Strawberry plant named ‘QBC-1’
A new and distinct variety of strawberry plant ‘QBC-1’ specifically suited to the retail trade. It is reminiscent of wild strawberry, producing very sweet fruit with strong strawberry aroma and wild fruit size and plant vigor. Compared to soft fleshed wild strawberries, the new variety ‘QBC-1’ is more productive and has fruit flesh which is melting and can be stored for longer periods. The fruit has a light pink color offset with darker red achenes (seeds).
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Latin name:
Botanical classification: Fragaria spp.
Variety denomination: Strawberry plant named ‘QBC-1’.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a strawberry genotype selected to provide a cultivar with attributes of wild fruit for smaller scale growers, the general public or niche marketing commercial growers who provide for high end markets. Compared with other wild type strawberries offered in retail outlets, the present invention is of similar size, less likely to show fruit damage than white fruited varieties, more productive, has a reasonable shelf and freezer life, high sugar content and a pleasant and strong strawberry aroma. Its flowering season is late, reducing the possibility of frost damage, and harvest is over a four-week period as compared to a shorter period on other spring bearing wild species.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThis invention concerns a new and distinct cultivar of short day fruiting strawberry plant designated: ‘QBC-1’, with a botanical name of Fragaria spp. ‘QBC-1’ provides one or more advantages compared to the parental and/or other strawberry varieties.
Strawberry plant variety ‘QBC-1’ was discovered in a strawberry breeding test plot in Moseley, Va. and originated from a cross between the female parent ‘NAR-v1’ (unpatented) and the male parent ‘White Carolina’ (unpatented). A single plant was selected and asexually propagated via stolon plants in Oakland, Md. and subsequently in South Bristol, N.Y., Watsonville, Calif. and Lacota, Mich.
The plants so propagated have shown that the unique features of this new Fragaria variety ‘QBC-1’ are stable and reproduce true to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction via stolon plants and micropropagation in branch crown based tissue culture.
Strawberry plant variety ‘QBC-1’ originated from a cross of ‘NAR-v1’ (female parent; unpatented) x ‘White Carolina’ (male parent; unpatented, US Department of Agriculture National Clonal Germplasm Repository PI number 551681), an heirloom variety of white fruited strawberry. ‘NAR-v1’ (unpatented) was selected in a strawberry breeding plot at a farm in Virginia on Apr. 29, 2018. It was small fruited, light colored fleshed, red skinned selection which was moderately productive.
‘NAR-v1’ was derived from a cross of ‘FEC-v1’ x ‘IFA-c1’. ‘FEC-v1’ (unpatented) contains only Fragaria x ananassa germplasm. ‘IFA-c1’ (unpatented) was a cross of ‘GDT-v8’ (unpatented) x ‘02ak187’, an unpatented selection from a breeding plot in the United Kingdom. ‘GDT-v8’ was a third generation backcross with ‘SO8183’ (unpatented), a synthetic octoploid containing Fragaria vesca L., Fragaria moschata Duch. and Fragaria nubicola (Hook.f) Lindl. (Bors and Sullivan, 2005).
Strawberry plant variety ‘QBC-1’ is distinguished from other cultivars by its origin, its mature fruit coloration, productivity, flavor, high sugar level, ease of removal of the calyx from the fruit, melting flesh and small fruit size.
‘QBC-1’ is not suitable for premium commercial harvest and shipping due to its softness and fruit size. ‘QBC-1’ is intended for use as a replacement to white fruited wild or heirloom varieties used for the retail trade, primarily due to its productivity relative to other wild genotypes, and flavor.
The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new and distinct variety of ‘QBC-1’.
The following is a detailed botanical description of the new and distinct variety of strawberry plant ‘QBC-1’, its flower, fruit, foliage and trusses, based on observation of specimens.
Statements of characteristics herein represent exemplary observations of the cultivar herein. Where dimensions, sizes, colors, and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations and averages. The field observations reported herein are largely based on observations made on mature plants located in plots in central Virginia, USA and central New York, USA. The specimens were propagated from the original plant and have retained the characteristics of the original selection.
Cultivar name—‘QBC-1’.
Family—Rosaceae.
Botanical name—Fragaria spp.
Common name—Strawberry.
Parentage: Female parent—‘NAR-v1’ (unpatented). Male parent—‘White Carolina’ (unpatented).
Color descriptions, except those given in common terms, use designations cited from The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.) Colour Chart. Original publication date 1966, second publication date 1995. Colors in the drawings are only approximate, in cases where the colors in the drawings differ from the R.H.S. color designation given herein, the RHS designation should be considered accurate.
The following measurements were from a mature plant and yielding fruits.
Vegetative Habit. ‘QBC-1’ plants are stoloniferous perennials, very vigorous and runner freely, producing an average of 64 runner plants per mother plant. ‘QBC-1’ stolons are usual for the genus, with a single sheathed proximal bud that is usually dormant and an apical meristem that develops into a crown which eventually roots to form a new plant. ‘QBC-1’ produces runners earlier than most cultivated strawberry varieties, as early as flowering on plants with a full crop. A matted row of runner plants is readily formed during the year of planting (
When runners are removed after planting, on average 12 crowns and 89.5 leaves are produced per plant when counted the subsequent year during flowering. Internal crown color is yellow, reminiscent of RHS plate 11C. Runner removed plants are spreading and relatively short to moderate height and have an average diameter of 62 cm and a height of 35 cm on average (
At the maximum width, the two lateral leaflets have a similar shape compared to the terminal leaflet, with an average 10.5 cm in length. Lateral leaflets are eccentric, with 3.9 cm width above (distal) their midrib and 5.4 cm proximal or below the midrib. The lateral leaflets are opposite and attached to the petiole with a petiolule which averages 1.3 cm in length.
Leaf color is greyed green and depending on fertilization, can be RHS Plate 189A or 189B on the top, adaxial side, and 191B on the bottom, abaxial side. The adaxial leaf lamina is strongly glabrous, while the abaxial lamina is moderately tomentose.
Petioles are moderately hirsute with soft hair of varying lengths arranged perpendicular to the axis of the petioles, trusses and petiolule. Petioles average 30.6 cm in length, with a diameter of 0.4 cm at their half way point. The leaf petiole color is yellow-green and reminiscent of RHS plate 145A (
Floral habit. On runner removed plants, on average, 5.3 trusses will be formed from the crown. Runner daughter plants have one or two trusses, depending on the length of time the runner plants formed and rooted the previous growing season. Independent of cultural treatment, trusses are racemes with the cymose habit of initial or proximal branching tending to arise from a single branch point, ‘QBC-1’ trusses have earlier flowering primary flowers and successively smaller, later flowering, secondary, tertiary and higher order flowers on truss branches (
Branching structure varies with low branched trusses: 1 cm to the first branch point from their attachment to the crown, then 5, 6, 3 and 2 cm to the second, third, fourth and terminal branch points (
Low to middle branched trusses typically contain an ascending lanceolate monofoliolate leaf which is often reduced to a bract on distal branched trusses (
Flowers. ‘QBC-1’ flowers are perfect and self-fertile (
Fruit. After petal fall, the receptacle is green-yellow colored mostly by expanding seeds and is reminiscent of RHS plate 145A to 145C (
Harvest Data. In a 35 ft (10.7 m) matted row planted in 2020, the following yields were obtained: June 11, 2044 grams; June 16, 2333 grams; June 20, 2014 grams; June 28, 1521 grams; July 3, 89 grams. Total yield was 8001 grams; which is equal to 750.6 g per meter or 0.489 pounds per foot of row. Fruit weights on the same dates averaged 5.54 g; 4.67 g; 4.38 g; 3.85 g; and 2.28 grams. Soluble solids, as determined by refractometer in 2021, were 7.0 on June 16; 9.3 on June 20; 11.0 on June 28 and 9.9 on 6 month-old frozen fruit. Sepals remained on the plant on 69.6% of the fruit picked on June 11. On June 28, only 4% of the caps remained on the plant. First harvest fruit on plants given no fungicidal treatment were 98% clean and marketable.
Fruit shape was spherical on smaller fruit and heart shaped or cordate with rounded shoulders on larger fruit (
No cultivars have been found which contain the following species of Fragaria in combination: Fragaria x ananassa Duch., Fragaria vesca L., Fragaria moschata Duch. and Fragaria nubicola (Hook.f) Lindl. There are several cultivars of Fragaria moschata and Fragaria vesca and thousands of cultivars of Fragaria x ananassa, the hybrid species of Fragaria chiloensis (L.) Mill. and Fragaria virginiana Duch. commonly used in all commercial production.
Several cultivars of wild white fruited or light-colored strawberry fruit are known. Of note, ‘Yellow Wonder’ Fragaria vesca seed (unpatented), or plants grown from seed is available. The present strawberry variety ‘QBC-1’ is different from ‘Yellow Wonder’ in having different colored fruit which is larger, firmer and more flavorful.
‘White Pine’ (‘White Carolina’) strawberry (unpatented, US Department of Agriculture National Clonal Germplasm Repository number 555681), Fragaria x ananassa, has white fruit but does not produce red coloration on the “fruit flesh” (swollen receptacle) as does ‘QBC-1’. Both cultivars produce red “seed” (achenes or the true fruit), especially on the sun exposed side of the fruit. ‘QBC-1’ is more productive than ‘White Pine’ and has more erect growth habit with greater fruit size and plant vigor.
A search of patented varieties which have similarities to the primary distinguishing factor of ‘QBC-1’, pink fruit and white flesh, revealed two other cultivars which have a similar fruit coloration. ‘DrisStrawFiftySeven’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,728) has skin noticeably darker, although the fruit flesh is similar in color. Achene (seed) coloration pattern is similar to ‘QBC-1’, occurring mostly on the sun lighted side of the fruit; however, ‘DrisStrawFiftySeven’ achenes have a more brownish tint (RHS 175A) compared to ‘QBC-1’ (RHS 46A). ‘DrisStrawFiftySeven’, like ‘QBC-1’, has a fruit cavity; however, no mention is made of the sepals remaining on the plant at picking, as occurs with ‘QBC-1’. ‘QBC-1’, over the course of the harvest, has spherical small fruit with a length to width ratio almost equal producing conic primary fruit only under good growing conditions whereas ‘DrisStrawFiftySeven’ has greater than 2× larger fruit which is over twice as long as wide. ‘QBC-1’ fruit is noticeably softer than ‘DrisStrawFiftySeven’.
‘FL16.78-109’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 33,477) fruit is described as white with a pink blush, considerably lighter than ‘QBC-1’. ‘FL16.78-109’ fruit is firmer and over twice as large and heavy as ‘QBC-1’ and is conical and lacking a fruit cavity. Like ‘QBC-1’, ‘FL16.78-109’ is sweet tasting as is ‘QBC-1’, with ‘QBC-1’ having a higher peak fruit soluble solid concentration (brix).
‘FL16.78-109’ plants are moderately resistant to Powdery Mildew unlike the susceptibility of ‘QBC-1’.
Claims
1. A new and distinct variety of strawberry plant named ‘QBC-1’ as illustrated and described herein.
Type: Grant
Filed: Mar 8, 2022
Date of Patent: Sep 27, 2022
Assignee: Five Aces Breeding LLC (Naples, NY)
Inventor: Harry Jan Swartz (Naples, NY)
Primary Examiner: Annette H Para
Application Number: 17/803,153
International Classification: A01H 6/74 (20180101); A01H 5/08 (20180101);