Strawberry plant named `Malah`
A new and distinct variety of strawberry (Fragaria L.) called `Malah` is a cross between `Dorit` and `Chandler`, and flowers early on a scale of "very early" to "very late."
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The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry (Fragaria L.) called `Malah`.
BACKGROUNDThis new variety was developed from an organized scientifically designated breeding program, carried out at the Agricultural Research Organization, the Volcani center, Bet Dagan, Israel. This new variety originated as a single seedling selected from a seedling population obtained from crosses between the strawberry varieties `Dorit` and `Chandler`. The variety was asexually vegetatively propagated at Bet Dagan, Israel through runners and the propagation ran true.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe new variety `Malah` is able to grow in September and produce fruit starting in November and lasting until summer. The production of fruit beginning in November (Northern Hemisphere, latitude 30-33 degrees) is two months earlier than short day varieties of Fragaria L. The fruit of the `Malah` variety is characterized by good taste, good shape and good size.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURESFIG. 1: Photograph of the `Malah` variety, illustrating the fruits.
FIG. 2: Photograph of the `Malah` variety, illustrating a cross-section of the fruits.
FIG. 3: Photograph of the `Malah` variety, illustrating the entire plant with foliage, flowers and fruit.
DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONThe `Malah` variety was grown in winter, under polyethylene tunnels in Israel. `Malah` is an infra short day variety, which flowers earlier than short day type strawberry varieties. Infra-Short-Day (I.S.D.) varieties are defined as varieties which initiate flower bud primordia under long light regimes of 13-14 hours at the time night temperatures are about 22.degree. C., compared to strawberry types classified as short-day or day-neutral, which do not initiate flower bud primordia under the above-mentioned conditions, thus resulting in early flowering and fruit production. The plants are grown in polyethylene tunnels to prevent malformation of the fruit that can be caused by wind and rain. Flowering and fruit production are not affected by the use of polyethylene tunnels.
This production procedure is utillized in normal agricultural practices by the skilled artisan and does not involve temperature or light control. Plants were stored at 0.degree. C. from January through April. They were then planted in the nursery without further treatment. Runners with plantlets were produced during summer. These young plantlets were collected from the nursery in September and transferred to raised beds. Average temperatures at that time of the year are 30.degree. C. during the day and 22.degree. C. at night. Water and fertilizers were applied through drip irrigation.
An example of an optimum planting date is between September 5 and 15, with the approximate date of flowering on October 5-15, and the approximate date of first fruiting on November 5-15; or if planting is carried out between September 25 and 30, flowering occurs approximately on October 25-30, and first fruiting on November 25-30. Flowering is not induced by chilling, but by natural exposure to short day length (long nights) characteristic of late fall and early winter.
Strawberry plants in general are self-fertile, as is `Malah`; no pollinator is needed as pollination is brought about by insects and wind.
Color readings described herein were taken under natural light conditions and color identifications were made by reference to The Royal Horticultural Society Color Chart (R.H.S.C.C.) except where common terms of color definition are employed.
The pertinent characteristics of the present invention are presented in Table 1 and Table 2. Additionally, the variety `Malah` (1) has no tendency toward fruit malformation; (2) disease resistance appears normal in that no particular problematic conditions arose during trials; and (3) the type of bearing is not remontant, i.e. `Malah` blooms continuously during late fall and winter.
Fruit shape of `Malah` is longer than broad, with primary, secondary and tertiary fruit possessing almost similar shape (Table 2). The fruit is of strong firmness with an orange red color (Table 2).
The variety `Malah` flowers two months earlier than known short-day strawberry varieties. A close known comparable variety would be Dorit (Table 1); also see the new varieties mentioned in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,881 (SHARON); U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,876 (SHALOM); U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,865 (SMADAR); U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,869 (Dorit); U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,746 (OFRA); U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,748 (Virginia); U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,747 (NAMA).
Additionally early flowering results in early fruit production. Total Soluble Solids (T.S.S.), percent acidity, aroma evaluation and taste are presented in Table 4, by comparing to the varieties listed in Table 3.
TABLE 1
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PLANT CHARACTERISTICS OF `MALAH`
MORPHOGICAL
TRAIT DESCRIPTION
Botanical Classification
Fragaria L.
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Plant
1) Height 16-18 cm
2) Diameter 31-38 cm
3) Habit Globose
4) Density Dense
5) Vigor Medium to strong
Leaf:
1) Length 20-24 cm
2) Width 15-18 cm
3) Green color of Upper Side
Very dark RHS ca. 147 A
4) Blistering Medium
5) Cross section Concave
6) No. of leaflets Sometimes > 3
Petiole
1) Length 11-14 cm
2) Thickness 4-5 mm
3) Pubescence Strong
4) Green Color Light RHS ca. 144 B
Terminal leaflet
1) Length/Width ratio As long as broad
2) Shape of base Obtuse
3) Shape of Teeth Rounded
4) Length 6-7 cm
5) Width 6-7 cm
Calyx
1) Diameter of Primary Calyx
50-57 mm
2) Diameter of Secondary Calyx
35-48 mm
3) Diameter of Tertiary Calyx
30-40 mm
4) Size of Inner Calyx in relation
Larger
to Outer Calyx
Flower
1) Diameter of Primary Flower
28-30 mm
2) Diameter of Secondary Flower
22-30 mm
3) Diameter of Tertiary Flower
25-32 mm
4) Spacing of petals Touching
5) Petal length 10-15 mm
6) Petal width 11-14 mm
7) Petal length/width As long broad
8) Time of beginning flowering
Early
9) Fragrance None
Stolon
1) Number per Plant ca. 18
2) Thickness 3.8-5.0 mm
3) Pubescence Medium
4) Anthocyanin coloration
Absent or very weak
Inflorescence
1) Position relative to foliage
Above
2) Peduncle length 17-18 cm
3) Peduncle thickness ca, 3 mm
4) Peduncle color light green
5) Peduncle pubescence
strong
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The description of `Malah` is based on the test guidelines for Fragaria L. of the International Union for the Protection of New Plant Varieties (UPOV). Only characteristics which are relevant for comparing varieties are listed; for example, there are no varietal differences acknowledged in the characteristic "color of lower side of leaf".
The time of beginning of fowering is scaled as from "very early" to "very late". "Very early" is defined as approximately the first week of October under the prevailing conditions, while "very late" is defined as approximately the first week of December. `Malah` is scaled as "early" while `Dorit` is between "very early to early" and "early", and `Chandler` is "very late".
Strawberry plants have dichotome inflorescences, thus producing one primary, two secondary and four tertiary flowers per inflorescence. Flowers of higher order do not normally produce commercial fruit.
TABLE 2
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FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS OF `MALAH`
CHARACTERISTIC
DESCRIPTION
Time of first ripening
Early*****
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Primary Fruit
1) Length 48-55 mm
2) Width 38-45 mm
3) Shape Bi-conical
4) Weight ca. 40 g
Secondary Fruit
1) Length 45-53 mm
2) Width 35-43 mm
3) Shape Bi-conical
4) Weight ca. 28 g
Tertiary Fruit
Medium
1) Length 40-48 mm
2) Width 30-36 mm
3) Shape Cylindrical
4) Weight ca 21 g
Band without achenes
Medium
Unevenness of surface
Absent or very weak
Color Orange red 43A
Evenness of color
Uneven
Glossiness Medium
Insertion of achenes
Above surface
Insertion of calyx
Slight basin
Pose of calyx segments
Clasping or detached
Size of calyx in relation
Very large
to fruit diameter
Adherence of calyx
Strong
Firmness Firm
Color of Flesh
Light red 42D
Evenness of flesh color
Uneven
Sweetness Strong to very strong.
Acidity Medium
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Note:
*****The time of first ripening, approximately one month after beginning
of flowering, is scaled as from "very early" to "very late". "Very early"
is defined as approximately the first week of November, while "very. late
is defined as the first week of January. `MALAH` is scaled as early, whil
"DORIT" is between "very early to early" and "early", and "CHANDLER" is
"very late".
The shape of `MALAH` fruit is not similar to other varieties. There is no
difference in shape of fruit between primary, secondary fruit. The
tertiary fruit differs slightly from the former two. See Table 4.
TABLE 3
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COMPARATIVE YIELD.sup.1 OF `MALAH`
November December January February
March April
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Malah 20 40 120 130 130 130
Dorit 30 70 100 100 100 100
Ofra 50 60 60 100 100 100
Chand-
0 0 30 150 150 120
ler
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.sup.1 The time of beginning of ripening for `MALAH` fruit is the end of
November. The time of ripening for "Ofra" (infra short day U.S. Plant Pat
No. 8746) fruit is "very early". The time of ripening for "DORIT" (infra
short day U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7869) fruit is between "very early to early
and "early". The time of ripening for "CHANDLER" (short day U.S. Plant
Pat. No. 5262) fruit is "very late".
Note:
Average yield in g/m.sup.2, in Ramat Hadar, Israel.
TABLE 4
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COMPARATIVE FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS OF `MALAH`
T.S.S..sup.a Acidity.sup.b
Aroma.sup.c
Taste
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Malah 12.0-14.0 1.2 5 Very good
Dorit 8.5-9.5 1.0 5 Good
Ofra 8.0-9.5 1.0 4 Good
Chand-
6.5-7.5 0.8 4 Slightly acidic
ler
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Notes:
.sup.a Total Soluble Solids (Sugars) expresses fruit sweetness and was
determined with a refractometer; for strawberry fruit a T.S.S. of 14.0 is
very sweet, while below 6.5 is not sweet.
.sup.b Percent of acidity was determined as follows: 2 cc of juice extrac
was mixed with 20 cc of water. Five drops of phenolphthaleine was added
and the mixture was titrated with NaOH. The percent acidity is calculated
as the quantity of NaOH (cc) .times. 0.32.
.sup.c The aroma value is a subjective expression obtained by tasting,
using a scale from 1 (no aroma) to 5 (strong aroma).
Claims
1. A new distinct variety of strawberry plant substantially as illustrated and described and distinguished as being able to grow in September and produce fruit starting in November and lasting until summer, with fruit having a good taste and shape.
Type: Grant
Filed: Nov 14, 1997
Date of Patent: Feb 29, 2000
Assignee: State of Israel, Ministry of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Organization (Bet Dagan)
Inventors: Eva Izsak (Rehovot), Shamai Izhar (Rehovot)
Primary Examiner: Howard J. Locker
Assistant Examiner: Ashwin Mehta
Law Firm: Browdy and Neimark
Application Number: 8/968,824
