Strawberry plant named ‘Driscoll Camarillo’

Abstract

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry named ‘Driscoll Camarillo’. The variety is similar to the varieties ‘Baeza’ and ‘Ventura’. The variety is distinguished from ‘Baeza’ and ‘Ventura’ in that ‘Driscoll Camarillo’ has a longer fruiting truss, a dark green coloration of the upper side of the leaf, a globosely plant habit, even fruit coloration, and absent to small hollow center size.

Description

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: The variety is botanically identified as Fragaria×ananassa.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new variety originated as a result of a controlled cross between the strawberry plants ‘Baeza’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,548) and ‘33×257’ (unpatented variety of Driscoll Strawberry Associates, Inc.) in an ongoing breeding program, and was discovered in Ventura County, Calif. in October, 1997. The original seedling of the new cultivar was asexually propagated by solons in a nursery in Shasta County, Calif. Propagates were transplanted to a controlled breeding plot in Ventura County, Calif., where the variety was identified and selected for further evaluation. ‘Driscoll Camarillo’ was subsequently asexually propagated and underwent further testing Ventura County, California for five years. This propagation and testing has demonstrated that the combination of traits disclosed herein which characterize the new variety are fixed and retained true to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry named ‘Driscoll Camarillo’. The variety is botanically identified as Fragaria×ananassa. The new variety is distinguished from other varieties by a number of characteristics as set forth in Tables 1-4.

COMPARISON TO SIMILAR VARIETIES

The varieties which we believe to be similar to ‘Driscoll Camarillo’ from those known to us are ‘Baeza’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,548) and ‘Ventura’. There are several characteristics of the new variety that are different from, or not possessed by ‘Baeza’ and ‘Ventura’. The new variety has a longer fruiting truss, a dark green coloration of the upper side of the leaf, a globosely plant habit, even fruit coloration, and an absent to small hollow center size.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographs show typical specimens of the new variety, including fruit, foliage and flowers, in color as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make in color illustrations of these characteristics.

FIG. 1 shows the leaves of the plant.

FIG. 2 shows the upper side.

FIG. 3 shows the under side of the flowers.

FIG. 4 shows a close-up of the fruit.

FIG. 5 shows the fruit in longitudinal cross-section.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description of the new variety is based upon observations taken of plants and fruit grown in Ventura County, Calif., U.S.A. Observations of ‘Driscoll Camarillo’, ‘Baeza’ and ‘Ventura’ were taken in side by side comparison in 2001. This description is in accordance with UPOV terminology. Color designations, color descriptions, and other phonotypical descriptions may deviate from the stated values and descriptions depending upon variation in environmental, seasonal, climatic and cultural conditions. Colors are described and the most similar color designations are provided from The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.) Colour Chart.

PROPAGATION

The new variety is principally propagated by way of solons. Although propagation by solons is presently preferred, other known methods of propagating strawberry plants may be employed.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NEW VARIETY

Information on the new variety is presented in Tables 1, 2 and 3. In the tables, the flowers described are secondary flowers except where indicated. The fruit described is the secondary fruit on one year old plants. Fruit and flower measurements are an average of both primary and secondary fruit and flowers. The leaf width is 14.78 cm and the leaf length is 9.98 cm. The leaf margin is crenate, and the leaf texture is very strongly blistered. The petiolule length is 16.22 mm, the petiolule diameter is 2.22 mm, and the petiolule color is 149A (in The R.H.S. Colour Chart). The anthocyanin color on stolons is 60C (in R.H.S. Colour Chart). The stolon thickness is 3.875 mm. The sepal length is 9.18 mm, sepal diameter is 5.4 mm, and sepal color is 146B (in R.H.S. Colour Chart). The reproductive organs are typical for the species. The color of the anthers is Yellow 13A (in R.H.S. Colour Chart), and the color of the pistils and receptacle are Yellow 7A (in R.H.S. Colour Chart). The average achene weight is 0.0054 g, and there are an average number of 224 achenes per berry.

Table 1 provides a quantitative comparison of the plant and fruit characteristics of the new variety ‘Driscoll Camarillo’ compared with characteristics of ‘Baeza’ and ‘Ventura’. Table 2 provides additional information of the plant and fruit characteristics of the new variety ‘Driscoll Camarillo’ compared with characteristics of the varieties ‘Baeza’ and ‘Ventura’. Table 3 provides reactions of the new variety to stresses, pests and disease as compared to the varieties ‘Baeza’ and ‘Ventura’. Table 4 provides isozyme characteristics of the new variety as compared to the varieties ‘Baeza’ and ‘Ventura’.

TABLE 1 DETAILED COMPARISON OF CAMARILLO, BAEZA AND VENTURA CAMARILLO BAEZA VENTURA Plant Characteristics Height of Plant (cm) 23.3 20.8 21.0 Spread of Plant (cm) 42.7 38.2 38.7 Number of Crowns 4.8 3.0 3.3 Leaf Characteristics Terminal Leaflet 8.2 8.5 7.5 Length (cm) Terminal Leaflet 8.2 8.7 7.5 Width (cm) Terminal Leaflet 1.0 0.98 .99 Length/Width # Teeth/Terminal 24.8 25.4 22.4 Leaflet Color of upper side dark green light to medium green 147A medium green 137A 147A Color of under side light green light green light green 138B 138B 138B Petiole Length (cm) 15.9 14.5 14.2 Petiole Color 149A 144A 145A yellow green yellow green yellow green Bract Frequency 42% 67% 50% mostly double mostly double mostly double Stipule Length (cm) 3.5 3.5 2.8 Stipule Width (cm) 1.2 1.1 1.1 Stolon Diameter at base of 4.09 4.12 4.05 last daughter Flower Characteristics Petal Length (cm) 1.22 1.10 1.19 Petal Width (cm) 1.39 1.22 1.09 Petal Length/Width 0.88 0.90 1.09 Ratio Petal color 155B Flower Diameter (cm) 2.61 2.50 2.40 Calyx Diameter (cm) 2.98 2.55 2.57 Fruiting Truss Length (cm) 32.0 28.5 24.8 Fruit Characteristics Fruit Length (cm) 4.1 4.2 4.5 Fruit Width (cm) 4.0 3.8 4.0 Fruit Length/Width 1.03 1.11 1.11 Ratio Average Berry 21.1 21.5 24.3 Weight (g) External Color 46A 46A 46A red red red Internal Color 34B & 155A 42B & 155D 44A orange red & white & orange red white orange red Average % brix 9.26 10.38 9.27 Brix/Acid Ratio 12.62 12.87 12.95 Achene Coloration 184B and 13B 13A and 46A 13B and 45B Marketable Yield in 410 293 118 2001 (g/plant) TABLE 2 CHARACTERISTICS OF CAMARILLO, BAEZA AND VENTURA CAMARILLO BAEZA VENTURA Plant Habit globose flat globose globose to flat globose Density open open medium Vigor medium medium weak to medium Leaf Shape in cross section concave concave slightly concave Interveinal blistering very strong strong to very strong strong Glossiness medium to weak medium strong Number of leaflets three only three only three only Terminal leaflet revolute to flat revolute to flat revolute to flat margin profile Terminal leaflet shape rounded obtuse to rounded of base rounded Terminal leaflet shape rounded acute to obtuse of teeth obtuse Stipule pubescence sparse sparse sparse Petiole pubescence sparse very sparse to sparse sparse Petiole pose of hairs outwards outwards outwards Stolon Amount few to medium few to medium few to medium Anthocyanin weak to weak to medium coloration medium medium Thickness thick thick to medium to very thick thick Pubescence sparse medium to dense Inflorescence dense Position relative above level to above level to above to foliage Diameter of calyx smaller to same same size to smaller relative to size larger corolla on secondary flowers Diameter of inner same size same size same size calyx relative to outer on secondary flowers Spacing of petals overlapping overlapping touching to overlapping Fruiting Truss Attitude at prostrate prostrate semi-erect first picking Fruit Predominant shape cordate conical conical to cordate Difference in shapes slight very slight to slight between primary and slight secondary fruits Band without achenes absent or very very narrow narrow narrow to narrow Unevenness of surface weak weak to weak to medium medium Evenness of color even slightly uneven slightly even uneven to even Glossiness strong strong strong Insertion of achenes below surface level to below below surface surface Insertion of calyx in a basin level in a basin to level Pose of the calyx spreading spreading to reflexed segments reflexed Size of calyx in smaller same size to smaller relation to fruit larger on secondary fruit Adherence of calyx strong strong weak to medium Firmness of flesh firm medium to firm firm Evenness of flesh slightly uneven uneven slightly uneven color Distribution of flesh marginal and marginal to marginal to color central central central Hollow center size absent to small large small Sweetness medium medium medium to strong Texture when tasted medium medium fine Acidity medium medium weak to medium Time of Flowering mid to late mid to late mid to late August August August Harvest Interval in 9/29-12/22 9/29-12/22 10/6-12/22 2001 (Week Ending) Type of Bearing fully fully fully everbearing everbearing everbearing

REACTION TO STRESS, PESTS, AND DISEASE

TABLE 3 5.3 REACTION TO STRESS, PESTS, AND DISEASE CAMARILLO BAEZA VENTURA Reaction to Stress high pH moderately moderately moderately resistant resistant resistant high soil salt levels moderately susceptible moderately resistant resistant Reaction to Pests Tetranychus urticae moderately moderately moderately susceptible susceptible susceptible Lygus hesperus susceptible susceptible susceptible Reaction To Diseases Botrytis fruit rot susceptible susceptible moderately susceptible Powdery mildew susceptible highly highly susceptible susceptible Verticillium wilt susceptible susceptible susceptible Strawberry Mottle Virus moderately moderately moderately resistant resistant resistant Xanthomonas fragariae moderately moderately moderately resistant resistant resistant

ISOZYME ANALYSIS

In addition to the morphological description above, the new cultivar ‘Driscoll Camarillo’ has been analyzed to obtain an indication of its genetic makeup to provide further means for identifying the new variety and distinguishing it from some other somewhat similar and/or related strawberry varieties. Specifically, leaf samples of ‘Driscoll Camarillo’, ‘Baeza’, and ‘Ventura’ were analyzed by electrophoresis for isozyme patterns of the enzymes phosphoglucoisomerase (“PGI”), leucine aminopeptidase (“LAP”) and phosphoglucomutase (“PGM”). See J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 106:684-687. Isozyme characterization of the three varieties is presented in Table 4, with the letters representing the banding patterns for each enzyme as designated in the above-identified article.

TABLE 4 ISOZYME ANALYSIS FOR CAMARILLO, BAEZA AND VENTURA Locus CAMARILLO BAEZA VENTURA PGI A2 A1 A2 LAP B3 B3 B3 PGM C4 C3 C4

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of strawberry plant, substantially as shown and described.