Latin name of the genus and species: Fragaria x ananassa.
Varietal denomination: ‘Octavia’ (a.k.a. ‘108991’).
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to new and distinct strawberry plant designated as ‘Octavia’ (a.k.a. ‘108991’).
‘Octavia’ (a.k.a. ‘108991’) is the result of a controlled-cross made on Apr. 27, 2012 between a female parent cultivar designated 107967 and a male parent cultivar designated 3236 made by the Inventor and was first fruited in Watsonville, Calif. growing fields. Following selection and during testing, the plant was originally designated ‘108991’ and subsequently named ‘Octavia’. ‘Octavia’ is a day-neutral plant.
This new strawberry plant 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 plant were found to be transmissible by such asexual reproduction. The plant is 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 plant designated as ‘Octavia’ (a.k.a. ‘108991’). The plant 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.
‘Octavia’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions, and the phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment, however with no variance in genotype. The following observations, measurements, and comparisons describe this plant as grown under normal conditions in Watsonville, California unless otherwise noted.
The following traits and photographs in combination distinguish strawberry plant ‘Octavia’ from known strawberry plants. 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 plants were 8-month old when the observation was made.
TABLE 1
‘Octavia’ Characterisitics
Characteristic Description
General Plant Habit perennial
Plant Growth Habit semi-upright
Day length neutral
Plant season Fall
Height (cm) 39.5 cm
Width (cm) 35 cm
Density of foliage, vigor light
Plant vigor moderate to high
Harvest ease easy
Rain/weather tolerance moderate
Crown diameter 4.0 cm
Fertility Self-fertile
Freezing quality moderate
Leaf Terminal leaflet width (mm) 85.88 mm
Terminal leaflet length (mm) 78.6 mm
Terminal leaflet length/width ratio 0.919
Leaflets per leaf 3
Number of leaflets 120
No. teeth/terminal leaflet: 21
shape of the terminal leaflet Orbicular
shape of the terminal leaflet apex Rounded
shape of the terminal leaflet base acute
shape of terminal leaflet in concave
cross-section
shape of the terminal leaflet margin Serrate to crenate
margin description of the terminal crenate
Color of upper side of leaves RHS 137A
Color of lower side of leaves RHS 138D
Terminal Leaflet margin Flat to revoute
Leaf variegation absent
Leaf blistering weak
Leaf glossiness medium
Limbs Petiole length 24.5 cm
Petiole diameter 4.57 mm
Petiole pubescence medium
Petiole pose of hairs Horizontal
Petiole color RHS 145A
Petiolule length 9.84 mm
Petiolule diameter ( 2.18 mm
Petiolule color RHS 145A
Stipule length 3.5 cm
Stipule width 11 mm
Stipule pubescence Medium to
dense
Stipule anthocyanin Present
Stipule color (color code) RHS 145A
Stipule anthocyanin color RHS 184D
Pedicel length 13.5 cm
Pedicel diameter 2.88 mm
Pedicel color (color code) RHS 145A
Peduncle length 19 cm
Peduncle diameter 3.77 mm
Peduncle color RHS 145A
Peduncle pubescence Medium
attitude of hairs on upwards
petiole and pedicel
Inflorescence Inflorescence position above
relative to foliage
Number of flowers 40 to 56
Flowers per Truss 3 to 8
flower arrangement of petals free to touching
Flower diameter 3.3 cm
Petal length 1.4 cm
Petal width 1.5 cm
Characteristic Description
Petal length/width ratio 0.93
Petal number per flower 5 to 6
Upper petal color RHS 155C
Lower petal color RHS 155C
Petal shape Orbicular
to oval
Petal apex Rounded
Petal margin entire
Petal base shape Concave
peduncle size medium
Calyx diameter 28.28 mm
Calyx diameter relative to corolla equal
Inner calyx diameter relative to equal
outer calyx
Corolla diameter 32.60 mm
Sepal number per flower 12
Sepal length 8.95 mm
Sepal width 6.11 mm
Sepal shape elliptical
Sepal apex convex
Sepal margin entire
Number of stamen 27
Anther color 12A
Time of flowering April
(50% of plants in bloom)
Shape of stigma capitate
Color of stigma 14A
Length of style 2.5 mm
Color of style RHS 12A
Color of the ovary RHS 145C
Receptacle color RHS 145A
Number of stamen 27
Length of the stamens 3.9 mm
Shape of anther dorsifixed
Anther diameter 0.9 mm
Size of anther 1.74 mm
Color of anther RHS 12A
Amount of pollen scarce to
moderate
Color of pollen RHS 163A
Color of filament RHS 145C
Length of filament 3.1 mm
Stolon Stolon length 62.8 cm
Stolon thickness Medium to large
Stolon pubescence Medium
Stolon number 2 to 5
Stolon anthocyanin 181A
Widest diameter of stolon 6.17 mm
At leaf attachment
Stolon color 145B
Fruit Number of fruit per truss 2 to 5
Fruit length (cm) 4.8 cm
Fruit width (cm) 4.1 cm
Color of calyx RHS 145B
Pose of calyx segments reflexed
Size of calyx in relation to fruit equal
Fruit length 4.8 cm
Fruit width 4.1 cm
Fruit length/width ratio 1.17
Fruit skin color RHS 45A
Fruit flesh color excluding core RHS 41B
Fruit core color RHS 39B
Fruit weight (g) 29 g
Relative fruit size Medium to large
Predominant fruit shape long conic
Shape difference between primary No shape
& secondary fruits difference
Width of band without of achenes medium
Fruit glossiness strong
Position of achenes in relation to below
skin surface
Achene color RHS 2C
Achenes per fruit 475
Achene weight (g) 0.28 g
Surface texture smooth
Texture when tasted fine
Position of calyx above
Diameter of calyx 3.3 cm
level of adherence of calyx medium
Color of calyx 145B
Firmness of flesh firm
Evenness of flesh color nearly even
Hollow core length 2.3 cm
Hollow core width 0.9 cm
Hollow core length/width ratio 2.56
Hollow core dize medium
Type of bearing Day neutral
Time of fruit ripening May
Characteristic Description
Harvest maturity (50% of plants June
with ripe fruit
Appearance Score 4
(1 to 5, with 5 = best)
Storage longevity 5 to 11 days
Yield per plant per season 3.4 kg
Sweetness (Brix) 7
Acidity (pH) 3.44
‘Octavia’ is similar to ‘Monterey’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,767), but possesses several distinguishing traits from ‘Monterey’. ‘Octavia’ presents shorter petiole lengths and flower stem lengths than ‘Monterey’. ‘Monterey’ produces mostly conic and long conic fruit while ‘Octavia’ produces long conic fruit predominantly. The male parent of ‘Octavia’ differs from ‘Octavia’ by producing globose fruit. Both the female parent of ‘Octavia’ and ‘Monterey’ produce firmer fruit than ‘Octavia’. ‘Octavia’ produces larger strawberries than both of its parents do.
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 ripe and near-ripe fruits of ‘Octavia’ about 6-month old.
FIG. 2 shows a leaf of ‘Octavia’ plants.
FIG. 3 shows petiole of ‘Octavia’ plants.
FIG. 4 shows inflorescences of ‘Octavia’ plants.
FIG. 5 shows fruits of ‘Octavia’ plants.
FIG. 6 shows fruits of ‘Octavia’ plants cut in half.
