Strawberry plant named ‘Charlene’
A new and distinct short-day strawberry plant is provided. Attractive semi-early ripening substantially uniform medium red generally cordate fruit having a firm flesh is formed in good yield that is longer than broad in configuration. White inflorescence is formed on a semi-early basis that tends to be disposed above the foliage. A calyx commonly is displayed that is substantially equal to the diameter of the corolla when open. A semi-dense upright growth habit is displayed.
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Botanical/commercial classification: Fragaria×ananassa Duchesne/Strawberry Plant.
Varietal denomination: cv. Charlene.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe new and distinct short-day strawberry plant variety of the present invention was the product of a controlled breeding program that was carried out at Nova Siri (MT) Italy located at 40° 08′ 40″ N-16° 39′ 40″ E and 10 meters above sea level. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) was the ‘Marisol’ cultivar (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,637, filed Jul. 3, 2013, and European Application No. 2012/1377)), a short-day strawberry variety having attractive, semi-early ripening, bright red, primarily conical fruit having a firm flesh, substantially uniform medium red in color, and the ability to produce large fruits with high content of sugar, and presenting good tolerance to infection in plants by Pytophthora Cactorum; and the male parent (i.e., pollen parent) was the unreleased ‘A050389’ cultivar (non-patented in the United States), a short-day strawberry variety having very early-season ripening, good yield, and good tolerance to soils with a sodium content at what is generally considered the agronomic limit for sodium. The parentage of the new variety can be summarized as follows:
‘Marisol’בA050389’.
The seeds resulting from the pollination were sown and small plants were obtained which were physically different from each other. Selective study and testing resulted in the identification of a single plant of the new variety.
The new variety initially was designated EE-10-14.
It was found that the new short-day strawberry plant variety of the present invention displays the following combination of characteristics:
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- (a) exhibits a semi-dense upright globose growth habit,
- (b) displays on a semi-early basis white inflorescence at a level generally above the foliage,
- (c) commonly displays a calyx that is substantially equal to the diameter of the corolla when open, and
- (d) forms in abundance attractive semi-early ripening large medium red generally cordate fruit having firm flesh that is longer than broad in configuration.
The new variety of the present invention can be readily distinguished from previously known strawberry cultivars including the ‘Camarosa’ cultivar (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,708), the female parent ‘Marisol’, and the male parent ‘A050389’, as indicated in detail hereafter. The comparative ‘Camarosa’ plants described herein were obtained commercially in Italy and Poland. The comparative ‘Marisol’ and ‘A050389’ plants were both owned by Nova Siri Genetics and come from their own collection.
The new cultivar possesses characteristics that commonly are sought by commercial strawberry growers. The substantially uniform attractive firm medium red semi-early ripening fruit is provided in good yields. Accordingly, the new cultivar is considered to be a promising new plant for commercial introduction.
The new cultivar requires an induction period for flowering. This can be achieved by growing in a colder climate away from the equator or at a higher altitude above sea level.
During observation to date, the fruit has shown mild sensitivity to Powdery Mildew attack after a rainy period.
The new cultivar has been asexually reproduced by the use of stolon's at Ochla, Poland located at 51° 848 N-15° 447 E and at Nova Siri (MT) Italy, and by in vitro tissue culture. No rooting problems were encountered. The combination of characteristics exhibited by the new plant has been found to be stable and is reliably transmitted to succeeding generations following such asexual reproduction. Accordingly, the new cultivar reproduces true-to-type manner by such asexual reproduction.
The new plant has been named ‘Charlene’.
The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this character, typical specimens of the new cultivar as well as typical specimens of the ‘Camarosa’ cultivar (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,708), the female parent (i.e., the seed parent) ‘Marisol’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,637, filed Jul. 3, 2013, and European Application No. 2012/1377) and the male parent (i.e., pollen parent) ‘A050389’ plant (non-patented) for comparative purposes. The plants had been asexually reproduced from stolons and were planted under the cover of plastic tunnels during mid-October 2013 at Nova Siri (MT), Italy.
The described plants had been asexually reproduced by the use of stolons and were growing under the cover of plastic tunnels at Nova Siri (MT) Italy and at Ochla, Poland. The chart used in the identification of color is The R.H.S. Colour Chart (Edition V) of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England. Reference to common color terms is to be accorded ordinary dictionary significance.
- Botanical class: Fragaria×ananassa, Duchesne, cv. ‘Charlene’.
- Plant:
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- Type.—Short-day.
- Configuration.—Upright and semi-dense.
- Vigor.—Medium.
- Leaves.—Commonly approximately 25 to 33 cm in length on average including the petiole.
- Leaflets.—Medium in size, commonly three or four (sometimes five) in number, approximately 5.5 to 6.5 cm in length on average for terminal leaflets and approximately 5 to 5.5 cm in width on average for terminal leaflets; the terminal leaflet tends to be longer in length than width, possesses a concave cross-section, possesses a serrate-to-crenate margin, and an obtuse to rounded base; blistering commonly is weak to medium in quantity; the glossiness on the upper surface is medium; and variegated coloration commonly is absent with the upper surface coloration commonly being near Green Group N137C to Green Group N139A and the under surface commonly being near Greyed-Green Group 191B to Greyed-Green Group 191C.
- Stolons.—Medium in quantity, and commonly with some anthocyanin coloration of near Red-Purple Group 58B to Red-Purple Group 58C.
- Petioles.—Commonly approximately 17 to 20 cm in length on average, near Yellow-Green Group N144C to Yellow-Green Group N144D in coloration, and commonly bear generally horizontally disposed fine pubescence.
- Stipules.—Commonly approximately 2.2 to 2.5 cm in length, and commonly bear some very weak anthocyanin coloration of near Red-Purple Group 69C to near Red- Purple Group 69D. For the ‘Camarosa’ cultivar the stipules commonly are approximately 3.5 to 4.5 cm in length, bear no anthocyanin coloration, and commonly are near Green-Yellow Group 1B to Green-Yellow Group 1C in coloration.
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- Inflorescence:
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- Flowering time.—Medium.
- Flower disposition.—Generally above the foliage.
- Flower number.—Few to medium, commonly 1 to 4.
- Pedicel hairs.—Pubescence generally disposed somewhat upwards.
- Pedicel color.—Near Green Group 142B to near Yellow-Green Group 143C.
- Size.—Large, with primary flowers commonly being approximately 2.3 to 3.1 cm in diameter on average, and secondary flowers commonly being approximately 2 to 2.4 cm in diameter on average, and commonly the calyx is substantially equal in diameter of the corolla when open.
- Petals.—Overlapping, commonly number approximately 5 to 7 on average (typically 6), somewhat rounded overall, commonly the length is moderately shorter than the width, commonly approximately 0.8 to 1 cm in length on average, and approximately 1.1 to 1.3 cm in width on average, with a rounded apex, and near White Group N155A in coloration on the upper surface. For the ‘Camarosa’ cultivar the length and width of the petals tend to be substantially equal.
- Anthers.—Commonly number approximately 21 to 26 on average, commonly disposed below the stamen, and near Yellow Group 6A to Yellow Group 6B in coloration. The new cultivar is self-fertile and pollen is formed in abundance.
- Sepals.—Generally lanceolate in configuration, generally somewhat outwardly disposed, commonly number approximately 10 to 14 on average, commonly approximately 0.8 to 1.4 cm in length on average and approximately 2 to 6 mm in width on average at the broadest point, unlike the ‘Camarosa’ cultivar the diameter of the open calyx commonly is substantially the same as that of the corolla (as illustrated in
FIGS. 9 and 10 ), and the coloration on the upper surface is commonly near Green Group 141B to Green Group 143A and on the lower surface is commonly near Yellow-Green Group 147B.
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- Fruit:
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- Bearing.—Non-remontant.
- Timing.—Medium-fruiting commonly with approximately 28 to 32 days from first blooming to first fruit ripening.
- Shape.—Generally cordate, moderately longer than broad, commonly with a slight difference between terminal and other fruit.
- Size.—Medium to large, with the primary fruit commonly being approximately 5.8 to 6.2 cm in length on average and approximately 3.8 to 4.2 cm in width on average at the broadest point.
- Surface.—Generally smooth with strong glossiness.
- External color.—Substantially uniform medium red and commonly near Red Group 45B to Red Group 46A in coloration.
- Internal color.—Flesh is medium red, and commonly near Orange-Red Group 34A, and the core commonly is medium red Orange-Red Group 34A to Orange-Red Group 34B.
- Firmness.—Firm to very firm.
- Cavity.—Small (as illustrated in
FIG. 16 ). - Achenes.—Located generally below the fruit surface and cover nearly the entire fruit surface commonly with only a very narrow band (if any) where achenes are absent, and commonly near Yellow-Orange Group 23B in coloration.
- Calyx.—Commonly the fruit is substantially level at the point of attachment, the calyx commonly attaches to the fruit with medium adherence, the sepals are disposed generally outwards, and the calyx diameter when open in relation to the fruit diameter commonly is slightly smaller.
- Peduncle.—Very long, commonly approximately 30 to 40 cm in length on average for primary fruit, and commonly near Green Group 141B to Green Group 143A in coloration.
- Pedicel.—Commonly with pubescence extending outwards, and near Green Group 142B to Yellow-Green Group 144C in coloration.
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Hereafter, additional comparative fruit data is provided for the new ‘Charlene’ cultivar and the “Camarosa” cultivar. The plants had been asexually reproduced by the use of stolons and were growing under the cover of plastic tunnels. The fruit was evaluated and compared on the dates indicated. Average data is presented.
Plants of the new ‘Charlene’ cultivar have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotypic expression may vary somewhat with changes in light intensity and duration, cultural practices, and other environmental conditions.
Claims
1. A new and distinct short-day strawberry plant that exhibits the following combination of characteristics: substantially as illustrated and described.
- (a) exhibits a semi-dense upright globose growth habit,
- (b) displays on a semi-early basis white inflorescence at a level generally above the foliage,
- (c) commonly displays a calyx that is substantially equal to the diameter of the corolla when open, and
- (d) forms in abundance attractive semi-early ripening large medium red generally cordate fruit having firm flesh that is longer than broad in configuration;
Type: Grant
Filed: May 28, 2015
Date of Patent: Jul 25, 2017
Patent Publication Number: 20160029529
Assignee: Nova Siri Genetics S.R.L. (Nova Siri (MT))
Inventor: Nicola Tufaro (Nova Siri)
Primary Examiner: Anne Grunberg
Application Number: 14/545,598