firmness: 212 – 265 g/mm, average 232 g/mm, higher than Emerald, similar to Optimus

o Berry Weight: 2.5 – 3.4 grams, average 3.0 grams, higher than Emerald

o  Berry Diameter: 18.8 – 21.0 mm, average 19.9 mm, higher than Emerald

o Brix: 9.8 – 11.6, average 10.5, lower than Emerald, similar to Endura and Magnus

o Brix/Acid Ratio: 17.6 – 48.6, average 31.7, better than Emerald

o Fruit scar: large scar that can tear, requires careful hand harvesting

o Wax/bloom: high

o Fruit defects: large scar that can tear, requires careful hand harvesting

o Flavor Score 27.5 – reference Emerald (19.9), Kestrel (29.2)

o Aroma: none

Cultivars with overlapping timing of flowering: Emerald, Farthing, Keecrisp, Magnus, Optimus, Vireo

Other information: Late blooming but early and high fruit set with uniform ripening; good for the Florida market window when using hydrogen cyanamide. High yield when receiving adequate chilling.

License availability: For a list of current nursery licensees in the USA, click here