Comportamiento fenológico y productivo en nueve variedades de frambuesa (Rubus idaeus L.), en la localidad de El Bolsón, Río Negro, durante las temporadas 2019-2020, 2020-2021 y 2021-2022.

Abstract

The genus Rubus is distributed worldwide, taxonomically placed within the Rosaceae family, and comprises approximately 1,450 accepted species (Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, n.d.). Among them, Rubus idaeus L. (European red raspberry) is a species presumed to be native to Greece (Mount Ida) and present in the wild in Europe and Asia Minor (GARCÍA RUBIO et al., 2014). Raspberries are part of the group known as berries, which represent approximately 2% of global fruit production: approximately 7.8 million tons, of which 83.3% are strawberries, 9.8% are blueberries, and 6.8% are raspberries (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations [FAO], 2020). Currently, their demand is unmet at the national and global levels. Consumption in its fresh form, as well as through various products, has been growing in recent decades: the cultivated area worldwide today exceeds 120,000 hectares, while production volume exceeds 850,000 tons (FAO, 2020). In Argentina, cultivation of this species is relatively recent. The first plantations on a significant scale began in the El Bolsón area, Río Negro province, in the 1950s. After 1980, other productive regions such as Mendoza, Neuquén, and Buenos Aires joined the ranks. Meanwhile, the Andean Region of the 42nd parallel (particularly the towns of El Bolsón, El Hoyo, Lago Puelo, and Epuyén) encompassed around 70 hectares in 2008, of which 43 were located in Chubut and 28 in Río Negro (DE MICHELIS, 2012). In the Andean region along the 42nd parallel, trials of this nature began to be conducted at the end of the 20th century, given the need for specific information on the productive performance of raspberry varieties already existing in the area, as well as new ones. This practice yielded highly relevant data on phenology, production, fruit weight, harvest distribution, and marketability (MARTÍNEZ et al., 2009). This paper presents a study conducted during the 2019-2020, 2020-2021, and 2021-2022 production seasons, in a varietal trial located at the Humus de la Montaña farm in El Bolsón, Río Negro. This work includes the performance of nine raspberry varieties: Schönemann, Polka, Autumn Bliss, Tulameen, Himbo Queen, Himbo Top, Glen Ample, Sugana, and Fruat Mec. The task focused on recording phenological stages, crop distribution, and average yield, as well as measuring fruit characteristics of culinary and commercial interest, such as pH, Brix degrees, and average fruit weight.