Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Fragaria ananassa.
Variety denomination: ‘BG-3.324’.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry variety named ‘BG-3.324’. This new variety is a result of a controlled cross made in 2003 in an ongoing breeding program between strawberry variety designated ‘BG-1257’ (a non-patented selection) and strawberry variety designated ‘BG-1975’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,725). 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 2005. 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-3.324’ 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-3.324’, which in combination distinguish this strawberry plant as a new and distinct variety:
-
- 1. Early fruit production;
- 2. Moderate to strongly expressed core cavity;
- 3. Medium to light yellow green foliage;
- 4. Orange red to red fruit color; and
- 5. Very large fruit size.
The strawberry variety that is believed to be most closely related to the new variety ‘BG-3.324’ is ‘BG-1975’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,725). In side-by-side comparisons to the similar strawberry variety ‘BG-1975’, ‘BG-3.324’ differs by the following combination of characteristics as described in Table 1.
TABLE 1
COMPARISON TO THE SIMILAR VARIETY
‘BG-1975’
Characteristic ‘BG-3.324’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,725)
Marketable yield 1,149 1,080
(gm/plant)
Fruit predominant Conical Ranges from conical to almost
shape cylindrical
Fruit size Very large Ranges from medium to large
50% of plants Ranges from early Ranges from medium to early
with ripe fruit to very early
Plant size Medium Ranges from medium to large
Expression of Ranges from Moderate
hollow center moderate to strong
Shape of the base Obtuse Acute
of the
terminal leaflet
Fruiting truss Medium Weak
anthocyanin
intensity
Fruiting truss Medium Strong
pubescence
For identification, a series of molecular markers have been determined for this new variety.
‘BG-3.324’ differs from its parents, ‘BG-1257’ and ‘BG-1975’ by the following combination of characteristics as described in Table 2.
TABLE 2
COMPARISON WITH PARENT VARIETIES
‘BG-633’
(U.S. Plant Pat.
Characteristic ‘BG-3.324’ No. 13,320) ‘BG-1445’
Marketable 1,149 628 1,080
yield
(gm/plant)
Fruit size Very large Ranges from Ranges from medium
medium to large to large
Plant size Medium Medium Ranges from medium
to large
Fruit color Ranges from Red Ranges from orange
orange red to red red to red
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance of typical specimens of the new strawberry variety ‘BG-3.324’, 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-3.324’. The depicted plant and plant parts of the new strawberry variety ‘BG-3.324’ are approximately six months old. The photographs were taken in Ventura County, Calif.:
FIG. 1 shows typical fruiting field characteristics of ‘BG-3.324’, taken in the month of April 2011;
FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the typical leaf structure of ‘BG-3.324’, taken in the month of April 2011;
FIG. 3 shows typical mature and immature field fruit of ‘BG-3.324’, taken in the month of April 2011; and
FIG. 4 shows typical internal and external mature fruit characteristics of ‘BG-3.324’, taken in the month of April 2011.
DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION The new variety ‘BG-3.324’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The characteristics of the new variety ‘BG-3.324’ 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-3.324’, 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-3.324’ 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 five years of data collected from the 2007 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-3.324’ in comparison to the similar strawberry variety ‘BG-1975’.
TABLE 3
FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS
‘BG-1975’
Characteristic ‘BG-3.324’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,725)
Color of mature RHS 45B RHS 45A
fruit Ranges from orange Ranges from orange red to
red to red red
Color of internal RHS 45A RHS 44A
flesh Dark red Medium red
Fruit length (cm) 4.7 4.5
Fruit width (cm) 4.0 3.9
Fruit length/width 1.20 1.14
ratio Ranges from slightly Slightly longer than broad
longer than broad to
much longer than broad
Calyx diameter 4.3 5.2
(cm)
Average fruit 28.5 26.6
weight (gm)
Achene color, RHS 153B RHS 152D
shaded side Yellow green group Yellow green group
Achene color, RHS 184A RHS 183A
sun-exposed side Greyed purple group Greyed purple group
Achenes per berry 364 300
Achene weight 0.60 0.67
(mg)
Marketable fruit 1,149 1,080
yield (gm/plant)
Fruit size Very large Ranges from medium to large
Predominant fruit Conical Ranges from conical to
shape almost cylindrical
Difference in Moderate Ranges from slight to
shapes between moderate
primary and
secondary fruit
Band without Absent or very narrow Absent or very narrow
achenes
Unevenness of Ranges from weak to Weak
fruit surface medium
Evenness of fruit Ranges from slightly Ranges from slightly uneven
color uneven to even to even
Fruit glossiness Medium Ranges from medium to
strong
Insertion of Ranges from below Ranges from below surface to
achenes surface to level with level with surface
surface
Insertion of calyx In basin In basin
Attitude of calyx Ranges from collapsing Spreading
to spreading
Size of calyx in Ranges from slightly Ranges from slightly larger to
relation to fruit smaller to same size much larger
diameter
Adherence of Strong Very strong
calyx
Firmness of fruit Medium Ranges from medium to
skin strong
Firmness of fruit Firm Medium
flesh
Keeping quality Ranges from good to Good
moderate
Distribution of red Marginal and central Marginal and central
color of the flesh
Hollow center Ranges from moderate Moderate
expression to strong
Fruit flavor Good Very good
Soluble solids 8.4 8.6
(% brix)
Time of first Ranges from very early Ranges from early to medium
flowering to early
Time of first Ranges from very early Ranges from early to medium
harvesting to early
Harvest period Late December to mid Early January to late May
May
Type of bearing Not remontant Not remontant
TABLE 4
PLANT CHARACTERISTICS
‘BG-1975’
Characteristic ‘BG-3.324’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,725)
Plant height (cm) 19.0 23.0
Plant spread (cm) 25.5 26.1
Plant size Medium Ranges from large to medium
Plant habit Globose Globose
Plant density Medium Medium
Plant vigor Medium Ranges from medium to strong
TABLE 5
STOLON CHARACTERISTICS
‘BG-1975’
Characteristic ‘BG-3.324’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,725)
Stolon color RHS 146C RHS 146D
Yellow green group Yellow green group
Stolon anthocyanin RHS 181A RHS 182A
coloration Greyed red group Greyed red group
Stolon anthocyanin Strong Weak
intensity
Average stolon Ranges from medium to Medium
quantity many
Stolon diameter at 3.4 3.1
bract (mm)
Stolon pubescence Medium Strong
Attitude of hairs Upwards Slightly outward
TABLE 6
FOLIAGE CHARACTERISTICS
‘BG-1975’
(U.S. Plant
Characteristic ‘BG-3.324’ Pat. No. 17,725)
Foliage:
Color of upper surface RHS 146B RHS 146B
Ranges from light Ranges from light yellow
yellow green to green to medium yellow
medium yellow green 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 Medium Ranges from weak to
medium
Leaf glossiness Medium Ranges from weak to
medium
Number of leaflets 3 3
Terminal Leaflet:
Length (cm) 6.9 7.0
Width (cm) 6.3 6.2
Length/width ratio 1.09 1.13
Ranges from as long Ranges from as long as
as broad to longer than broad to longer than
broad broad
Serrations/leaf 16.8 20.8
Leaf Size Ranges from medium Ranges from medium to
to small small
Shape of base Obtuse Acute
Shape of teeth Rounded Rounded
Petiole:
Petiole color RHS 144B RHS 144B
Yellow green group Yellow green group
Petiole length (cm) 14.0 15.5
Petiole diameter (mm) 3.2 3.7
Petiolule color RHS 144B RHS 144B
Yellow green group Yellow green group
Petiolule length (mm) 7.6 11.7
Petiole pubescence Heavy Heavy
Attitude of hairs Strongly outward Strongly outward
Stipule:
Color RHS 146A RHS 146C
Yellow green group Yellow green group
Anthocyanin coloration RHS 58A RHS 61B
Red purple group Red purple group
Anthocyanin intensity Weak Weak
Length (mm) 13.0 16.0
Width (mm) 10.3 10.1
TABLE 7
FRUITING TRUSS CHARACTERISTICS
‘BG-1975’
Characteristic ‘BG-3.324’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,725)
Anthocyanin RHS 181C RHS 181C
coloration Greyed red group Greyed red group
Anthocyanin Medium Weak
intensity
Length at maturity 26.4 28.6
(cm)
Position relative to Ranges from level with Ranges from level with to
foliage to above the foliage above the foliage
Pubescence Medium Strong
Attitude at first pick Prostrate Prostrate
TABLE 8
FLOWER CHARACTERISTICS
‘BG-1975’
Characteristic ‘BG-3.324’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,725)
Petal color RHS NN155C RHS NN155C
White group White group
Sepal color RHS 137B RHS 138A
Green group Green group
Corolla diameter (mm) 29.8 27.7
Calyx diameter (mm) 34.6 38.8
Petal length (mm) 11.0 10.7
Petal width (mm) 11.6 10.5
Petal length/width ratio .95 1.02
Petals/flower 6.4 6.3
Sepal length (mm) 13.5 15.5
Sepal width (mm) 5.5 5.5
Sepal length/width ratio 2.43 2.81
Sepals/flower 12.4 12.6
Size of calyx relative to Larger Larger
corolla
Size of inner calyx Ranges from Ranges from smaller to same
relative to outer calyx smaller to same
Relative position of Overlapping Overlapping
petals
TABLE 9
PEST AND DISEASE REACTIONS
‘BG-1975’
Characteristic ‘BG-3.324’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,725)
Two-spotted Moderately susceptible Moderately susceptible
spider mite
Powdery mildew Moderately susceptible Moderately susceptible
Botrytis fruit rot Moderately susceptible Moderately susceptible
Angular leaf spot Susceptible Susceptible
