Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Fragaria ananassa.
Variety denomination: ‘PS-3.108’.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry variety named ‘PS-3.108’. This new variety is a result of a controlled cross made in 2003 in an ongoing breeding program between strawberry variety designated ‘PS-1269’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,686) and strawberry variety designated ‘PS-4634’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,487). 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 Monterey County, Calif. in the summer 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 Monterey 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 ‘PS-3.108’ 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 April through November production months.
The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘PS-3.108’, which in combination distinguish this strawberry plant as a new and distinct variety:
-
- 1. Dark red to red fruit color;
- 2. Large to very large fruit size;
- 3. Medium plant vigor;
- 4. Conical fruit shape;
- 5. Firm fruit flesh; and
- 6. Early fruit ripening
The strawberry variety that is believed to be most closely related to the new variety ‘PS-3.108’ is ‘PS-4634’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,487). In side-by-side comparisons to the similar strawberry variety ‘PS-4634’, ‘PS-3.108’ differs by the following combination of characteristics as described in Table 1.
TABLE 1
COMPARISON TO THE STANDARD VARIETY
‘PS-4634’
Characteristic ‘PS-3.108’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,487)
Fruit color Ranges from red Ranges from orange red to
to dark red red
Average marketable 1,969 grams/plant 1,689 grams/plant
yield
Difference in shape Ranges from none Moderate
between primary and to very slight
secondary fruit
Size of calyx in Slightly larger Same size
relationship to fruit
diameter
Firmness of flesh Firm Medium
Expression of hollow Weak Strong
center
Plant size Medium Large
Foliage color Ranges from light Medium green
to medium yellow
green
Foliage shape in cross Ranges from lightly Ranges from lightly
section to strongly concave concave to flat
For identification, a series of molecular markers have been determined for this new variety.
‘PS-3.108’ differs from its parents, ‘PS-1269’ and ‘PS-4634’ by the following combination of characteristics as described in Table 2.
TABLE 2
COMPARISON TO THE PARENT VARIETIES
‘PS-1269’ ‘PS-4634’
(U.S. Plant (U.S. Plant
Characteristic ‘PS-3.108’ Pat. No. 10,686) Pat. No. 17,487)
Fruit color Ranges from red Red Ranges from
to dark red orange red to red
Average 1,969 grams/plant 1,443 grams/plant 1,689 grams/
marketable yield plant
Difference in Ranges from none Ranges from Moderate
shape between to very slight moderate to
primary and marked
secondary fruit
Fruit gloss Medium Ranges from Strong
weak to medium
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance of typical specimens of the new strawberry variety ‘PS-3.108’, 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 ‘PS-3.108’. The depicted plant and plant parts of the new strawberry variety ‘PS-3.108’ are between eight and nine months old. The photographs were taken in Monterey County, Calif.:
FIG. 1 shows typical fruiting field characteristics of ‘PS-3.108’, taken in the month of July 2011;
FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the typical leaf structure of ‘PS-3.108’, taken in the month of July 2011;
FIG. 3 shows typical mature and immature field fruit of ‘PS-3.108’, taken in the month of July 2011; and
FIG. 4 shows typical internal and external mature fruit characteristics of ‘PS-3.108’, taken in the month of August 2011.
DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION The new variety ‘PS-3.108’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The characteristics of the new variety ‘PS-3.108’ 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 ‘PS-3.108’, unless otherwise noted, are based on observations taken during the 2011 growing season in Monterey County, Calif. These measurements and ratings were taken from plants of ‘PS-3.108’ dug from a high-elevation nursery located in Siskiyou County, Calif. during mid October 2010 and planted between two and three weeks later in Monterey County, Calif. The approximate age of the observed plants is between eight and nine months. Yield observations and fruit quality characteristics are averaged from three years of data collected from the 2008 through 2010 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 through 9 describe fruit, plant, stolon, foliage, fruiting truss, flower and pest disease characteristics of the new strawberry ‘PS-3.108’ in comparison to the similar strawberry variety ‘PS-4634’.
TABLE 3
FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS
‘PS-4634’
(U.S. Plant
Characteristic ‘PS-3.108’ Pat. No. 17,487)
Color of mature fruit RHS 46A RHS 45B
Ranges from red to Ranges from orange red
dark red to red
Color of internal flesh RHS 44B RHS 44C
Medium red Ranges from light red to
medium red
Fruit length (cm) 4.5 4.3
Fruit width (cm) 3.8 3.9
Fruit length/width ratio 1.17 1.11
Slightly longer than Slightly longer than
broad broad
Calyx diameter (cm) 4.2 4.0
Average fruit weight 29.6 27.7
(gm)
Achene color, shaded RHS 162B RHS 162C
side Greyed yellow Greyed yellow group
group
Achene color, sun- RHS 184B RHS 184C
exposed side Greyed purple group Greyed purple group
Achenes per berry 438 437
Achene weight (mg) 0.52 0.40
Marketable fruit yield 1,969 1,689
(gm/plant)
Fruit size Ranges from large to Ranges from large to
very large very large
Predominant fruit shape Conical Conical
Difference in shapes None or very slight Moderate
between primary and
secondary fruit
Band without achenes Absent or very Narrow
narrow
Unevenness of fruit Absent or very weak Weak
surface
Evenness of fruit color Even Ranges from slightly
uneven to even
Fruit glossiness Medium Strong
Insertion of achenes Level with surface Level with surface
Insertion of calyx In basin Ranges from in basin to
level
Attitude of calyx Spreading Ranges from spreading to
reflexed
Size of calyx in relation Slightly larger Same size
to fruit diameter
Adherence of calyx Strong Strong
Firmness of fruit skin Strong Strong
Firmness of fruit flesh Firm Medium
Keeping quality Very good Very good
Distribution of red color Marginal and central Marginal and central
of the flesh
Hollow center expression Weak Strong
Fruit flavor Good Very good
Soluble solids (% brix) 7.4 8.3
Time of first flowering Early Early
Time of first harvesting Early Early
Harvest period Late March to Late March to November
November
Type of bearing June bearing June bearing
TABLE 4
PLANT CHARACTERISTICS
‘PS-4634’
Characteristic ‘PS-3.108’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,487)
Plant height (cm) 25.3 28.8
Plant spread (cm) 33.9 39.1
Plant size Medium Large
Plant habit Globose Globose
Plant density Medium Medium
Plant vigor Medium Strong
TABLE 5
STOLON CHARACTERISTICS
‘PS-4634’
Characteristic ‘PS-3.108’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,487)
Stolon color RHS 146D RHS 146D
Yellow green group Yellow green group
Stolon anthocyanin RHS 182A RHS 182D
coloration Greyed red group Greyed red group
Stolon anthocyanin Weak Ranges from weak to medium
intensity
Stolon pubescence Medium Ranges from weak to medium
Attitude of hairs Upward Upward
Average stolon Ranges from Ranges from medium to many
quantity medium to many
Stolon diameter 3.7 3.4
at bract (mm)
TABLE 6
FOLIAGE CHARACTERISTICS
‘PS-4634’
Characteristic ‘PS-3.108’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,487)
Foliage:
Color of upper RHS 146A RHS 137A
surface Ranges from light Medium green
yellow green to
medium yellow green
Color of underside RHS 147C RHS 147C
Yellow green group Yellow green group
Number of leaflets 3 3
Shape in cross Strongly to slightly Slightly concave to flat
section concave
Interveinal blistering Ranges from medium Ranges from medium to
to strong strong
Leaf glossiness Ranges from medium Ranges from medium to
to strong strong
Terminal Leaflet:
Length (cm) 8.5 9.5
Width (cm) 7.7 6.9
Leaf size Ranges from large to Ranges from large to
medium medium
Length/width ratio 1.11 1.36
Longer than broad Much longer than broad
Shape of base Obtuse Acute
Shape of teeth Obtuse Obtuse
Serrations per leaf 18.7 22.1
Petiole:
Petiole color RHS 145A RHS 145A
Yellow green group Yellow green group
Petiole length (cm) 15.6 20.2
Petiole diameter 4.0 4.4
(mm)
Petiolule color RHS 145A RHS 145A
Yellow green group Yellow green group
Petiolule length 9.7 7.8
(mm)
Attitude of hairs Strongly outward Strongly outward
Petiole pubescence Moderate Ranges from moderate to
sparse
Stipule:
Color RHS 146B RHS 146B
Yellow green group Yellow green group
Anthocyanin RHS 63A RHS 58A
coloration Red purple group Red purple group
Anthocyanin Strong Strong
intensity
Length (mm) 18.1 18.7
Width (mm) 9.9 8.3
TABLE 7
FRUITING TRUSS CHARACTERISTICS
‘PS-4634’
Characteristic ‘PS-3.108’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,487)
Anthocyanin coloration RHS 181C RHS 182D
Greyed red group Greyed red group
Anthocyanin intensity Absent or very weak Absent or very weak
Length at maturity (cm) 29.5 35.3
Position relative to Level with Level with
foliage
Pubescence Medium Ranges from weak to
medium
Attitude at first pick Prostrate Prostrate
TABLE 8
FLOWER CHARACTERISTICS
‘PS-4634’
Characteristic ‘PS-3.108’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,487)
Petal color RHS NN 155C RHS NN 155C
White group White group
Sepal color RHS 137C RHS 137A
Green group Green group
Corolla diameter (mm) 26.3 29.9
Calyx diameter (mm) 36.5 35.7
Petal length (mm) 11.3 12.3
Petal width (mm) 12.0 12.5
Petal length/width ratio 0.94 0.98
Petals/flower 6.8 5.6
Sepal length (mm) 13.9 12.8
Sepal width (mm) 5.8 5.2
Sepal length/width ratio 2.40 2.46
Sepals/flower 13.7 11.3
Size of calyx relative to Larger Larger
corolla
Size of inner calyx relative Ranges from Ranges from same to larger
to outer calyx smaller to same
Relative position of petals Overlapping Overlapping
TABLE 9
PEST AND DISEASE REACTIONS
‘PS-4634’
Characteristic ‘PS-3.108’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,487)
Powdery mildew Moderate Moderately resistant
Angular leaf spot Susceptible Susceptible
Botrytis fruit rot Moderately susceptible Moderately susceptible
Two-spotted Moderately susceptible Moderately susceptible
spider mite
Lygus bug Susceptible Susceptible
Flower thrips Moderately resistant Moderately susceptible
