Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Fragaria ananassa.
Variety denomination: ‘MERIT’.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry variety named ‘MERIT’. This new variety is a result of a controlled cross made in 2001 in an ongoing breeding program between strawberry variety designated ‘PS-2880’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,597) and strawberry variety designated ‘PS-4630’ (a non-patented selection). Due to the combining of the reciprocal seed lots it is unknown as to which parent variety is the seed parent and which parent variety is the pollen parent. The variety is botanically known as Fragaria ananassa.
The seedling resulting from the aforementioned cross was selected from a controlled breeding plot in Ventura County, California in the fall of 2003. After its selection, the new variety was asexually propagated by stolons in both San Joaquin County, California and Siskiyou County, California. The new variety was extensively tested over the next several years in fruiting fields in Ventura County, California. This propagation has demonstrated that the combination of traits disclosed herein as characterizing the new variety are fixed and remain true to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION ‘MERIT’ is primarily adapted to the climate and growing conditions of the central coast of California. The nearby Pacific Ocean provides the needed humidity and moderate temperatures to produce a strong vigorous plant and maintain fruit quality during the fall production months.
The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘MERIT’, which in combination distinguish this strawberry plant as a new and distinct variety:
-
- 1. Small fruit size;
- 2. Orange-red to red fruit color;
- 3. Uniformly shaped, conical berries;
- 4. Small sized plant;
- 5. Fruiting trusses that are visible above the foliage; and
- 6. Relatively short fruiting trusses
The strawberry varieties that are believed to be most closely related to the new strawberry variety ‘MERIT’ are the strawberry variety ‘VALOR’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,394) and the strawberry variety ‘PREMIER’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,309). In side-by-side comparisons to the similar strawberry varieties ‘VALOR’ and ‘PREMIER’, the new strawberry variety ‘MERIT’ differs by the following combination of characteristics as described in Table 1:
TABLE 1
‘VALOR’ ‘PREMIER’
Characteristic ‘MERIT’ (US PP 20,394) (US PP 20,309)
1. Color of Ranges from Ranges Ranges
mature fruit orange from red to from red to
red to red dark red dark red
2. Fruit size Small Medium Medium
3. Marketable 503 529 393
yield (gm/plt)
4. Plant size Ranges Medium Medium
from medium
to small
5. Stolon Weak Ranges Ranges
anthocyanin from weak from weak
intensity to medium to medium
6. Stolon Weak Strong Medium
pubescence
7. Color of Medium green Ranges Ranges
upper surface from medium from medium
to dark green to dark green
8. Interveinal Ranges Medium Medium
leaf blistering from medium
to strong
9. Foliage gloss Medium Medium Ranges
from medium
to strong
10. Serrations/leaf 20.3 22.7 25.9
11. Petiole length (cm) 14.2 17.4 15.5
12. Petiolule 11.9 17.8 11.8
length (mm)
13. Terminal leaf Acute Obtuse Obtuse
shape of base
14. Fruiting 24.3 29.7 30.8
truss length
at maturity (cm)
15. Fruiting truss Medium Ranges from Strong
pubescence medium
to strong
For identification a series of molecular markers have been determined for this new variety.
‘MERIT’ differs from its parents, ‘PS-2880’ and ‘PS-4630’ by the following combination of characteristics as described in Table 2.
TABLE 2
‘PS-2880’
Characteristic ‘MERIT’ (US PP 15,597) ‘PS-4630’
1. Fruit size Small Medium Large
3. Plant size Small Medium to large Medium to large
4. Insertion of achenes Level with Above the Level with
surface surface surface
5. Type of bearing Everbearing Everbearing June bearing
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance of typical specimens of the new strawberry variety ‘MERIT’, at various stages of development as true as it is reasonably possible with color reproductions of this type. Color in the photographs may differ slightly from the color value cited in the botanical descriptions which accurately describe the color of ‘MERIT’. The depicted plant and plant parts of the new strawberry variety ‘MERIT’ are approximately 3 to 4 months old. The photographs were taken in Ventura County, California:
FIG. 1 shows typical fruiting field characteristics of ‘MERIT’ taken in the month of October 2009;
FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of a typical leaf structure of ‘MERIT’ taken in the month of October 2009;
FIG. 3 shows typical mature and immature field fruit of ‘MERIT’ taken in the month of October 2009;
FIG. 4 shows a close-up view of mature fruit of ‘MERIT’ taken in the month of November 2009;
FIG. 5 shows typical internal and external mature fruit characteristics of ‘MERIT’ taken in the month of November 2009.
DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION The new variety ‘MERIT’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The characteristics of the new variety ‘MERIT’ may vary in detail, depending upon variations in environmental factors, including weather (temperature, humidity and light intensity), day length, soil type and location. In addition, the characteristics of any parental variety or comparison variety included in Tables 1-9 of the present invention may vary in detail, depending upon variations in environmental factors, including weather (temperature, humidity and light intensity), day length, soil type and location.
The aforementioned photographs, together with the following description of the new variety ‘MERIT’, unless otherwise noted, are based on observations taken during the 2009 growing season in Ventura County, California. These measurements and ratings were taken from plants of ‘MERIT’ dug from a low-elevation nursery located in San Joaquin County, California during the month of January 2008 and planted approximately 6 months later in Ventura County, California. The approximate age of the observed plants is 3 to 4 months. Yield observations and fruit quality characteristics are averaged from four years of data collected from the 2006 through 2009 growing seasons. Flower measurements and characteristics are from secondary flowers unless otherwise noted. Fruit characteristics and measurements are from secondary fruit unless otherwise noted.
Color terminology where noted follows The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, London (2007).
The following tables 3-9 describe fruit, plant, stolon, foliage, fruiting truss, flower and pest disease characteristics of the new strawberry ‘MERIT’ in comparison to the similar strawberry variety ‘VALOR’ and strawberry variety ‘PREMIER’.
TABLE 3
FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS
'VALOR' 'PREMIER'
Characteristic 'MERIT' (US PP 20,394) (US PP 20,309)
Color of RHS 34B RRHS 46A RHS 46A
mature fruit Ranges from Ranges from Ranges from
orange red red to red to
to red dark red dark red
Color of RHS 34C RHS 45A RHS 45A
internal flesh Orange red Ranges from Ranges from
medium to medium to
dark red dark red
Fruit length (cm) 3.8 4.0 4.2
Fruit width (cm) 3.3 3.6 3.5
Fruit length/ 1.14 1.12 1.22
width ratio Slightly Slightly Slightly
longer than longer than longer than
broad broad broad
Calyx 3.8 4.1 4.6
diameter (cm)
Average fruit 18.1 21.5 21.9
weight (gm)
Achene color, RHS 160B RHS 160A RHS 160B
shaded side Greyed Greyed Greyed
yellow group yellow group yellow group
Achene color, RHS 184B RHS 183A RHS 183A
sun exposed Greyed Greyed Greyed
side purple group purple group purple group
Achenes 324 331 286
per berry
Achene 0.50 0.50 0.60
weight (mg)
Marketable fruit 503 529 393
yield (gm/plt)
Fruit Size Small Medium Medium
Predominant Conical Conical Conical
fruit shape
Difference Slight Ranges from None to
in shapes slight to very slight
between primary moderate
and secondary
fruit
Band without Absent or Absent or Absent or
achenes very narrow very narrow very narrow
Unevenness Absent or Weak Absent or
of fruit surface very weak very weak
Evenness of Even Even Ranges from
fruit color slightly uneven
to even
Fruit glossiness Ranges from Ranges from Ranges from
medium to medium to medium to
strong strong strong
Insertion Level with Ranges from Level with
of achenes surface level with surface
to below
the surface
Insertion In the In the In the
of calyx basin basin basin
Attitude of Spreading Spreading Spreading
the calyx
Size of calyx Slightly Slightly Much
in relation to larger larger larger
fruit diameter
Adherence Strong Strong Strong
of calyx
Firmness Medium Strong Medium
of fruit skin
Firmness Firm Firm Medium
of fruit flesh
Keeping quality Very good Very good Good
Distribution Marginal Marginal Marginal
of red color and central and central and central
of the flesh
Hollow center Moderate Absent or Weak
expression very weak
Fruit flavor Ranges from Good Good
good to
very good
Soluble solids 8.8 7.8 8.3
(% brix)
Time of Early Medium Medium
first flowering
Time of Early Medium Medium
first harvesting
Harvest period Late Late Late
September to September to September to
mid December mid December mid December
Type of Everbearing Everbearing Everbearing
bearing
TABLE 4
PLANT CHARACTERISTICS
‘VALOR’ ‘PREMIER’
Characteristic ‘MERIT’ (US PP 20,394) (US PP 20,309)
Plant height (cm) 24.1 25.9 25.6
Plant spread (cm) 29.0 31.6 33.5
Plant size Ranges from medium Medium Medium
to small
Plant habit Globose Globose Globose
Plant density Medium Medium Medium
Plant vigor Medium Medium Medium
TABLE 5
STOLON CHARACTERISTICS
‘VALOR’ ‘PREMIER’
Characteristic ‘MERIT’ (US PP 20,394) (US PP 20,309)
Stolon color RHS 145A RHS 144A RHS 145A
Yellow Yellow Yellow
green group green group green group
Stolon RHS 180D RHS 180A RHS 181 B
anthocyanin Greyed Greyed Greyed
coloration red group red group red group
Stolon Weak Ranges Ranges
anthocyanin from weak from weak
intensity to medium to medium
Average stolon 2.4 6.4 8.5
number per plant
from the
fruiting field
Stolon diameter 3.1 3.3 3.6
at bract (mm)
Stolon Weak Strong Medium
pubescence
Attitude of hairs Upwards Upwards Upwards
TABLE 6
FOLIAGE CHARACTERISTICS
‘VALOR’ ‘PREMIER’
Characteristic ‘MERIT’ (US PP 20,394) (US PP 20,309)
Foliage:
Color of RHS 137A RHS N137B RHS N137B
upper surface Medium Medium to Medium to
green dark green dark green
Color of RHS 147C RHS 147C RHS 147C
underside Yellow Yellow Yellow
green group green group green group
Shape in Slightly Slightly Slightly
cross section concave concave
to flat to flat concave
Interveinal Ranges from Medium Medium
blistering medium
to strong
Leaf Medium Medium Ranges from
glossiness medium
to strong
Number Three Three Three
of leaflets
Terminal
Leaflet:
Length (cm) 8.9 8.6 9.6
Width (cm) 7.6 8.7 8.6
Length/ 1.18 0.99 1.11
width ratio Longer As long Longer
than broad as broad than broad
Serrations/leaf 20.3 22.7 25.9
Leaf size Ranges from Medium Medium
medium
to small
Shape of base Acute Obtuse Obtuse
Shape of teeth Obtuse Obtuse Obtuse
Petiole:
Petiole Color RHS 144A RHS 144A RHS 144A
Yellow Yellow Yellow
green group green group green group
Petiole 14.2 17.4 15.5
length (cm)
Petiole 3.4 4.2 4.3
diameter (mm)
Petiolule color RHS 144A RHS 144A RHS 144A
Yellow Yellow Yellow
green group green group green group
Petiolule 11.9 17.8 11.8
length (mm)
Petiole Moderate Sparce Sparce
pubescence
Attitude Strongly Strongly Strongly
of hairs outward outward outward
Stipule:
Color RHS 146A RHS 146A RHS 146B
Yellow Yellow Yellow
green group green group green group
Anthocyanin RHS 63A RHS 61A RHS 61A
coloration Red purple Red purple Red purple
group group group
Anthocyanin Weak Weak Medium
intensity
Length (mm) 22.2 21.3 24.8
Width (mm) 8.6 10.4 11.3
TABLE 7
FRUITING TRUSS CHARACTERISTICS
‘VALOR’ ‘PREMIER’
Characteristic ‘MERIT’ (US PP 20,394) (US PP 20,309)
Anthocyanin RHS 181D RHS 181C RHS 181B
coloration Greyed Greyed Greyed
red group red group red group
Anthocyanin Absent or Absent or Medium
intensity very weak very weak
Length at 24.3 29.7 30.8
maturity (cm)
Position Above the Level with Ranges from
relative foliage the foliage level with to
to foliage beneath
the foliage
Pubescence Medium Ranges from Strong
medium
to strong
Attitude at Prostrate Prostrate Prostrate
first pick
TABLE 8
FLOWER CHARACTERISTICS
‘VALOR’ ‘PREMIER’
Characteristic ‘MERIT’ (US PP 20,394) (US PP 20,309)
Petal color RHS NN155C RHS NN155C RHS NN155C
White White White
Sepal color RHS 137A RHS 137A RHS 137A
Green group Green group Green group
Corolla 31.0 30.1 35.3
diameter (mm)
Calyx 29.8 31.2 33.9
diameter (mm)
Petal 11.7 11.3 13.4
length (mm)
Petal 12.0 11.1 12.7
width (mm)
Petal length/ 0.98 1.02 1.05
width ratio
Petals/flower 6.2 5.7 5.8
Sepal 11.0 10.5 12.3
length (mm)
Sepal 3.2 4.7 5.8
width (mm)
Sepal length/ 3.41 2.23 2.11
width ratio
Sepals/flower 11.8 11.4 11.6
Size of calyx Ranges from Larger Larger
relative to same size
corolla to smaller
Size of Smaller Smaller Smaller
inner calyx
relative to
outer calyx
Relative Overlapping Ranges from Overlapping
position touching to
of petals overlapping
TABLE 9
PEST AND DISEASE REACTIONS
‘VALOR’ ‘PREMIER’
Characteristic ‘MERIT’ (US PP 20,394) (US PP 20,309)
Two spotted spider mite Moderately Moderately Moderately
susceptible susceptible susceptible
Flower thrips Moderately Moderately Moderately
susceptible susceptible susceptible
Powdery mildew Moderately Susceptible Susceptible
susceptible
Botrytis fruit rot Moderately Moderately Moderately
susceptible susceptible susceptible
Angular leaf spot Moderately Moderately Susceptible
resistant susceptible