Strawberry plant named ‘Driscoll Destin’

Info

Patent number: PP16299
Type: Grant
Filed: Aug 19, 2004
Date of Patent: Feb 28, 2006
Inventors: Kristie L. Gilford (Dover, FL), Bruce D. Mowrey (Watsonville, CA), JoAnne Coss (Salinas, CA)
Primary Examiner: Anne Marie Grunberg
Assistant Examiner: Annette H Para
Attorney: Jones Day
Application Number: 10/923,531

Abstract

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry named ‘Driscoll Destin.’ The variety is similar to the varieties ‘Biscayne’ and ‘Key Largo.’ The variety is distinguished from ‘Biscayne’ and ‘Key Largo,’ in particular, by its shorter plant height, larger flower diameter, an orange-red external fruit color, greater yield, weak leaf glossiness, very dense stipule pubescence, and a small hollow fruit center.

Description

Description

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

1.1 Variety denomination: The strawberry variety denomination is ‘Driscoll Destin’.

2. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new variety originated as a result of a controlled cross between the strawberry plants ‘73D144’ (unpatented variety) and ‘88E94’ (unpatented variety) in an ongoing breeding program, and was discovered as a seedling in Monterey, Calif. in 2000. The original seedling of the new cultivar was asexually propagated by stolons in a Nursery in Shasta County, Calif. Propagules were transplanted to a controlled breeding plot in Monterey county, Calif., where the variety was identified and selected for further evaluation. ‘Driscoll Destin’ was subsequently asexually propagated and underwent further testing in Hillsborough county, Fla. for three 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.

3. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry named ‘Driscoll Destin.’ 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.

4. COMPARISON TO SIMILAR VARIETIES

The varieties which we believe to be similar to ‘Driscoll Destin’ from those known to us are ‘Biscayne’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,186) and ‘Key Largo’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,649). There are several characteristics of the new variety that are different from, or not possessed by ‘Biscayne’ and ‘Key Largo’. The new variety has a shorter plant height, larger flower diameter, an orange-red external fruit color, greater yield, weak leaf glossiness, very dense stipule pubescence, and a small hollow fruit center.

‘Driscoll Destin’ is distinguished from its maternal parent ‘73D144’ by its larger average berry size and improved shipability. ‘Driscoll Destin’ is distinguished from its paternal parent ‘88E94’ by its larger average berry size, improved shipping ability, and partial everbearing in comparison to the full everbearing of ‘88E94’.

5. 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 upper side of the leaves of the plant.

FIG. 2 shows the whole the plant.

FIG. 3 shows the under side and underside of the flowers.

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

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

6. DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description of the new variety is based upon observations taken of plants and fruit grown in Hillsborough county, Fla., U.S.A. This description is in accordance with UPOV terminology. Observations of ‘Driscoll Destin’, ‘Biscayne’ and ‘Key Largo’ were taken in side by side comparison in the 2003-2004 winter season. Plants for observation were harvested from McArthur, Calif., and held in refrigerated storage until planting in Hillsborough county, Fla. in October 2003. Plants were grown in raised beds of soil under conditions typical of commercial strawberry production in central Florida. Fruits were harvested twice weekly for yield determination from November 2003 to March 2004. Measurements of plant, flower, and fruit characteristics were made in January 2004, approximately four months after planting. Color designations, color descriptions, and other phenotypical 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.

6.1 PROPAGATION

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

6.2 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NEW VARIETY

Information on the new variety is presented in Tables 1, 2, 3 and 4. In the tables, the flowers described are secondary flowers except where indicated. The fruit described is the secondary fruit on five month old plants. Fruit and flower measurements are an average of both primary and secondary fruit and flowers.

Table 1 provides information on the plant and fruit characteristics of the new variety ‘Driscoll Destin’ compared with characteristics of ‘Biscayne’ and ‘Key Largo.’ Table 2 provides additional information of the plant and fruit characteristics of the new variety ‘Driscoll Destin’ compared with characteristics of the varieties ‘Biscayne’ and ‘Key Largo.’ Table 3 provides reactions of the new variety to stresses, pests and diseases compared with reactions of the varieties ‘Biscayne’ and ‘Key Largo.’ Table 4 provides isozyme characteristics of the new variety as compared to that of the varieties ‘Biscayne’ and ‘Key Largo.’

TABLE 1 QUANTITATIVE COMPARISON OF ‘DRISCOLL DESTIN’, ‘BISCAYNE,’ AND ‘KEY LARGO’ ‘Driscoll Destin’ ‘Biscayne’ ‘Key Largo’ Plant Characteristics Height of Plant (cm) 8.1 10.0 11.6 Spread of Plant (cm) 32.4 31.3 32.1 Number of Crowns 3.4 3.2 4.2 Leaf Characteristics Terminal Leaflet 8.2 7.6 8.4 Length (cm) Terminal Leaflet 8.3 8.1 8.0 Width (cm) Terminal Leaflet 0.99 0.93 1.06 Length/Width Ratio # Teeth/Terminal 24.5 27.0 21.6 Leaflet Color of upper side 135A 137A 137A medium to light green light green dark green Color of under side 136C 139C 139C light gray light gray light gray green green green Petiole Length (cm) 8.6 9.2 11.5 Petiole Color 145B 142D 142D yellow green yellow green yellow green Petiolule Length (mm) 7.0 5.5 6.3 Petiolule Diameter 2.1 2.2 1.9 (mm) Petiolule Color 145C 142D 142D yellow green yellow green yellow green Bract Frequency 8% 83% 0% typically typically single paired Stipule Length (cm) 3.8 3.7 3.4 Stipule Width (cm) 1.6 2.0 1.5 Stolon Characteristics Anthocyanin color 60A 59B red red Diameter at bract 3.59 3.24 3.30 (mm) Avg. # of Daughter 51 72 52 plants (2003 Nursery) Flower Characteristics Petal Length (cm) 1.5 1.36 1.65 Petal Width (cm) 1.3 1.49 1.46 Petal Length/Width 1.09 0.91 1.13 Ratio Flower Diameter (cm) 3.0 2.76 2.72 Calyx Diameter (cm) 4.0 3.86 5.11 Sepal Length (mm) 15.8 15.3 21.5 Sepal Width (cm) 6.6 7.22 9.15 Petal Color 155C white 155C white 155C white Receptical Color 150A 150A 150A yellow green yellow green yellow green Anther Color 13A yellow 9A yellow 9A yellow Fruiting Truss Length 8.8 8.7 13.6 (cm) Fruit Characteristics Fruit Length (cm) 5.6 4.8 4.8 Fruit Width (cm) 4.3 4.0 3.5 Fruit Length/Width 1.31 1.20 1.37 Ratio Average Berry Weight 28.9 26.5 23.2 (g) External Color 45B 46B 46B orange red red red Internal Color 179C 44A 44B orange red medium red medium red Achene Coloration 184B to 150A 180B to 150C 182B to 150A greyed red to greyed red to greyed red to yellow green yellow green yellow green Achenes per berry 194 109 104 Achene weight (g) 0.000077 0.00046 0.00058 2003-2004 Fruit Yield 285 243 251 (g/plant)

TABLE 2 QUALITATIVE COMPARISON OF ‘DRISCOLL DESTIN’, ‘BISCAYNE,’ AND ‘KEY LARGO’ ‘Driscoll Destin’ ‘Biscayne’ ‘Key Largo’ Plant Habit flat flat globose globose Canopy Density dense medium medium Vigor strong strong medium Leaf Shape in cross section concave concave slightly concave Interveinal blistering very strong weak weak Glossiness weak medium medium Number of leaflets three only three only three only Terminal leaflet revolute to flat revolute revolute margin profile Terminal leaflet shape obtuse rounded slightly oblique of base Terminal leaflet shape acute to obtuse rounded rounded of teeth Stipule pubescence very dense medium medium Petiole pubescence medium medium medium Petiole pose of hairs outwards outwards upwards Stolon Anthocyanin medium strong coloration Thickness thick medium Pubescence medium medium Inflorescence Position relative to beneath level level to above foliage Diameter of calyx same size larger much larger relative to corolla on secondary flowers Diameter of inner same size to same size smaller calyx relative to outer larger on secondary flowers Spacing of petals overlapping overlapping overlapping Fruiting Truss Attitude at first prostrate prostrate semi-erect picking Fruit Predominant shape conical to conical conical almost cylindrical Difference in shapes moderate slight slight between primary and secondary fruits Band without achenes medium narrow narrow Unevenness of surface weak weak weak Evenness of color uneven even even

6.4 ISOZYME ANALYSIS

In addition to the morphological description above, the new cultivar ‘Driscoll Destin’ has been analyzed to obtain an indication of its genetic makeup to provide further means for identifying the new variety and distinguishing it from other somewhat similar and/or related strawberry varieties. Specifically, leaf samples of ‘Driscoll Destin’, ‘Biscayne’ and ‘Key Largo’ 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 ‘DRISCOLL DESTIN’, ‘BISCAYNE,’ AND ‘KEY LARGO’ ‘Driscoll Locus Destin’ ‘Biscayne’ ‘Key Largo’ PGI A2 A1 A1 LAP B3 B3 B3 PGM C2 C4 C4

Claims

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