Strawberry plant Ofra
A new and distinct variety of strawberry (Fragaria L.) called "Ofra" is disclosed. The variety is a cross between "Parker" and "111", which results in a variety that flowers several months earlier than most other known strawberry varieties.
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The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry (Fragaria L.) called "Ofra". 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 "Parker" and "111". The variety was asexually vegetatively propagated through runners and the reproduction ran true.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe new variety "Ofra" 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 short-day strawberry varieties and within a similar time frame of strawberry varieties "Shalom" (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,876), "Smadar" (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,865), "Saaid" (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,870), "Dorit" (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,869) "Sharon" (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,881). The fruit of the "Ofra" 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 "Ofra" variety illustrating the fruit.
FIG. 2.--Photograph of the "Ofra" variety illustrating a cross-section of the fruit.
FIG. 3.--Photograph of the "Ofra" variety illustrating the entire plant with foliage, flowers and fruit.
DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONThe "Ofra" variety was grown in winter under polyethylene tunnels in Israel. "Ofra" is a an infra short-day strawberry variety. Infra short-day varieties are induced to initiate flower bud primordia in response to relatively long light regimes (but under short-day conditions) and are relatively insensitive to night temperatures. 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 August 25 and September 5 with the approximate date of flowering on October 1-10 and the approximate date of first fruiting on November 1-10. "Ofra" flowering is not induced by chilling, but by natural exposure to shortening day length. 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 "Ofra" (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., "Ofra" blooms perpetuously, during late fall and winter).
The fruit is longer than broad, with first order and second order fruit possessing distinct shapes (Table 2). The fruit is very firm with an orange-red color (Table 2).
The variety "Ofra" flowers several months earlier than known strawberry varieties. One of the closest known varieties would be "Karina" (Table 1), and the new varieties mentioned supra; e.g., U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,881 ("Sharon"), U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,876 ("Shalom"), U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,865 ("Smadar"), U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,870 ("Saaid") and U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,869 ("Dorit"). Additionally, early flowering results in early fruit production for "Ofra" and the two varieties, "Virginia", subject of a U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 07/823,802, filed Jan. 22, 1992, and "Nama", subject of U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 07/823,721, filed Jan. 22, 1992. Total Soluble Solids (TSS), marketable appearance, fruit color, sepal appearance, firmness, pressure defects and general health are presented in Table 3 by comparison to the co-pending varieties as well as the short-day variety, "Douglas" (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,487).
TABLE 1 ______________________________________ PLANT CHARACTERISTICS OF "OFRA" MORPHOLOGICAL COMPARABLE TRAIT DESCRIPTION.sup.a VARIETY.sup.b ______________________________________ Classification Botanical- Fragaria L. Plant habit Flat-Globose "Sengana" Plant density Medium "Gorella" Plant vigor Strong "Grande" Plant diameter 160-220 mm Plant height 80-90 mm Leaf: a) Length 120-190 mm b) Width 100-150 mm c) Color 1) Upper Side: Medium Green d) Blistering Weak e) Cross-section Concave f) # of leaflets Sometimes >3 Terminal leaflet a) Length/Width As long as broad ratio b) Shape of base Obtuse c) Shape of teeth Obtuse d) Length 60-75 mm e) Width 60-75 mm Flower a) Size Medium "Gorella" b) Size of calyx to Similar corolla c) Size of inner calyx Larger versus outer calyx d) Spacing of petals Overlapping e) Diameter 1) First order 32 mm 2) Second order 28 mm f) Petal length/width Nearly as broad as long 1) length 12-13 mm 2) width 14-15 mm g) Time of flowering Very early "Karina".sup.c Stolon a) Number Many "Gorella" .sup.d b) Thickness Thick c) Anthocyanin Weak coloration Petiole a) Pose of hairs Outwards b) Length 55-90 mm Fruiting Truss: Prostrate Attitude Stipule: Anthocyanin Medium Coloration Inflorescence a) Position relative Above to foliage ______________________________________ .sup.a The description of "Ofra" is based on the test guidelines for Fragaria L. of the International Union for the Protection of New Plant Varieties, (UPOV). .sup.b Only characteristcs which are relevant for comparing varities are listed. For example, there are no varietal differences acknowledged in th characteristic "color of lower side of leaf". .sup.c "Ofra" flowers at the end of October. One of the earliest known varieties for comparison is "Karina", which flowers in January. Additionally, "Ofra" flowers within approximately the time range as strawberry varieties "Shalom" (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7876), "Smadar" (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,865, "Saaid" (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,870, "Dorit" (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,869, in U.S. Plant Pat. Application Ser. No. 07/823,802, filed Jan. 22, 1992, and U.S. Plant Pat. Application Ser. No. 07/823,721, filed Jan. 22, 1992, respectively. .sup. d "Ofra" still produces more runners than the comparable variety, "Gorella".
TABLE 2 ______________________________________ FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS OF "OFRA" CHARACTERISTCS DESCRIPTION ______________________________________ Time of ripening Very Early Ratio of length/maximum width Longer than broad Size Large First Order a) Predominant Shape Wedges b) Length 45-55 mm c) Width 30-40 mm d) Thickness 22-30 mm e) Weight 27 g Second Order a) Predominant Shape Conical b) Length 45-50 mm c) Width 25-30 mm d) Thickness 23-28 mm Difference in Shape Betwen First Marked Order and Second Order Fruit Band without achenes Narrow or Medium Unevenness of surface Absent or Very weak Color Red Evenness of color Even Glassiness Strong Insertion of achenes Below surface Insertion of calyx Set above fruit Pose of calyx segments Reflexed Size of calyx in relation to Same size fruit diameter Adherence of calyx Very strong Firmness Very firm Color of flesh Orange-red Eveness of flesh color Slightly uneven ______________________________________
TABLE 3 ______________________________________ COMPARATIVE SHELF-LIFE AND FLAVOR OF "OFRA" Mar- Percentage Se- ket- Pres- Firmness.sup.a pal able sure New- ap- Fruit ap- Sugar Vari- de- Vis- ton pear- co- pear- content ety Health fects ual units ance.sup.b lor.sup.c ance.sup.d T.S.S..sup.e ______________________________________ First test: at harvest date Ofra 100 0 5 6.0 5 4.0 4.5 9.6 Vir- 100 0 5 4.2 5 3.5 4.0 8.5 ginia.sup.f Na- 100 0 5 3.7 5 3.5 4.0 8.0 ma.sup.g Douglas.sup.h 100 0 5 3.7 5 4.5 4.0 6.5 Second test: After 3 days of storage at 2.degree. C. Ofra 92 8 4.0 6.0 4 4.2 4.4 Vir- 80 20 3.5 3.5 4 4.2 3.8 ginia Na- 78 22 3.5 3.0 4 4.0 3.7 ma Douglas 76 24 3.7 3.5 4 5.0 3.7 Third test: after 3 days storage at 2.degree. C. plus 2 additional days at simulated shelf temperature of 18.degree. C. Ofra 55 45 3.5 5.5 3.2 4.5 3.5 Vir- 50 50 3.0 2.8 3.0 4.5 3.2 ginia Na- 44 56 3.0 3.0 3.0 4.5 3.0 ma Douglas 45 55 3.0 3.0 3.2 5.0 3.2 ______________________________________ INDEX: .sup.a 5hard 1soft .sup.b 5green, fresh like, 1dry, brown .sup.c 5dark red, 1green, pink .sup.d 5prime 1not marketable .sup.e Total Soluble Solids (T.S.S.) expresses fruit sweetness and was determined with a refractometer .sup.f U.S. Plant Pat. Application Ser. No. 07/823,802, January 22, 1992. .sup.g U.S. Plant Pat. Application Ser. No. 07/823,721, January 22, 1992. .sup.h U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,487
Claims
1. A new distinct variety of strawberry plant 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.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Jan 22, 1992
Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
Assignee: The Volcani Center, State of Israel, Ministry of Agriculture (Bet Dagan)
Inventors: Shamay Izhar (Rehovot), Eva Izsak (Rehovot)
Primary Examiner: James R. Feyrer
Law Firm: Pennie & Edmonds
Application Number: 7/823,638
International Classification: A01H 500;