Improved flavour and soil disease tolerance: Two major aims of the breeding programme at CIREF for new advanced selections combining good commercial potential

The characteristics of 6 advanced strawberry selections, created since 1989 in final multi-local trials, are presented. Compared with the standard cultivar Gariguette, the selections 89.39.116 (mid-early) and 89.93.323 (early) are more productive with a better shelf-life and with superior appearance. 91.90.864 is mid-early with a second flowering phase in Spring and a high flavour. 89.26.267 and 89.14.304 are selections which are more disease resistant than 'Elsanta'. 92.2.1494 (day-neutral), is an improvement over 'Seascape' for its yield under French agro-climatic conditions, and has improved fruit size and posharvest shelf life compared to 'Mara des Bois'. An application has been made to the E.C.'s Plant Variety Office for protection rights for the above selections.