Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Fragaria ananassa.
Variety denomination: ‘BG-4316’.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry variety named ‘BG-4316’. This new variety is a result of a controlled cross made in 2002 in an ongoing breeding program between strawberry variety designated ‘BG-633’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,320) and strawberry variety designated ‘BG-1445’ (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, Calif. in the winter of 2004. After its selection, the new variety was asexually propagated by stolons in both San Joaquin County, Calif. and Siskiyou County, Calif. The new variety was extensively tested over the next several years in fruiting fields in Ventura County, Calif. 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 ‘BG-4316’ 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 winter and spring production months.
The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘BG-4316’, which in combination distinguish this strawberry plant as a new and distinct variety:
-
- 1. Acute terminal leaflet base;
- 2. Medium to strong anthocyanins on the fruiting truss;
- 3. Orange red fruit color;
- 4. Medium-sized fruit; and
- 5. Calyx is slightly to much larger than the fruit.
The strawberry variety that is believed to be most closely related to the new variety ‘BG-4316’ is ‘BG-1975’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,725). In side-by-side comparisons to the similar strawberry variety ‘BG-1975’, ‘BG-4316’ differs by the following combination of characteristics as described in Table 1.
TABLE 1
COMPARISON TO THE SIMILAR VARIETY
‘BG-1975’
Characteristic ‘BG-4316’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,725)
Marketable yield 1,134 1,080
(gm/plant)
Fruit predominant shape Conical Ranges from conical to
almost cylindrical
Insertion of achenes Level with Ranges from level with to
the surface below the surface
50% of plants with ripe Medium Ranges from medium to
fruit early
Plant size Medium Ranges from medium to
large
Foliage color Medium green Ranges from medium to
light yellow green
Petiole pubescence Moderate Heavy
Fruiting truss anthocyanin Ranges from Weak
intensity medium to strong
Expression of hollow Ranges from Moderate
center weak to moderate
Fruit color Orange red Ranges from orange red to
red
For identification, a series of molecular markers have been determined for this new variety.
‘BG-4316’ differs from its parents, ‘BG-633’ and ‘BG-1445’ by the following combination of characteristics as described in Table 2.
TABLE 2
COMPARISON WITH PARENT VARIETIES
‘BG-633’
Characteristic ‘BG-4316’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,320) ‘BG-1445’
Marketable yield 1,134 964 692
(gm/plant)
Fruit gloss Medium Weak Medium
Fruit size Medium Ranges from medium to Large
large
Plant size Medium Ranges from medium to Medium
small
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance of typical specimens of the new strawberry variety ‘BG-4316’, 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 ‘BG-4316’. The depicted plant and plant parts of the new strawberry variety ‘BG-4316’ are approximately six months old. The photographs were taken in Ventura County, Calif.:
FIG. 1 shows typical fruiting field characteristics of ‘BG-4316’, taken in the month of April 2011;
FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the typical leaf structure of ‘BG-4316’, taken in the month of April 2011;
FIG. 3 shows typical mature and immature field fruit of ‘BG-4316’, taken in the month of April 2011; and
FIG. 4 shows typical internal and external mature fruit characteristics of ‘BG-4316’, taken in the month of April 2011.
DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION The new variety ‘BG-4316’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The characteristics of the new variety ‘BG-4316’ 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 ‘BG-4316’, unless otherwise noted, are based on observations taken during the 2011 growing season in Ventura County, Calif. These measurements and ratings were taken from plants of ‘BG-4316’ dug from a high-elevation nursery located in Siskiyou County, Calif. during early October 2010 and planted approximately four to five days later in Ventura County, Calif. The approximate age of the observed plants is six months. Yield observations and fruit quality characteristics are averaged from six years of data collected from the 2006 through 2011 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 ‘BG-4316’ in comparison to the similar strawberry variety ‘BG-1975’.
TABLE 3
FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS
‘BG-1975’
(U.S. Plant
Characteristic ‘BG-4316’ Pat. No. 17,725)
Color of mature fruit RHS 34A RHS 45A
Orange red Ranges from orange red
to red
Color of internal flesh RHS 34C RHS 44A
Light red Medium red
Fruit length (cm) 4.3 4.5
Fruit width (cm) 3.8 3.9
Fruit length/width ratio 1.15 1.14
Slightly longer than Slightly longer than
broad broad
Calyx diameter (cm) 5.5 5.2
Average fruit weight 24.9 26.6
(gm)
Achene color, shaded RHS 153D RHS 152D
side Yellow green group Yellow green group
Achene color, sun- RHS 182A RHS 183A
exposed side Greyed purple group Greyed purple group
Achenes per berry 331 300
Achene weight (mg) 0.50 0.67
Marketable fruit yield 1,134 1,080
(gm/plant)
Fruit size Medium Ranges from medium to
large
Predominant fruit shape Conical Ranges from conical to
almost cylindrical
Difference in shapes Slight Ranges from slight to
between primary and moderate
secondary fruit
Band without achenes Absent or very narrow Absent or very narrow
Unevenness of fruit Absent or very weak Weak
surface
Evenness of fruit color Even Ranges from slightly
uneven to even
Fruit glossiness Medium Ranges from medium to
strong
Insertion of achenes Level with surface Ranges from below
surface to level with
surface
Insertion of calyx In basin In basin
Attitude of calyx Ranges from Spreading
collapsing to
spreading
Size of calyx in relation Ranges from slightly Ranges from slightly
to fruit diameter larger to much larger larger to much larger
Adherence of calyx Strong Very strong
Firmness of fruit skin Ranges from medium Ranges from medium to
to strong strong
Firmness of fruit flesh Firm Medium
Keeping quality Good Good
Distribution of red color Marginal and central Marginal and central
of the flesh
Hollow center expression Ranges from weak to Moderate
moderate
Fruit flavor Good Very good
Soluble solids (% brix) 7.4 8.6
Time of first flowering Ranges from early to Ranges from early to
medium medium
Time of first harvesting Ranges from early to Ranges from early to
medium medium
Harvest period Late December to late Early January to late
May May
Type of bearing Not remontant Not remontant
TABLE 4
PLANT CHARACTERISTICS
‘BG-1975’
Characteristic ‘BG-4316’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,725)
Plant height (cm) 21.3 23.0
Plant spread (cm) 28.5 26.1
Plant size Medium Ranges from large to medium
Plant habit Globose Globose
Plant density Medium Medium
Plant vigor Ranges from medium to Ranges from medium to
strong strong
TABLE 5
STOLON CHARACTERISTICS
‘BG-1975’
Characteristic ‘BG-4316’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,725)
Stolon color RHS 146C RHS 146D
Yellow green group Yellow green group
Stolon anthocyanin RHS 184A RHS 182A
coloration Greyed red group Greyed red group
Stolon anthocyanin Strong Weak
intensity
Average stolon quantity Ranges from Medium
medium to many
Stolon diameter at bract 2.8 3.1
(mm)
Stolon pubescence Medium Strong
Attitude of hairs Upwards Slightly outward
TABLE 6
FOLIAGE CHARACTERISTICS
‘BG-1975’
(U.S. Plant
Characteristic ‘BG-4316’ Pat. No. 17,725)
Foliage:
Color of upper surface RHS 137B RHS 146B
Medium green Ranges from light
yellow green to medium
yellow green
Color of underside RHS 147C RHS 147C
Yellow green group Yellow green group
Shape in cross section Slightly concave to flat Slightly concave to flat
Interveinal blistering Ranges from weak to Ranges from weak to
medium medium
Leaf glossiness Medium Ranges from weak to
medium
Number of leaflets 3 3
Terminal Leaflet:
Length (cm) 7.0 7.0
Width (cm) 5.8 6.2
Length/width ratio 1.22 1.13
Longer than broad Ranges from as long as
broad to longer than
broad
Serrations/leaf 20.0 20.8
Leaf Size Ranges from medium to Ranges from medium to
small small
Shape of base Acute Acute
Shape of teeth Rounded Rounded
Petiole:
Petiole color RHS 144A RHS 144B
Yellow green group Yellow green group
Petiole length (cm) 14.3 15.5
Petiole diameter (mm) 3.4 3.7
Petiolule color RHS 144A RHS 144B
Yellow green group Yellow green group
Petiolule length (mm) 5.8 11.7
Petiole pubescence Moderate Heavy
Attitude of hairs Ranges from slightly Strongly outward
outward to strongly
outward
Stipule:
Color RHS 146C RHS 146C
Yellow green group Yellow green group
Anthocyanin coloration RHS 60B RHS 61B
Red purple group Red purple group
Anthocyanin intensity Ranges from medium to Weak
strong
Length (mm) 17.8 16.0
Width (mm) 12.7 10.1
TABLE 7
FRUITING TRUSS CHARACTERISTICS
‘BG-1975’
Characteristic ‘BG-4316’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,725)
Anthocyanin coloration RHS 181C RHS 181C
Greyed red group Greyed red group
Anthocyanin intensity Ranges from Weak
medium to strong
Length at maturity (cm) 23.8 28.6
Position relative to foliage Level with the Ranges from level with to
foliage above the foliage
Pubescence Ranges from Strong
weak to medium
Attitude at first pick Prostrate Prostrate
TABLE 8
FLOWER CHARACTERISTICS
‘BG-1975’
Characteristic ‘BG-4316’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,725)
Petal color RHS NN155C RHS NN155C
White group White group
Sepal color RHS N137A RHS 138A
Green group Green group
Corolla diameter (mm) 30.2 27.7
Calyx diameter (mm) 38.0 38.8
Petal length (mm) 11.8 10.7
Petal width (mm) 11.8 10.5
Petal length/width ratio 1.0 1.02
Petals/flower 5.8 6.3
Sepal length (mm) 15.7 15.5
Sepal width (mm) 4.5 5.5
Sepal length/width ratio 3.46 2.81
Sepals/flower 11.7 12.6
Size of calyx relative to Larger Larger
corolla
Size of inner calyx relative Ranges from Ranges from same to
to outer calyx same to smaller smaller
Relative position of petals Overlapping Overlapping
TABLE 9
PEST AND DISEASE REACTIONS
‘BG-1975’
Characteristic ‘BG-4316’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,725)
Two-spotted spider mite Moderately Moderately susceptible
susceptible
Powdery mildew Moderately Moderately susceptible
susceptible
Botrytis fruit rot Moderately Moderately susceptible
susceptible
Angular leaf spot Susceptible Susceptible
