Strawberry plant Shalom

A new and distinct variety of strawberry (Fragaria L.) called "Shalom" is disclosed. The variety is a cross between "Rachel" and "Douglas", which results in a variety that flowers several months earlier than other known strawberry varieties.

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Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry (Fragaria L.) called "Shalom". 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 "Douglas". The variety was asexually vegetatively propagated through runners and the reproduction ran true.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety "Shalom" resembles the variety "Douglas" and 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 "Shalom" variety is characterized by good taste, good shape and size as well as a long shelf life.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1. Photograph of the "Shalom" variety illustrating the foliage and fruit.

FIG. 2. Photograph of the "Shalom" variety illustrating the fruit.

FIG. 3. Photograph of the "Shalom" variety illustrating the entire plant with both flowers and fruit.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The "Shalom" variety was grown in winter under polyethylene tunnels in Israel. "Shalom" is a short day variety that flowers earlier than other known 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 September 15th to the 20th with the approximate date of flowering on October 20, and the approximate date of first fruiting on November 20. "Shalom" 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 (RHSCC), 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 "Shalom" (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., "Shalom" blooms perpetuously, during late fall and winter).

The fruit is longer than broad, with primary, secondary and tertiary fruit possessing a moderately distinct shape (Table 2). The fruit is firm with a dark red color (Table 2).

The variety "Shalom" flowers several months earlier than known strawberry varieties. One of 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"), 07/735,968 ("Dorit"), 07/735,967 ("Smadar"), and 07/435,970 ("Saaid"). Additionally, early flowering results in early fruit production for "Shalom" and the four co-pending 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                                                     
     ______________________________________                                    
     PLANT CHARACTERISTICS OF "SHALOM"                                         
     MORPHOLOGICAL               COMPARABLE                                    
     TRAIT         DESCRIPTION.sup.a                                           
                                 VARIETY.sup.b                                 
     ______________________________________                                    
     Classification                                                            
                   Botanical-                                                  
                   Fragaria L.                                                 
     Plant habit   Flat-Globose  "Senagana"                                    
     Plant density Dense         "Talisman"                                    
     Plant vigor   Strong        "Grande"                                      
     Leaf:                                                                     
     a) Length     14-19 cm                                                    
     b) Width      10-12 cm                                                    
     c) Color      Green Group 147 A                                           
                   (RHSCC)                                                     
     1) Upper Side:                                                            
                   Very Dark                                                   
     d) Blistering Strong                                                      
     e) Cross-section                                                          
                   Slightly Convex                                             
     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     5-6 cm                                                      
     e) Width      4-5 cm                                                      
     Flower                                                                    
     a) Size       Medium        "Gorella"                                     
     b) Size of calyx to                                                       
                   Same size                                                   
     corolla                                                                   
     c) Size of inner calyx                                                    
                   Same size                                                   
     versus outer calyx                                                        
     d) Spacing of petals                                                      
                   Free                                                        
     e) Petal length/width                                                     
                   Longer than Broad                                           
     f) Time of flowering                                                      
                   Early         "Karina".sup.c                                
     Stolon                                                                    
     a) Number     Few                                                         
     b) Thickness  Thin                                                        
     c) Pubescence Weak                                                        
     d) Anthocyanin                                                            
                   Medium                                                      
     coloration                                                                
     Petiole                                                                   
     a) Pose of hairs                                                          
                   Outwards                                                    
     b) Length     8-13 cm                                                     
     Inflorescence                                                             
     a) Position relative                                                      
                   Level                                                       
     to foliage                                                                
     ______________________________________                                    
      .sup.a The description of "Shalom" 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 "Shalom" flowers at the end of October. One of the earliest known 
      varieties for comparison is "Karina", which flowers in January.          
                TABLE 2                                                     
     ______________________________________                                    
     FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS OF "SHALOM"                                         
     CHARACTERISTIC       DESCRIPTION                                          
     ______________________________________                                    
     Time of ripening     Early                                                
     Ratio of length/maximum width                                             
                          Longer than Broad                                    
     Primary Fruit.sup.a  Conical                                              
     Length               40-48 mm                                             
     Width                28-35 mm                                             
     Secondary Fruit      Conical                                              
     Length               32-35 mm                                             
     Width                25-30 mm                                             
     Tertiary Fruit       Ovoid                                                
     Length               25-28 mm                                             
     Width                24-25 mm                                             
     Size                 Large                                                
     Band without achenes Narrow                                               
     Unevenness of surface                                                     
                          Weak                                                 
     Color                Dark red                                             
     Evenness of color    Even                                                 
     Glossiness           Medium                                               
     Insertion of achenes Level with 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       Dark red                                             
     Evenness of flesh color                                                   
                          Uneven                                               
     Sweetness.sup.b      Medium                                               
     Color                43 AB circa (RHSCC)                                  
     Taste.sup.b          Normal                                               
     ______________________________________                                    
      .sup.a There is a moderate difference between the shape of the primary an
      secondary fruit.                                                         
      .sup.b See Table 4.                                                      
                TABLE 3                                                     
     ______________________________________                                    
     COMPARATIVE YIELD OF "SHALOM".sup.a                                       
            Nov. Dec.     Jan.   Feb.   Mar. Apr.                              
     ______________________________________                                    
     Shalom   50     70       80   100    100   70                             
     Sharon.sup.b                                                              
              40     60       80    80     80   80                             
     Dorit.sup.c                                                               
              30     70       100  100    100  100                             
     Smadar.sup.d                                                              
              50     70       100  100    100   50                             
     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                             
     ______________________________________                                    
      .sup.a Average yield in g/m.sup.2 in Ramat Hadar, Israel (1989-90). The  
      time of ripening for "Shalom" fruit is 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. 07/735,968. The time of ripening for   
      "Dorit" fruit is early.                                                  
      .sup.d U. S. application Ser. No. 07/735,967. The time of ripening for   
      "Smadar" fruit is very early to early.                                   
      .sup.e U. S. application Ser. No. 07/735,970. The time of ripening for   
      "Saaid" fruit is early to medium.                                        
      .sup.f U. S. Plant Pat. No. 4,487. The time of ripening for "Douglas"    
      fruit is late.                                                           
      .sup.g U. S. Plant Pat. No. 5,262. The time of ripening for "Chandler"   
      fruit is late.                                                           
                TABLE 4                                                     
     ______________________________________                                    
     COMPARATIVE FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS OF                                      
     "SHALOM"                                                                  
             T.S.S..sup.a                                                      
                     Acidity.sup.b                                             
             in %    in %     Aroma     Taste                                  
     ______________________________________                                    
     Shalom    8.0-9.0   1.0      4       Normal                               
     Sharon.sup.c                                                              
               6.5-7.0   1.0      3       Slightly                             
                                          Acidic                               
     Dorit.sup.d                                                               
               8.5-9.5   1.0      5       Good                                 
     Smadar.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                               
     ______________________________________                                    
      .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. 07/735,968.                            
      .sup.e U. S. application Ser. No. 07/735,967.                            
      .sup.f U. S. application Ser. No. 07/735,970.                            
      .sup. g U. S. Plant Pat. No. 4,487.                                      
      .sup.h U. S. Plant Pat. 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.

Referenced Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
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, Jr. et al.
PP7172 February 27, 1990 Voth et al.
Foreign Patent Documents
370/82 November 1982 ILX
Other references
  • 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. 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.
Patent History
Patent number: PP7876
Type: Grant
Filed: Jul 25, 1991
Date of Patent: Jun 2, 1992
Assignee: State of Israel, Ministry of Agriculture, The Volcani Center (Bet Dagan)
Inventors: Eva Izsak (Rehovot), Shamai Izhar (Rehovot)
Primary Examiner: James R. Feyrer
Law Firm: Pennie & Edmonds
Application Number: 7/735,695
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: Plt/48
International Classification: A01H 500;