Strawberry plant named ‘Playa’

Abstract

The present invention provides a new and distinct strawberry plant designated as ‘Playa’ (a.k.a. ‘108926’).

Description

Latin name of the genus and species: Fragaria×ananassa.

Varietal denominations: ‘Playa’ (a.k.a. ‘108926’).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry variety designated as ‘Playa’ (a.k.a. ‘108926’).

‘Playa’ (a.k.a. ‘108926’) is the result of a controlled-cross between a female parent cultivar designated 107707 and a male parent cultivar designated 103474 (both unpatented, proprietary cultivars) made by the Inventor and was first fruited in Watsonville, Calif. growing fields. Following selection and during testing, the plant was originally designated ‘108926’ and subsequently named ‘Playa’.

This new variety was asexually reproduced via runners (stolons) by the inventor at Watsonville, Calif. Asexual propagules from the original source have been tested in Watsonville growing fields and to a limited extent, grower fields in high elevation. The properties of this variety were found to be transmissible by such asexual reproduction. This cultivar is stable and reproduces true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to new and distinctive strawberry cultivar designated as ‘Playa’. These cultivars are primarily adapted to the climate and growing conditions of the central coast of California. This region provides the necessary temperatures required for it to produce a strong vigorous plant and to remain in fruit production from March through October. The nearby Pacific Ocean provides the needed humidity and moderate day temperatures and evening chilling to maintain fruit quality for the production months.

The following traits and photographs in combination distinguish strawberry variety ‘Playa’ from known strawberry varieties. In addition, this new cultivar was confirmed to be a unique strawberry germplasm when tested against the California Seed & Plant Lab, Inc. (Elverta, Calif.) database using Short Sequence Repeats (SSRs). Plants for the botanical measurements in the present application were grown as annuals. Any color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The fruit produced by this new cultivar is attractive and of excellent quality.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color photographs depict various characteristics of the cultivars as nearly true as possible to make color reproductions.

FIG. 1 shows ripe fruits of ‘Playa’.

FIG. 2 shows ‘Playa’ plants in the field with ripe and near-ripe fruits.

FIG. 3 shows ‘Playa’ plants growing in the field.

FIG. 4 shows ‘Playa’ plant leaves with petioles.

FIG. 5 shows a close-up look of a ‘Playa’ plant leaf.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

‘Playa’ (a.k.a. ‘108926’)

This invention relates to a new and distinctive strawberry cultivar designated as ‘Playa’. It is primarily adapted to the climate and growing conditions of the central coast of California. This region provides the necessary temperatures required for it to produce a strong vigorous plant and to remain in fruit production from March through October. The nearby Pacific Ocean provides the needed humidity and moderate day temperatures and evening chilling to maintain fruit quality for the production months.

The following traits in combination distinguish strawberry variety ‘Playa’ from the known strawberry varieties. Plants for the botanical measurements in the present application were grown as annuals. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

‘Playa’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions, and the phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment. The following observations, measurements, and comparisons describe this plant as grown under normal conditions in Watsonville, Calif. unless otherwise noted.

Hybrid Patent Data Sheet
(planted: October Year 1; measurement: November Year 2)
Variety: PLAYA (A.K.A. ‘108926’)
Plant
Plant Growth Habit               Semi-upright
Day length                       neutral
Planting Season                  fall
Height (mm)                      380
Diameter (mm)                    360 (the entire plant structure,
                                 including the “superstructure” of
                                 petioles, leaves, flowers)
                                 70 (inner “base” or “heart” structure
                                 of the plant, i.e. the mature apical and
                                 axial crowns of the strawberry plant
                                 where petioles, flowers and runners
                                 are attached)
Density of foliage               heavy
Average number of crowns per     4
mature plant
Plant vigor                      high
Rain/weather tolerance (e.g., high, moderate
moderate, or low)
Harvest Ease                     moderate
Terminal Leaf
Length (mm)                      99
Width (mm)                       91
Terminal leaflet length/width ratio 0.9
Blistering                       none
Terminal leaf shape              orbicular
Number of teeth/terminal leaflet: 20
Shape of the terminal leaflet base obtuse
Shape of terminal leaflet in cross- concave
section
Margin description of the terminal serrate
Shape of teeth                   obtuse
Color of upper side of leaves    137A
Color of lower side of leaves    139C
Leaf glossiness                  medium to weak
presence or absence of any leaf  absence
variegation
Number of leaflets               66
Terminal Leaflet margin          flat
Terminal Leaflet shape of apex   rounded
Petiole
Length (mm)                      244
Width (mm)                       4
Petiole pubescence               medium
Petiole pose of hairs            outwards
Petiole color                    145B
Attitude of hairs on petiole and Outwards to horizontal
pedicel
Petiolule
Length (mm)                      48
Width(mm)                        3.2
Stolon
Diameter (mm)                    4
Stolon color                     145A
Widest diameter of stolon at point 4.78
of attachment of leaf (mm)
Stolon anthocyanin               187A
Density of pubescence on the stolon Medium
Stolon number                    2 to 12
Stolon thickness                 Large
Stolon attitude                  outwards
Stolon size                      medium to large
Inflorescence
Petal/flower                     NA
Inflorescence                    even
position relative
Number of flowers per plant      30-40
Fertility                        self-fertile
Time of flowering                March to April
Corolla (mm)                     13
Calyx (mm)                       5
Calyx color                      137C
Position of calyx attachment     inserted
Level of adherence of calyx      High
Petal length (mm)                17
Petal width (mm)                 7
Petal per flower                 5
Flower arrangement of petals     free to touching
Upper petal color                155C
Lower petal color                155D
Sepal length (mm)                19
Sepal width (mm)                 9
Sepals per flower                10
Peduncle size (cm)               22.5
Stipule height (mm)              27
Stipule width (mm)               11
Stipule attitude                 upwards
Stipule coloration               145B
Pedicel coloration               145A
Anther coloration                12A
Stamen count                     22
Stamen shape                     dorsifixed
Stamen length (mm)               4.03
Fruit
Fruit/truss                      1-5
Length (mm)                      37
Width (mm)                       29
Fruit length/width ratio         1.27
Core length (mm)                 30
Core width (mm)                  9
Glossiness                       medium
Fruiting truss attitude          erect
Fruit skin color                 41A
Evenness of fruit color          medium
Predominant fruit shape          long-conical
Difference in shape between      none to very slight
primary & secondary fruits
Width of the band without achenes medium
Position of the achenes          inserted
Number of achenes per fruit      257
Achene weight (g)                0.18
Achene coloration                152D
Flesh color                      45A
excluding core                   41A
Color of fruit core              41A
Firmness of flesh                firm
Texture when tasted              medium
Time of fruit ripening           April
Harvest maturity (50% of plants  early
with ripe fruit)
Grams of fruit/plant (g)         678
(During peak season, June)
Appearance Score                 4
(from 1-5, with 5 = best)
Storage longevity (e.g., 10 days to 2 9 days-13 days
weeks)
Cull rate: Non salable fruit     <10%
production rate
Disease and pest resistance      Not tested
Acidity as measured by pH        3.26
Sweetness as measured by brix    9

When ‘Playa’ is compared to the proprietary female parent, ‘Playa’ has a lower height. The density of foliage of ‘Playa’ is heavy, while the density of foliage of the female parent is medium.

When ‘Playa’ is compared to the proprieiary male parent, ‘Playa’ has stolons that are much thicker than the stolons of the male parent. Additionally, ‘Playa’ presents smaller trifoliate leaflets and much larger and fruit than the male parent.

When ‘Playa’ is compared to ‘Seascape’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 07,614), ‘Playa’ has a density of foliage that is heavy, while the density of foliage of Seascape’ is light. The plant vigor of ‘Playa’ is high, while the plant vigor of ‘Seascape’ is moderate. The leaf glossiness of ‘Playa’ ranges from medium to weak, while the leaf glossiness of ‘Seascape’ is medium. The number of leaflets of ‘Playa’ is 66, while the number of leaflets of ‘Seascape’ is 49. ‘Playa’ presents larger fruit than ‘Seascape’ as well. ‘Playa’ tri-foliate leaves have a more serrate shape relative to the crenate leaves of ‘Seascape’.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of strawberry plant named ‘Playa’ substantially as shown and described herein.