Strawberry plant Smadar
A new and distinct variety of strawberry (Fragaria L.) called "Smadar" is disclosed. The variety is a cross between "Rachel" and "Dover A", which results in a variety that flowers several months earlier than other known strawberry varieties.
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The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry (Fragaria L.) called "Smadar". The variety was developed from an organized scientifically designated breeding program carried out at the Agricultural Research Organization, the Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel. The variety is the product of selection of seedlings resulting from crosses between the strawberry varieties "Rachel" and "Dover A". The variety was asexually vegetatively propagated through runners and the reproduction ran true.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe new variety "Smadar" resembles the variety "Dover A" is able to grow in September and produce fruit starting in November and lasting until summer. The production of fruit beginning in November is two months earlier than any known variety of Fragaria L. The fruit of the "Smadar" variety is characterized by good taste, good shape and size as well as a long shelf life.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURESFIG. 1--Photograph of the "Smadar" variety illustrating the foliage and fruit.
FIG. 2--Photograph of the "Smadar" variety illustrating the fruit.
FIG. 3--Photograph of the "Smadar" variety illustrating the entire plant with both flowers and fruit.
DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONThe "Smadar" variety was grown in winter under polyethylene tunnels in Israel. "Smadar" is a short day variety that flowers earlier than other known and available short day length strawberry varieties. Flowering and fruit production is not affected by the use of polyethylene wind tunnels. This production procedure is utilized in normal agricultural practices by the skilled artisan and does not involve temperature or light control. Mother plants were stored at 0.degree. C. from January through April. They were then planted in the nursery without further treatment. Runners with plantlets were produced during summer. These young plantlets were collected from the nursery in September and transferred to raised beds. Average temperatures at that time of the year are 30.degree. C. during the day and 22.degree. C. at night. Water and fertilizers were applied through drip irrigation. An example of an optimum planting date is between Sep. 15th to the 20th with the approximate date of flowering on Oct. 27, and the approximate date of first fruiting on Nov. 27. "Smadar" flowering is not induced by chilling, but by natural exposure to short day length (long nights) characteristic of late fall and early winter. Color readings described herein were taken under natural light conditions and color identifications were made by reference to the Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.C.C.) except where common terms of color definition are employed.
The pertinent characteristics of the present invention are presented in Table 1 and Table 2. Additionally, the variety "Smadar" (1) has no tendency toward fruit malformation; (2) disease resistance appears normal in that no particular problematic conditions arose during trials; and (3) the type of bearing is not remontant (e.g., "Smadar" blooms perpetuously, during late fall and winter).
The fruit is as long as broad, with primary, secondary and tertiary fruit possessing a slight difference in shape (Table 2). The fruit is firm with a red color (Table 2).
The variety "Smadar" flowers several months earlier than known strawberry varieties. One of the closest known varieties would be "Karina" (Table 1) as well as the new varieties under co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 07/735,969 ("Sharon"), 07/735,695 ("Shalom"), 07/735,968 ("Dorit"), and 07/735,970 ("Saaid"). Additionally, early flowering results in early fruit production for "Smadar" and the four copending varieties (Table 3). Total Soluble Solids (TSS), percent acidity and aroma are presented in Table 4 by comparison to the varieties listed in Table 3.
TABLE 1
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PLANT CHARACTERISTICS OF "SMADAR"
MORPHOLOGICAL COMPARABLE
TRAIT DESCRIPTION.sup.a
VARIETY.sup.b
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Classification
Botanical-
Fragaria L.
Plant habit Flat-Globose "Senagana"
Plant density Dense "Talisman"
Plant vigor Strong "Grande"
Leaf:
a) Length 17-18 cm
b) Width 11-13 cm
c) Color Green Group 146 A
(RHSCC)
1) Upper Side: Dark
d) Blistering Medium
e) Cross-section Concave
f) # of leaflets Sometimes >3
Terminal leaflet
a) Length/Width Longer than broad
ratio
b) Shape of base Obtuse
c) Shape of teeth
Rounded
d) Length 6-7 cm
e) Width 4-6 cm
Flower
a) Size Medium "Gorella"
b) Size of calyx to
Smaller to small
corolla size
c) Size of inner calyx
Same size
versus outer calyx
d) Spacing of petals
Overlapping
e) Petal length/width
Longer than broad
f) Time of flowering
Very early to "Karina".sup.c
Early
Stolon
a) Number Medium to Many
b) Thickness Thin to Medium
c) Pubescence Medium
d) Anthocyanin Strong
coloration
Petiole
a) Pose of hairs Outwards
b) Length 9-11 cm
Inflorescence
a) Position relative
Level
to foliage
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.sup.a The description of "Smadar" is based on the test guidelines for
Fragaria L. of the International Union for the Protection of New Plant
Varieties, (UPOV).
.sup.b Only characteristics which are relevant for comparing varieties ar
listed.
.sup.c "Smadar" flowers at the end of October. One of the earliest known
varieties for comparison is "Karina", which flowers in January.
TABLE 2
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FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS OF "SMADAR"
CHARACTERISTIC DESCRIPTION
______________________________________
Time of ripening Very early to Early
Ratio of length/maximum width
As long as broad
Primary Fruit.sup.a Bi-conical or
Cylindrical
Length 48-50 mm
Width 35-37 mm
Secondary Fruit Bi-conical or
Cylindrical
Length 39-42 mm
Width 30-31 mm
Tertiary Fruit Bi-conical or
Cylindrical
Length 33-37 mm
Width 23-26 mm
Size Large
Band without achenes
Very narrow to Narrow
Unevenness of surface
Weak
Color Red
Evenness of color Slightly Uneven
Glossiness Medium
Insertion of achenes
Below surface
Insertion of calyx Level with surface
Pose of calyx segments
Clasping
Size of calyx in relation
Larger
to fruit diameter
Adherance of calyx Strong
Firmness Firm
Color of Flesh Light red
Evenness of flesh color
Even
Sweetness.sup.b Strong
Color 43 AB circa (RHSCC)
Taste.sup.b Good
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.sup.a There is a marked difference between the shape of the primary,
secondary and tertiary fruit.
.sup.b See Table 4.
TABLE 3
______________________________________
COMPARATIVE YIELD OF "SMARDAR".sup.a
Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr.
______________________________________
Smadar 50 70 100 100 100 50
Sharon.sup.b
40 60 80 80 80 80
Shalom.sup.c
50 70 80 100 100 70
Dorit.sup.d
30 70 100 100 100 100
Saaid.sup.e
0 70 100 100 100 100
Douglas.sup.f
0 0 40 150 150 150
Chandler.sup.g
0 0 30 150 150 120
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.sup.a Average yeild in g/m.sup.2 in Ramat Hadar, Israel (1989-90). The
time of ripening for "Smadar" fruit is very early to early.
.sup.b U.S. Application Ser. No. 07/735,969. The time of ripening for
"Sharon" fruit is very early.
.sup.c U.S. Application Ser. No. 07/735,695. The time of ripening for
"Shalom" fruit is early.
.sup.d U.S. Application Ser. No. 07/735,968. The time of ripening for
"Dorit" fruit is early.
.sup.e U.S. Application Ser. No. 07/735,970. The time of ripening for
"Saaid" fruit is early to medium.
.sup.f Plant Patent No. 4,487. The time of ripening for "Douglas" fruit i
late.
.sup.g Plant Patent No. 5,262. The time of ripening for "Chandler" fruit
is late.
TABLE 4
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COMPARATIVE FRUIT
CHARACTERISTICS OF "SMADAR"
T.S.S..sup.a
Acidity.sup.b
in % in % Aroma Taste
______________________________________
Smadar 8.5-9.5 1.0 5 Good
Sharon.sup.c
6.5-7.0 1.0 3 Slightly
Acidic
Shalom.sup.d
8.0-9.0 1.0 4 Normal
Dorit.sup.e
8.5-9.5 1.0 5 Good
Saaid.sup.f
8.0-9.0 1.0 3 Normal
Douglas.sup.g
6.5-7.0 0.8 3 Slightly
Acidic
Chandler.sup.h
6.5-7.0 0.8 3 Slightly
Acidic
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.sup.a Total Soluble Solids expresses fruit sweetness and was determined
with a refractometer.
.sup.b Percent of acidity was determined as follows: 2 cc of juice extrac
was mixed with 20 cc of water. Five drops of fenolfthaleinen was added an
the mixture was titrated with NaOH. The percent acidity is calculated as
the quantity of NaOH (cc) .times. 0.32.
.sup.c U.S. Application Ser. No. 07/735,969.
.sup.d U.S. Application Ser. No. 07/735,695.
.sup.e U.S. Application Ser. No. 07/735,968.
.sup.f U.S. Application Ser. No. 07/735,970.
.sup.g Plant Patent No. 4,487.
.sup.h Plant Patent No. 5,262.
Claims
1. A new distinct variety of strawberry substantially as illustrated and described and distinguished as being able to grow in September and produce fruit starting in November and lasting until summer, with fruit having a good taste and shape and a long shelf life.
| PP4487 | November 20, 1979 | Bringhurst et al. |
| PP5262 | July 24, 1984 | Voth et al. |
| PP5263 | July 24, 1984 | Voth et al. |
| PP5264 | July 31, 1984 | Bringhurst et al. |
| PP5268 | August 7, 1984 | Voth et al. |
| PP6578 | January 31, 1989 | Voth et al. |
| PP7024 | September 12, 1989 | Johnson et al. |
| PP7172 | February 27, 1990 | Voth et al. |
| 370/86 | November 1984 | ILX |
- Izsak, E. (1978) Hassadeh 59:443-446. Izsak, E. and Izhar, S. (1983) Hassadeh 63:2100-2103. Izsak, E. and Izhar, S. (1984) Hassadeh 64:1774-1777, 1778-1781. Howard, C. M. and Albregts, E. E., 1980; HortScience 15(4):540. Dubinsky, V., 1985; M.Sc. Thesis, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Rehovot, Israel (Hebrew original and English Translation). Bringhurst, R. S. and Voth, V., 1989; Fruit Var. J. 43(1):12-19.
Type: Grant
Filed: Jul 25, 1991
Date of Patent: May 12, 1992
Assignee: State of Israel, Ministry of Agriculture (Bet Dagan)
Inventors: Eva Izsak (Rehovot), Shamai Izhar (Rehovot)
Primary Examiner: James R. Feyrer
Law Firm: Pennie & Edmonds
Application Number: 7/735,967
International Classification: A01H 500;
