Strawberry plant named ‘Flame’

Abstract

The present invention provides a new and distinct strawberry variety designated as ‘Flame’ (a.k.a. ‘108229’).

Description

Latin name of the genus and species: Fragaria×ananassa.

Varietal denominations: ‘Flame’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to new and distinct day-neutral strawberry variety designated as ‘Flame’ (a.k.a. ‘108229’).

‘Flame’ (a.k.a. ‘108229’) is the result of a controlled-cross between a female parent cultivar designated 102850 and a male parent cultivar designated 106734 (both unpatented, proprietary cultivars) made by the Inventor and was first fruited in Watsonville, Calif. growing fields. Following selection and during testing, the plant was originally designated ‘108229’ and subsequently named ‘Flame’.

This new variety was asexually reproduced via runners (stolons) by the inventor at Watsonville, Calif. Asexual propagules from the original source have been tested in Watsonville growing fields and to a limited extent, grower fields in high elevation. The properties of this variety were found to be transmissible by such asexual reproduction. This cultivar was stable and reproduces true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to new and distinctive strawberry cultivar designated as ‘Flame’. This cultivar is primarily adapted to the climate and growing conditions of the central coast of California. This region provides the necessary temperatures required for it to produce a strong vigorous plant and to remain in fruit production from March through October. The nearby Pacific Ocean provides the needed humidity and moderate day temperatures and evening chilling to maintain fruit quality for the production months.

The following traits and photographs in combination distinguish strawberry variety ‘Flame’ from known strawberry varieties. In addition, this new cultivar was confirmed to be a unique strawberry germplasm when tested against the California Seed & Plant Lab, Inc. (Elverta, Calif.) database using Short Sequence Repeats (SSRs). Plants for the botanical measurements in the present application were grown as annuals. Any color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The fruit produced by this new cultivar is attractive and of excellent quality.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color photographs depict various characteristics of the cultivar as nearly true as possible to make color reproductions. Dormant bare root plants of ‘Flame’ were planted on October, Year 1, and the photos were taken around May to June, Year 2.

FIG. 1 shows ripe and near-ripe fruits of ‘Flame’ in May.

FIG. 2 shows sliced fruits of ‘Flame’.

FIG. 3 shows ‘Flame’ plants growing in the field.

FIG. 4 shows ‘Flame’ plant leaves with petioles.

FIG. 5 shows a close-up look of a ‘Flame’ plant leaf.

FIG. 6 shows flower petals and sepals of ‘Flame’ plant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

‘Flame’ (a.k.a. ‘108229’)

This invention relates to a new and distinctive day-neutral type cultivar designated as ‘Flame’. It is primarily adapted to the climate and growing conditions of the central coast of California. This region provides the necessary temperatures required for it to produce a strong vigorous plant and to remain in fruit production from March through October. The nearby Pacific Ocean provides the needed humidity and moderate day temperatures and evening chilling to maintain fruit quality for the production months.

The following traits in combination distinguish strawberry variety ‘Flame’ from the known strawberry varieties. Plants for the botanical measurements in the present application were grown as annuals. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Dormant bare root plants were planted on October, Year 1, and measurements in the table below were taken on November, Year 2.

‘Flame’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions, and the phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment. The following observations, measurements, and comparisons describe this plant as grown under normal conditions in Watsonville, Calif. unless otherwise noted.

Hybrid Patent Data Sheet
(Dormant bare root plants were planted on October, Year 1, and
measured on November, Year 2)
Variety: FLAME (A.K.A. ‘108229’)
Plant
Plant Growth Habit         semi-upright
Day length                 neutral
Planting season            fall
Density of foliage         light to medium
Average number of          2
crowns per mature plant
Plant vigor                moderate
Rain/weather tolerance     moderate
Harvest Ease               easy
Height (mm)                420
Diameter (mm)              495 (the entire plant structure, including the
                           “superstructure” of petioles, leaves, flowers)
                           161 (inner “base” or “heart” structure of the
                           plant, i.e. the mature apical and axial crowns of
                           the strawberry plant where petioles, flowers and
                           runners are attached)
Terminal Leaf
Length (mm)                87
Width (mm)                 75
Terminal leaflet           1
length/width ratio
Blistering                 none
Leaf glossiness            weak
No. teeth/terminal leaflet 22
shape of the terminal      rounded
leaflet base
shape of terminal leaflet  concave
in cross-section
margin description of the  serrate to crenate
terminal
Shape of teeth             obtuse
Color of upper side of     136A
leaves
Color of lower side of     139C
leaves
presence or absence of     absence
any leaf variegation
Number of leaflets         33
Terminal Leaflet margin    flat
Terminal Leaflet shape     orbicular
Terminal Leaflet shape     rounded
of base
Terminal Leaflet shape     rounded
of apex
Petiole
Length (mm)                34.1
Width (mm)                 3.5
Petiole pubescence         medium
Petiole pose of hairs      outwards
Petiole color              145C
Petiolule
Length (mm)                30
Width(mm)                  2
Stolon
Count (mm)                 N/A
Diameter (mm)              N/A
Stolon color               145A
Stolon anthocyanin         187A
density of pubescence on   medium
the stolon
Stolon number              4
Stolon thickness           medium
Stolon pubescence          medium
Inflorescence
Petal/flower               6
Inflorescence
position relative          even to above
to foliage
flower arrangement of      touching
petals
Number of flowers per      30-40
plant
Flower size                medium
Corolla diameter (mm)      11
Calyx diameter (mm)        15
level of adherence of      medium
calyx
Color of calyx             137A
Pose of calyx segments     spreading
Petal length (mm)          12
Petal width (mm)           9
Petal length/width ratio   1.3
Petal shape                orbicular
Petal apex                 rounded
Petal margin               entire
Petal base shape           concave
Petal spacing              overlapping
Petal color                155C
Sepal length (mm)          12
Sepal width (mm)           16
Sepal shape                elliptical
Sepal apex                 convex
Sepal margin               entire
Sepal number per flower    20
Peduncle
Stipules
Pedicel color              145B
attitude of hairs on       upwards
pedicel
Receptacle color           150B
Fertility                  self-fertile
Time of flowering          March
Anther color               20A
Anther shape               NA
Anther size                NA
Number of stamen           30
Stamen length (mm)         NA
Number of pistils per      NA
flower
Pistil length (mm)         NA
Shape of the stigma        NA
Stigma color               NA
Style color                NA
Style length (mm)          NA
Ovary color                NA
Pollen color               NA
Pollen amount              NA
Filament length            NA
Filament color             NA
Fruit
Fruit/truss                4
Fruiting truss attitude    erect
Length (mm)                50
Width (mm)                 41
Core length (mm)           40
Core width (mm)            18
Fruit skin color (color    41A
code)
Fruit weight (g)           25
Relative fruit size        medium
Predominant fruit shape    conical
Difference in shape
between                    none to very slight
primary & secondary
fruits
Fruit glossiness           medium
Position of achenes        even
Achenes per fruit          136
Achene weight (g)          0.09
Firmness                   firm
Color of the flesh         41A
Distribution of flesh      entire
color
Time of fruit ripening     April
Harvest maturity (50%      early
of plants with ripe fruit)
Type of bearing            Day neutral
Grams of fruit/plant       912
(Peak season, June)
Appearance Score (from     4
1-5, with 5 = best)
Storage longevity          7 to 10 days
Cull rate: Non salable     <10%
fruit production rate
Disease and pest           Not tested
resistance:
(NA: not available)

When ‘Flame’ is compared to the proprietary female parent, ‘Flame’ has a lower height. The margin of the terminal leaf of ‘Flame’ is serrate to crenate, while the margin of the terminal leaf of the female parent is serrate.

When ‘Flame’ is compared to the proprietary male parent, ‘Flame’ has moderate plant vigor, while the male parent has high plant vigor.

When ‘Flame’ is compared to ‘Seascape’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 07,614), ‘Flame’ has a higher height. The margin of the terminal leaf of ‘Flame’ is serrate to crenate, while the margin of the terminal leaf of ‘Seascape’ is crenate. ‘Flame’ has fewer leaflets per plant when compared to ‘Seascape’.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of strawberry plant named ‘Flame’ substantially as shown and described herein.