Strawberry plant named ‘CBC017’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of strawberry plant (Fragaria x ananassa) named ‘CBC017’ is presented here. This new day-neutral strawberry cultivar is characterized by moderate vigor plants which produce exceptionally large yields of attractive conical to round fruit. In addition, plants of ‘CBC017’ are resistant to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp fragariae.

Description

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Botanical classification: Fragaria x ananassa.

Variety denomination: The new strawberry variety denomination is ‘CBC017’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinctive day-neutral type cultivar designated as ‘CBC017’. The new cultivar was the result of a controlled cross performed in 2017 in Huelva, Spain between the cultivar ‘Fronteras’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,709) and the cultivar ‘Cabrillo’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27830). ‘CBC017’ was first fruited at an experimental orchard near French Camp, Calif. in 2017, where it was selected, originally designated 117.059-118, and propagated asexually by runners. Following selection and during testing, the plant of this selection was later designated ‘CBC017’. Asexual propagules from this original source have been tested in Watsonville, Calif., in Oxnard, Calif., and to a limited extent in grower fields starting in 2022. The cultivar is stable and reproduces true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS

‘Fronteras’ is a short-day cultivar that was selected for its overall high appearance score, large fruit, and high yield. Plants of the parent ‘Fronteras’ are larger than ‘CBC017’. The parent ‘Cabrillo’ is a day-neutral cultivar that was selected for its high yield and firm fruit. Plants of ‘Cabrillo’ are similar in size to ‘CBC017’.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘CBC017’ is a day-neutral cultivar that produces fruit over an extended period when treated appropriately in arid, sub-tropical climates. When treated with appropriate planting regimes, ‘CBC017’ has larger fruit and produces individual plant yields greater than that of either parent. The following traits have been repeatedly observed over multiple testing years and locations and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘CBC017’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘CBC017’ as a new and distinct Strawberry plant:

• • 1. Medium sized plant with open canopy.
  • 2. Day-neutral flowering habit.
  • 3. Large glossy red fruit.
  • 4. Fruit postharvest longevity is good.
  • 5. High yields.

The cultivar ‘CBC017’, when planted under appropriate conditions, follows a typical day-neutral fruiting pattern, with fruit production occurring regardless of day length and temperature. Fruit quality is good with excellent flavor. Total yield is of increased interest to fresh market strawberry sales companies as increased yields result in increased profits. In addition to its early yield performance, ‘CBC017’ is resistant to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp fragariae, the causal agent of Fusarium wilt.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The accompanying color photographs, identified as FIGS. 1 through 5, show the appearance of typical specimens of the new strawberry cultivar designated ‘CBC017’. These Figures depict the colors, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible given differences in color illustrations of this character. Accordingly, color in the photographs may differ slightly from the colors discussed in the botanical description.

FIG. 1 shows a typical leaf and petiole structure.

FIG. 2 shows a typical plant and fruit early season.

FIG. 3 shows typical fruit in a box.

FIG. 4 shows a cross-section of representative fruit mid-season.

FIG. 5 shows a typical plot in the field of plants and fruit.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

‘CBC017’ is a new and distinct day-neutral cultivar of strawberry, genus and species Fragaria x ananassa. It is the result of a controlled cross between the cultivar ‘Fronteras’ and the cultivar ‘Cabrillo’. Plants of ‘CBC017’ bloom continuously in higher elevation plantings, and bloom in the heat of low elevation nursery locations such as French Camp, CA, consistent with other day-neutral varieties. The plants of the new cultivar have a moderate vigor and produce multiple crowns during the growing season. ‘CBC017’ exhibits several characteristics which are improvements over one or both of its parent varieties, and other cultivars known to the Inventor. These characteristics are compared with other cultivars in Table 2, 3, and 4.

The fruit size of ‘CBC017’ is large, with a seasonal average of 36.4 g, larger than its parents. The fruit size of ‘CBC017’ is ideal since it is not too large to be damaged in shipping containers, but not too small to allow for efficient picking and packing. The ‘CBC017’ plant canopy also remains open throughout the season, which makes for greater visibility and ease of picking. Storability of the fruit has not been measured but in informal observations the fruit retains good physical characteristics and appearance for several days after harvest at room temperature and up to at least a week in common refrigerator conditions of roughly 3° C.

‘CBC017’ produces conic to slightly round fruit like its parent ‘Cabrillo’, while the fruit of ‘Fronteras’ is a longer conic shape that often suffers for color problems late in the season. The fruit of ‘CBC017’ generally ripens evenly from the tip to the shoulders of the berry, resulting in a uniform light red color over the whole fruit. In contrast, the fruit of ‘Cabrillo’ has darker fruit and can produce fruit with white shoulders early in the season. The fruit of ‘CBC017’ is firmer than its parent ‘Fronteras’.

The data set for ‘CBC017’ set forth below was collected in May 2023 from plants grown at a test plot in Watsonville, CA. Yield, size, and firmness data is either averaged over the entire 2022-2023 growing season or presented as monthly totals at the same location. As a day-neutral everbearing variety, ‘CBC017’ begins flowering immediately after planting and continues year-round, producing fruit continuously. Time to the first marketable fruit is roughly five months from planting. Description data was collected on five-month-old plants.

The observed characteristics of ‘CBC017’ are set forth in Table 1, 2, 3, and 4 below. Color terminology, where noted, is in accordance with the Munsell Colorchart. The observed characteristics of ‘CBC017’ are also compared to parent cultivars ‘Fronteras’ and ‘Cabrillo’ and to ‘Monterey’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,767), the closest cultivar known to the Inventor, in Table 2, 3, and 4. Table 5 sets forth the test results of DNA fingerprinting using eight SSR markers.

TABLE 1
Detailed Description of Characteristics of ‘CBC017’
SPECIFICATION:
Genus/Species           Fragaria X ananassa
Market Name             Strawberry
PARENTS:
Female                  ‘Fronteras’
Male                    ‘Cabrillo’
PLANT:
Type                    Day-neutral, everbearing
Growth Habit            Semi-upright
Foliage density         Moderate to light
Vigor                   Moderate
Height                  Average 30 cm; range 28-32 cm
Width                   Average 43 cm; range 35-50 cm
Disease tolerance       Test plots have shown tolerance to
                        Fusarium oxysporum f. sp fragariae
LEAF:
Width                   Average 11 cm; range 10-12 cm
Color                   Adaxial surface: 2.5 GY 4/3
                        Abaxial surface: 5 GY 5/6
Adaxial Pubescence      Medium density
Adaxial Glossiness      Medium
Rugosity                Not present
Variegation             Not present
TERMINAL
LEAFLET
Length                  Average 82 mm; range 80-85
Width                   Average 81 mm; range 73-86
Ratio (length/width)    1.0
Margins                 Serrate
Leaflet shape           Round
Base shape              Cuneate
Cross-section shape     Concave
PETIOLE
Pubescence              Medium density
Attitude                Upwards
Petiole color           5 GY 6/8
Petiole length          Average 20 cm; range 14-23 cm
Petiole diameter        Average 4.2 mm; range 4.0-4.6 mm
STIPULE
Anthocyanin             Light
coloration
Length                  Average 38.5 mm; range 34-42 mm
Width                   Average 7 mm, range 6.4-8.1 mm
INFLORESCENCE:
Flowering               Everbearing
Position                Mostly at or above canopy
Petal arrangement       Slightly overlapping
Petal shape             Actinomorphic and Rotate
Calyx size              Larger than corolla
Sepal shape             Acute
Number of blooms        8
Length                  3.5 cm
Flower diameter         Average 35 mm; range 32-37 mm
Petal number            Average 5; range 4-6
Petal length            Average 10 mm; range 9-11 mm
Petal width             Average 10 mm; range 9-11 mm
Ratio (length/width)    1.0
Calyx color             Adaxial surface: 5 GY 8/8
                        Abaxial surface: 5 GY 6/8
Stamens length          Average 25 mm; range 21-28 mm
PEDICEL
Pubescence              Medium density
Length                  167 mm
Width                   4.1 mm
Ratio (length/width)    41
Color                   2.5 GY 8/9
FRUIT:
Bearing                 Day-neutral, everbearing
Individual fruit        Seasonal average: 37.8 g
weight
Shape                   Mostly conic, some slightly round
Size                    Width: 5 cm avg; range 4 to 6 cm
                        (See FIG. 4)
                        Length: 8 cm avg; range 7.5 to
                        9 cm (see FIG. 4)
Achenes                 Just below fruit surface
Glossiness              Medium/high
External color          Even
evenness
External color          7.5 R 4/11
Internal color          7.5 R 5/13
Band at top             Narrow width
without achenes
Fruit Yield             Grams per plant: 2922 g
Firmness                0.48 kg/force
Achene color            7.5 R 4/11
Achene density          Medium
Fruit center hollowness Small
Calyx attachment        Level with fruit
Calyx adherence         Adheres when fully ripe
Calyx size to fruit     Smaller than fruit

TABLE 2
Marketable yield of ‘CBC017’ compared to the cultivars known to the
Inventor in Watsonville, CA during the 2022-2023 season.
	Marketable yield (g/plant)
Cultivar	April	May	June	July	August	Total
‘Fronteras’	390	624	901	309	87	2311
‘Cabrillo’	205	464	1039	473	197	2378
‘Monterey’	290	522	957	399	205	2373
‘CBC017’	305	621	1236	503	256	2922

TABLE 3
Size of ‘CBC017’ compared to the cultivars known to the Inventor
in Watsonville, CA during the 2022-2023 season.
	Fruit size (g/fruit)
Cultivar	April	May	June	July	August	Average
‘Fronteras’	43.4	40.8	31.0	23.7	23.9	32.6
‘Cabrillo’	38.2	43.9	35.0	27.1	24.9	33.8
‘Monterey’	37.5	40.1	33.7	25.4	23.2	32.0
‘CBC017’	48.1	49.9	38.1	28.1	25.0	37.8

	Firmness (kg/force)
Cultivar	May	June	July	Average
‘Fronteras’	0.49	0.39	0.37	0.41
‘Cabrillo’	0.59	0.49	0.48	0.52
‘Monterey’	0.55	0.51	0.46	0.51
‘CBC017’	0.54	0.45	0.45	0.48

TABLE 5
DNA finger printing results of eight SSR markers.
	Allelic Fingerprint Analysis
Cultivar	M1	M2	M3	M4	M5	M6	M7	M8
‘CBC017’	204,	259,	188,	279,	156	238,	121,	213,
	212,	264,	232	281,		242,	214,	215,
	224	269,		289		257,	130,	228
		271,				262	139
		275

Claims

1. A new and distinct strawberry plant named ‘CBC017’ as described and illustrated herein.