Sentinel

Sentinel is a vigorous early season, high-yielding cultivar, with no known disease issues.

Cultivar name: Sentinel (selection code FL11-155)

Region best adapted to: north-central and central Florida

Production system: performs well in deciduous system in both north-central and central FL; additional data to be gathered for evergreen system

Hydrogen cyanamide: not required

Machine Harvestability: no data yet; trials to be conducted in 2021

Per plant yields:

• North-central FL (2018-2021): 6.5 – 21.6 lbs/plant, average 14.93 lbs/plant

• Central FL (2018-2020): 5.6 – 10.9 lbs/plant, average 8.4 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:

• Fruit firmness: 237 g/mm, 226 g/mm (21 days), higher than Emerald, similar to Farthing.

• Berry Weight: 1.9 – 3.0 grams, average 2.2 grams, similar to Emerald

• Berry Diameter: 15.9 – 19.6 mm, average 17.2 mm, similar to Arcadia and Avanti

• Brix: 9.3 – 12.7, average 11.1, similar to Emerald

• Brix/Acid Ratio: 12.7 – 70.4, average 30.67, better than Emerald

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

• Wax/bloom: medium, similar to Emerald

• Fruit defects: none

• Flavor: high flavor score from taste panels (27.5). Higher than Emerald (19.9), very close to Kestrel (29.2).

• Aroma: low

Cultivars similar flowering time:

• North-central FL – Optimus, Patrecia, Vireo, Magnus

• Central FL – Optimus, Arcadia, Avanti, Chickadee

Other information: High vigor, with large yield in the early part of the season. Good performance with no disease problems

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