STELLAR, the first early apple variety adapted to hot climates, is presented to growers from all over the world
Obtained in Catalonia as part of the Hot Climate Partnership, it was unveiled yesterday at Fruit Attraction in Madrid, one of the world’s leading events for the fruit and vegetable sector
STELLAR™ matures 1 to 2 weeks earlier than Gala at temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius
More than 100,000 professionals from 145 countries are attending, from yesterday until tomorrow, the 16th edition of the Fruit Attraction fair in the halls of IFEMA Madrid. It is a benchmark event for the global fruit and vegetable sector and an ideal showcase for the presentation of STELLAR™, the first early apple variety specifically adapted to climates with hot summers, which has been created in Catalonia over the last two decades. STELLAR™ is expected to be chosen by growers around the world who want to offer consumers fresh apples with great flavour, texture and appearance in the middle of summer and despite the high temperatures.
This innovative apple variety is, after TUTTI, the second to be introduced by the Hot Climate Partnership, a world-first varietal improvement programme launched in 2002 to work on breeding apples and pears adapted to rising temperatures. The programme is made up of the Institute of Agri-Food Research and Technology (IRTA), its New Zealand counterpart, Plant & Food Research, and the Catalan fruit growers’ association Fruit Futur, as well as the company VentureFruit, a strategic partner for the global marketing of the varieties. Likewise, in the case of STELLAR™, the French company IFO will be the one in charge of marketing apple trees of this variety throughout the world, starting with Europe.
A “game-changer” for both growers and consumers
The official presentation of STELLAR™ yesterday afternoon at IFEMA was attended by Morgan Rogers, general manager of VentureFruit, Josep Usall, general manager of IRTA, Emma Brown, director of Plant and Food Reserach and Jaume Armengol, president of Fruitfutur.
“We believe that STELLAR™, together with TUTTI, can bring an opportunity to succeed in the hot and warming climate, both in Catalonia and other areas worldwide that little by little are also experiencing these warming seasons“, told Usall. “As scientists and innovators, we will keep working hard on breeding high quality apples and pears adapted to a warming world. So, we celebrate STELLAR™ today and we look forward to celebrating other high impact varieties in the future together with our partners.”, he added.
For Rogers, “STELLAR™ represents over 20 years of natural breeding and scientific innovation, and it’s truly a stellar example of what can be achieved when we collaborate with great partners”. Regarding the addition of the IFO company to the project, Rogers said that “we’re excited to see STELLAR™ thrive under their stewardship. Together, we look forward to its global development, providing growers worldwide with a superb apple variety that meets the challenges of hot and warming climates”. Finally, the VentureFruit CEO assured that “it will be a game-changer for both growers and consumers”.
What STELLAR™ has to offer and how it was developed
This new variety, also known as HOT81A1, ripens about ten days earlier than Gala, making it the first apple variety to ripen in the production calendar. It has a very bright, attractive red colour and a crisp, juicy texture. And, above all, its ripening process withstands temperatures of over 40 degrees, unlike other varieties, which can ripen too quickly in the heat and suffer changes in colour, texture or yield. Also, like TUTTI, STELLAR™ grows well in temperate climates such as those in the major apple growing areas of Europe.
Both varieties are the result of very slow breeding processes based on a genetic improvement programme following traditional practices and involving chance. It consists on crossing pollen from one variety with flowers from another, making multiple crosses, collecting their seeds and sowing them in IRTA’s warmest soils, located in the province of Lleida. After four years, the fruit is harvested and the most resistant varieties are selected. Afterwards, several parameters are analysed to end up selecting a few dozen trees, waiting for them to bear fruit again after two or three years. The trees with the best apples end up being the ones chosen.
This is the case with TUTTI, STELLAR™ and two other varieties that the Hot Climate Partnership hopes to commercialise from next year onwards. In addition, other apple varieties and some pear varieties are completing their final years of evaluation.
