‘Romina’ and ‘Cristina’: two new strawberry cultivars for the European and USA market

The first two cultivars (‘Adria’ and ‘Sveva’) released from the strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) breeding program of the Marche Polytechnic University (Ancona,IT) show interesting characteristics associated with high adaptability to not fumigated soil and different cultural conditions. The last two cultivars show other further improvements: ‘Romina’ – high adaptability to non-fumigated soil, very early ripening, fruit conic or bi-conic shape, good taste with high sweetness (high sugar content with low acidity), high firmness and shelf life, high vitamin C and folate contents; ‘Cristina’ – high adaptability to non-fumigated soil, very late ripening, high productivity, large fruit of conical shape, good taste. All four cultivars are now commercially grown for early, late and very late fruit production in central and northern EU countries. The EU patents of ‘Romina’ and ‘Cristina’ have been transferred to the US and nursery production has begun following US rules to determine future US market interest