EVALUATION OF THE BEHAVIOUR OF TWO REDCURRANT VARIETIES (Ribes rubrum L.)

摘要

Interest has been increasing in intensive agriculture in Argentinean Patagonia in recent years (Arena and Martinez Pastur, 1995; INTA EEA Santa Cruz, 1996; Martinez et al., 1995; Riadigos and Martinez, 1994). Because of its diversity in soil and climate and, mainly, the possibility of producing out of season with respect to the Northern Hemisphere. The worldwide industrial demand for berries, is well known. Likewise, in Argentina, berries are currently of increasing importance for the local industry as well as the fresh market. Andean Patagonia is the most important zone for producing Rubus and Ribes berries in Argentina, particularly the Andean region of the 42nd parallel. The culture of red raspberries (Rubus idaeus) is the oldest among the small fruit species in Argentinean Patagonia (Martinez and Riadigos, 1993), and accounts for the largest culture area (100 ha in the Andean region of the 42nd parallel) (Riadigos, pers.). Ribes culture, however, is still incipient, with a cultivated area of about 10 ha in this region, which is why information on the growth and fruiting of Ribes species in Argentinean Patagonia is lacking. Nevertheless, cold hardiness and early ripening make Ribes a viable alternative in such regions as Tierra del Fuego, where winters are too cold or growing seasons too short and cool for the culture of grapes, other berries or tree fruit crops (Barney, 2000).