Strawberry plant named `Laguna`
`Laguna` is a short-day (June-bearing) cultivar similar to `Chandler` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,262) with similar total productivity and somewhat later productivity, large and very symmetrically conic fruit, firmer fruit, and a larger and more vigorous plant.
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This invention relates to a new and distinctive short-day type cultivar designated as `Laguna`, which resulted from a cross performed in 1988 between the cultivar `Irvine` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,172) and advanced selection Cal 85.92-602.
`Laguna` was first fruited at the University of California South Coast Research and Extension Center, near Irvine, Calif., in 1989, where it was selected, originally designated Cal 88.66-616, and propagated asexually by runners. Asexual propagules from this original source have been tested at the South Coast Research and Extension Center, the Watsonville Strawberry Research Facility, and to a limited extent in grower fields starting in 1990.
FIG. 1 shows the general flowering and fruiting characteristics of the plant;
FIG. 2 shows a typical mature leaf during late spring; and
FIG. 3 shows representative midseason fruit.
`Laguna` is typical of short-day types and produces fruit over an extended period when treated appropriately in arid, subtropical climates. `Laguna` differs from `Irvine` in that `Irvine` is a day-neutral type with essentially no photoperiodic flowering response and is very difficult to grow as compared to `Laguna.` The production pattern for `Laguna` is similar to that for `Chandler` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,262); it produces equivalent quantities of early-season fruit, and persists somewhat later in the season in cool mediterranean climates. `Laguna` will be of special interest for winter plantings, where `Chandler` has been successful, and for summer plantings where `Pajaro` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,538) has been successful. Because of its late season production, `Laguna` is likely to be adapted to production objectives in central California, as well as in southern California.
Plants and foliage: Fruiting plants of `Laguna` are larger, more erect, and more vigorous than plants of `Chandler`, and are generally larger and similar in form to `Oso Grande` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,578). `Laguna` forms branch crowns in greater quantity than `Chandler` with similar or greater branching than `Oso Grande`. When propagated in the nursery, `Laguna` has similar or greater runner production capacity compared with `Chandler`. Comparative statistics for foliar characters, including leaf color, near mid-season are given for the three cultivars in Table 1 with visual comparisons of leaf color to the Munsell color scale (Nickerson Color Fan) given in Table 5. Leaf color is distinctly lighter on the underside for `Laguna`; the differential is larger than for `Chandler` and similar to that for `Oso Grande`. Individual leaflets for `Laguna` are larger but otherwise similar in shape to those of `Chandler`, and are more elongated than for `Oso Grande`. Leaves (including petioles) are longer and much broader than for `Chandler`. Petioles are thicker and more stiff than those of `Chandler` and are similar to those of `Oso Grande`. Paired stipules, borne in a median position on the petiole, appear as small, stalked, ovate to heart-shaped structures on some leaves for `Laguna` and on most leaves for the comparison cultivars. Stipule size varies greatly both within and among individual plants for `Laguna`, and one or both stipules are frequently absent or may abscise as the leaf matures. Leaf and petiole pubescence characters for `Laguna` are similar to those for `Oso Grande`, except that tomentum on leaves are substantially less dense. Also, leaves for `Laguna` are similar in color to leaves of `Chandler` and `Oso Grande`. Visual comparisons of fruit color according to the Munsell color scale (Nickerson Color Fan) are given in Table 5. `Laguna` has flat (occasionally concave) leaves, which are easily distinguished from `Chandler`, and which are similar in convexity to `Oso Grande`.
Isozymes in leaf extracts: `Laguna` has been classified for three isozyme systems using starch gel electrophoresis (Table 2): Phosophoglucoisomerase (PGI), Leucine Aminopeptidase (LAP), and Phosphoglucomutase (PGM). It is distinguishable from all other short-day cultivars released to date except `Oso Grande`. For electrophoretic procedures see: J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 106:684-687.
Disease and pest reaction: `Laguna` is moderately resistant to common leaf spot (Ramularia tulasnei) and powdery mildew (Sphaerotheca macularis). When treated properly, it has equal or greater tolerance to two-spotted spidermites (Tetranychus urticae) than `Chandler`. `Laguna` is tolerant to strawberry viruses encountered in California.
TABLE 1
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Foliar characteristics for `Laguna`, `Chandler`, and `Oso Grande`.
Cultivar
Foliar Character
`Laguna` `Chandler` `Oso Grande`
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Mid-tier leaflet
Length (mm)
mean 95.4 82.4 77.2
range 82-115 78-94 75-80
Width (mm)
mean 83.6 71.4 67.6
range 70-110 63-88 62-71
Mid-tier leaf
Length (mm)
mean 274.4 244.2 191.6
range 252-315 218-262 170-200
Width (mm)
mean 161.4 148.0 137.2
range 140-185 132-158 130-149
Leaf color
(CIELAB)*
L*
mean 30.8 31.4 31.9
range 29.2-32.3 27.1-33.3 29.9-33.0
a*
mean -7.1 -8.0 -5.3
range -5.3--8.7 -5.2--8.2 -4.2--8.3
b*
mean 15.6 16.0 15.5
range 13.1-20.4 12.9-21.4 12.5-20.6
# leaflets/leaf
3 3 3
Leaf convexity
flat/slight
concave concave
concave
Serrations
number moderate many moderate
shape semi-round semi-pointed
semi-round
semi-pointed
Leaf pubescence
sparse moderate/ moderate/
sparse heavy
Petiole pubescence
density heavy heavy heavy
direction perpendicular
acropetal perpendicular
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*CIELAB is the abbreviation of the international color system known as
"Commission Internationale De L'Eclairage" 1978. Recommendations on
uniform color spaces -- color difference equations, psychometric color
terms, Supplement No. 2 to CIE Publication No. 15. PARIS.
TABLE 2
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Isozyme phenotypes for `Laguna`, `Chandler`, and `Oso Grande`.
Cultivar
Locus `Laguna` `Chandler`
`Oso Grande`
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PGI A2 A1 A2
LAP B3 B3 B3
PGM C2 C1 C2
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Flowering, fruit, and production characteristics: Comparative statistics for flower and fruit characters, including fruit color, near mid-season are given for `Laguna`, `Chandler` and `Oso Grande` in Table 3. The primary flowers for `Laguna` are larger than those of `Chandler` and `Oso Grande`; the sepals for `Laguna` are substantially larger than for the comparison cultivars. Each primary flower has 6-8 petals. The calyx for `Laguna` is usually even with the shoulder of the fruit, but is occasionally slightly indented. The primary fruit shape for `Laguna` is a very symmetrical and conic, with secondary fruit usually similar in shape. External fruit color for `Laguna` is lighter and substantially more orange than fruit of `Chandler` and `Oso Grande`; internal color is lighter than for `Chandler` and `Oso Grande`. Achenes vary from yellow to light red, and are slightly indented; the fruit is glossy, but not as glossy as `Chandler`.
`Laguna` has been tested under a variety of cultural regimes, and optimal performance is obtained when nursery treatments, pre-plant chilling regimes, plant densities, and nutritional programs similar to those that optimize performance for `Chandler` are used. In general, `Laguna` is more adapted to early-season planting with less supplemental chilling than `Chandler`.
`Laguna` has similar average fruit size and yields to those of `Chandler` and `Oso Grande` (Table 4). `Laguna` is similar to `Chandler` and `Oso Grande` in its production pattern, although it produces better quality fruit late in the production season than either comparison cultivar (with conventional winter planting). Commercial appearance ratings have been better than those for `Chandler` or `Oso Grande`. Fruit firmness for `Laguna` is equal to or greater than that for `Oso Grande`, and the fruit is substantially firmer than fruit from `Chandler`. Subjectively, `Laguna` has very good flavor, somewhat less aromatic than `Chandler`, somewhat less sweet but with better acid balance than `Oso Grande`. The fruit will be outstanding for both fresh market and processing, due to its firm flesh and will be useful for home garden purposes.
TABLE 3
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Flower and fruit characters for
`Laguna`, `Chandler`, and `Oso Grande`.
Cultivar
Character `Laguna` `Chandler`
`Oso Grande`
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# petals
mean 6.4 6.6 5.0
range 6-8 6-8 5-5
Flower position
exposed even/ exposed
(relative to foliage) exposed
Calyx diam. (mm)
mean 52.8 47.7 34.1
range 45-56 45-53 27-38
Corolla diam. (mm)
mean 41.8 39.3 32.2
range 38-48 36-46 27-41
Fruit shape
length/width 1.10 1.33 1.06
ratio
subjective conic flat conic
blocky/conic
Calyx position
even/slight
even/slight
even/slight
indent neck indent
Seed position slight even/slight
even
indent indent
Fruit color (CIELAB)
external
L* 29.0 23.6 22.4
a* 38.2 38.5 31.2
b* 25.4 14.8 17.2
internal
L* 54.3 46.2 54.1
a* 27.0 39.1 30.4
b* 21.3 29.4 22.7
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TABLE 4
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Performance for selection `Laguna` compared with `Oso Grande`
and `Chandler` at the South Coast Research and Extension Center
in 1991. All plants were dug from the South Coast nursery on
October 1 and planted October 2 (68"/4-row beds, 23,061
plants/A, 100 g/plant = 425 Crates/A).
Yield Total Appear-
To 4/1 Yield Size ance Firm-
(g/plant)
(g/plant)
(g/fruit)
Score ness
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`Laguna` 473 1,510 22.7 4.4 5.0
`Chandler`
463 1,738 23.3 3.9 4.0
`Oso Grande`
530 1,675 25.0 3.8 4.9
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TABLE 5
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Munsell color classification for leaf and fruit characters.
Munsell Munsell
Leaf Color Classes Fruit Color Classes
Upper Lower
Item (Adaxial) (Abaxial) External
Internal
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Chandler
5GY 4/3 5GY 5/6 5R 5/13 7R 5/13
5GY 5/6 5R 4/12
Oso 5GY 4/3 5GY 5/6 5R 5/13 7.5R 7/9
5GY 3/2 7.5GY 6/8 7.5R 5/13
7.5R 6/12
Laguna 7.5GY 6/8 5G 6/8 7.5R 5/13
2.5R 9/3
7.5GY 5/7 5G 5/8 7.5R 4/11
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Claims
1. The new and distinct variety of strawberry plant illustrated and described and having the characteristics above enumerated.
Type: Grant
Filed: Apr 1, 1993
Date of Patent: Mar 29, 1994
Assignee: The Regents of the University of California (Oakland, CA)
Inventors: Victor Voth (Santa Ana, CA), Douglas V. Shaw (Davis, CA), Royce S. Bringhurst (Davis, CA)
Primary Examiner: James R. Feyrer
Law Firm: Townsend and Townsend Khourie and Crew
Application Number: 8/41,750
International Classification: A01H 500;
