The search for new, improved sweet cherry varieties continues around the world.
New varieties are sourced from cherry breeding programs or from a rare sport of a limb that is found to be different to the rest of the tree.
If unique and good enough, a new cherry variety will be patented, often a royalty will be imposed, and it will compete with existing varieties to find a place in the market mix—in the country of origin or the world.
Over the past decade there have been some releases out of Eastern Europe, however, varieties that require higher chill hours or portions are not finding favour in most cherry growing regions in Australia because they do not set enough fruit.
US & Canadian breeding programs
Successful breeding programs in the USA and Canada have included cherry varieties bred at Vineland and Summerland in Canada.
The names of varieties out of Vineland often begin with the letter V (example Vic) and those out of Summerland often begin with the letter S (example Sweetheart).
Two notable exceptions to this is Tehranivee from Vineland which was named after the breeder Gus Tehrani; and Lapins form Summerland named after the breeder Dr. K.O. Lapins.
In the USA, notable cherry varieties have also come from the New York program, such as Black Pearl. In California, plant breeders, Zaiger, Bradford and Nies have left quite a legacy including the Royal series and the Glen series of sweet cherry varieties.
In the USA, new early cherry varieties normally come from California, and the late season ones are mainly from the later–producing areas of the North West.
Here are two exceptions (see photos). The first is Carneval, a new early cherry and heavy cropper that ripens four days before Chelan. It is firm with high sugar and outstanding taste.
Discovered by Carney and Johnson in Cashmere Washington, Carneval is registered under the plant patent USPP #PP30423.
The other new cherry variety is named Zeus (patent pending). It is a large firm cherry with high sugar and excellent taste. It also ripens well before Chelan.
When/if we see these varieties in Australia will depend on those who can do something about it.
Aussie breeding program
In the meantime, there are varieties within the Australian cherry breeding program that still have potential for assessment and release.
See this article in Tree Fruit June 2019
