Strawberry plant named ‘Taia’

Abstract

The present invention provides a new and distinct strawberry plant designated as ‘Taia’ (a.k.a. ‘108825’).

Description

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

Varietal denominations: ‘Taia’ (a.k.a. ‘108825’).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry variety designated as ‘Taia’ (a.k.a. ‘108825’).

‘Taia’ (a.k.a. ‘108825’) is the result of a controlled-cross between a female parent cultivar designated 106734 and a male parent cultivar designated 103474 (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 ‘108825’ and subsequently named ‘Taia’.

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 is stable and reproduces true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinctive strawberry cultivar designated as ‘Taia’. These cultivars are 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 ‘Taia’ 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 cultivars as nearly true as possible to make color reproductions.

FIG. 1 shows ‘Taia’ plants with ripe and near-ripe fruits.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up look of ‘Taia’ plants in the field with near-ripe fruits, showing the details of the flowers, leaves and petiole.

FIG. 3 shows ‘Taia’ plant leaves with petioles.

FIG. 4 shows a close-up look of a ‘Taia’ plant leaf.

FIG. 5 shows flower petals and sepals of ‘Taia’ plant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

‘Taia’ (a.k.a. ‘108825’)

This invention relates to a new and distinctive day-neutral type cultivar designated as ‘Taia’. 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 ‘Taia’ 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.

‘Taia’ 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
(planted: October Year 1; measurement: November Year 2)
‘Taia’ (a.k.a. ‘108825’)
Plant
Plant Growth Habit           semi-upright
Day length                   neutral
Plant season                 fall
Height (mm)                  370
Diameter (mm)                435 (the entire plant structure, including
                             the “superstructure” of petioles, leaves,
                             flowers)
                             70 (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)
Density of foliage           medium
Average number of crowns     3
per mature plant
Plant vigor                  moderate
Rain/weather tolerance       moderate
Harvest ease                 moderate
Terminal Leaf
Length (mm)                  67
Width (mm)                   84
Terminal leaflet             1.25
length/width ratio
Blistering                   none
No. teach/terminal leaflet   26
Shape of terminal leaflet    obtuse
base
Shape of terminal leaflet in concave
cross-section
Margin description of the    serrate to crenate
terminal
Shape of teeth               obtuse
Color of upper side of       137A
leaves
Color of lower side of       137C
leaves
Leaf glossiness              medium to weak
presence or absence of any   absence
leaf variegation
Number of leaflets           35
Terminal leaflet margin      revolute
Terminal leaflet shape       orbicular
Terminal Leaflet shape of    obtuse/conical
apex
Petiole
Length (mm)                  355
Width (mm)                   3.5
Petiole pubescence           medium
Petiole pose of hairs        outwards
Petiole color                145A
Petiolule
Length (mm)                  21
Width(mm)                    1.8
Stolon
Count (mm)                   325
Diameter (mm)                5
Stolon number                12
Description of any           172A
anthocyanin coloration
Density of pubescence on     medium
the stolon
Stolon thickness             small
Stolon pubescence            medium
Stolon color                 146C
Inflorescence
Petal/flower
Corolla diameter (mm)        22
Calyx diameter (mm)          26
Color of calyx               136A
Pose of calyx segments       reflexed
Size of calyx in relation    smaller
to fruit
Position of calyx            inserted
attachment
Level of adherence of calyx  Medium to high
Petal length (mm)            15
Petal width (mm)             16
Petal length/width ratio     0.938
Petal shape                  orbicular
Petal apex                   rounded
Petal margin                 entire
Petal base shape             concave
Petal spacing                touching
Petal number per flower      5
Upper petal color            N999D
Lower petal color            155C
Sepal length (mm)            11
Sepal width (mm)             5
Sepal number per flower      12
Sepal shape                  elliptical
Sepal apex                   convex
Sepal margin                 entire
Peduncle size (cm)           26.5
Stipules length (mm)         37
Stipules width (mm)          7
Stipule pubescence           medium
Stipule anthocyanin          absence
Stipule color                145B
Inflorescence position       even
relative to foliage
flower arrangement of        touching
petals
Number of flowers per        24
plant
Flower size                  large
Number of stamen             30-35
Receptacle color             150B
Anther color                 12A
Fertility                    self-fertile
Time of flowering            March
Fruit
Fruit/truss                  5
Length (mm)                  44
Width (mm)                   38
Fruit length/width ratio     1.1
Core length (mm)             35
Core width (mm)              14
Fruiting truss length (mm)   98
Fruiting truss diameter      2
(mm)
Truss color                  145B
Fruit skin color             41A
Fruit weight (g)             26
Relative fruit size          large
Predominant fruit shape      conical
Difference in shape          none to very slight
between
primary & secondary fruits
Glossiness                   medium
Position of achenes          even
Achene color                 145A
Achenes per fruit            127
Achene weight (g)            0.09
Width of the band without    low to medium
achenes
Firmness of flesh            medium to firm
Color of flesh               41A
Time of fruit ripening       April
Harvest maturity (50% of     early
plants with ripe fruit)
Grams of fruit/plat          662
(during peak season, June)
Appearance Score (from 1-    4
5, with 5 = best)
Storage longevity (e.g., 10  7 to 10 days
days to 2 weeks)
Cull rate: Non salable fruit <15%
production rate
Disease and pest resistance  not tested
Acidity as measured by pH    3.26
Sweetness as measured by     6.3
brix

When ‘Taia’ is compared to the proprietary female parent, ‘Taia’ has a smaller calyx diameter and a smaller corolla diameter. In addition, the number of fruit per truss of ‘Taia’ is fewer than that of the female parent.

When ‘Taia’ is compared to the proprietary male parent, ‘Taia’ has a medium density of foliage, while the male parent has a high density of foliage. The plant vigor of ‘Taia’ is moderate, while the plant vigor of the male parent is high. The terminal leaflet margin of ‘Taia’ is revolute, while the terminal leaflet margin of the male parent is flat.

When ‘Taia’ is compared to ‘Seascape’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,614), the terminal leaf of ‘Taia’ has a serrate to crenate margin, while the terminal leaf of ‘Seascape’ has a crenate margin. The leaf glossiness of ‘Taia’ ranges from medium to weak, while the leaf glossiness of ‘Seascape’ is medium. The number of leaflets of ‘Taia’ is 35, while the number of leaflets of ‘Seascape’ is 49.

Claims

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