1

Experience with Growing Fuji in Australia--
Experimental and Commercial Aspects

Predo Jotic¹and Gordon Brown²

1_{Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries, GPO Box 192b, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia,}
7001
2_{Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research, 13 St. Johns Ave., New Town, Tasmania,}
Australia,7008. Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries, GPO Box 192b, Hobart,
Tasmania, Australia, 7001

Introduction

The first importation of standard Fuji in Australia was made in 1973, just 10 years after it was

released to the Japanese fruit industry. The initial screening tests in Tasmania indicated that this

was a high quality cultivar worthy of further evaluation. The variety showed superb eating quality,

storage and shelf life. The bicolor striped appearance was quite variable and did not impress the

growers during the early seventies.

With the emergence of many red sports in Japan further importations were carried out in the early

eighties and four selections (Naga-fu 1, Naga-fu 2, Aki-fu 1 and Aki-fu 7) were released for

commercial tests in 1984-85. Naga-fu 2 and Naga-fu 1 are the most prevalent red strains in

Australian orchards.

Since 1989, a number of striped Fuji strains and variants from overseas or local sources have been

included in the testing program in Tasmania (Jotic, 1995). During the last 2 years, Naga-fu 6 and

Naga-fu 12 have received some attention in the commercial scene.

Fruit quality, maturation and storage research on Naga-fu 2 was first conducted in Tasmania

during the 1989 and 1990 seasons (O'Loughlin, undated). Further detailed studies, on all four red

Fuji strains, were made when the trees were older, in 1992 and 1993. Results for harvest maturity

and storage of the fruit were confirmed in South Australian research conducted in 1993 (Tugwell

and Chvyl, 1997). In Victoria, commercial experience with harvest maturity and fruit storage has

been documented by a private consultant, confirming the commercial adoption of the previous

research (Little, 1995).

Although Fuji has many outstanding attributes including precocity, fruit size, eating and keeping

quality, it has some weaknesses. Poor skin finish and inconsistent color quality have been the

most troublesome characteristics under Australian conditions. Crop regulation also presents some

difficulty for growers. To a lesser extent, sunburn and bird damage do affect the packout.

Under cool temperate conditions, Fuji has an extended flowering period and produces flowers on