Strawberry plant named ‘diligent’

Abstract

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry plant named ‘DILIGENT’. This new strawberry plant named ‘DILIGENT’ is primarily adapted to the growing conditions of the central coast of California, and is primarily characterized by its large fruit size, small calyx, early fruit production, medium to small plant size, fruiting trusses held above the plant, and short fruiting trusses.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry variety named ‘DILIGENT’. This new variety is a result of a controlled cross made in 2004 in an ongoing breeding program between strawberry variety designated ‘BG-959’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,864) and strawberry variety designated ‘BG-2010’ (a non-patented selection). Due to the combining of the reciprocal seed lots, it is unknown as to which parent variety is the seed parent and which parent variety is the pollen parent. The variety is botanically known as Fragaria ananassa.

The seedling resulting from the aforementioned cross was selected from a controlled breeding plot in Ventura County, California in the winter of 2006. After its selection, the new variety was asexually propagated by stolons in both Siskiyou County, California and San Joaquin County, California. The new variety was extensively tested over the next several years in fruiting fields in Ventura County, California. This propagation has demonstrated that the combination of traits disclosed herein as characterizing the new variety are fixed and remain true-to-type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘DILIGENT’ is primarily adapted to the climate and growing conditions of the central coast of California. The nearby Pacific Ocean provides the humidity and moderate temperatures needed to produce a strong, vigorous plant and maintain fruit quality during the winter and spring production months.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘DILIGENT’, which in combination distinguish this strawberry plant as a new and distinct variety:

• • 1. Large fruit size;
  • 2. Small calyx;
  • 3. Early fruit production;
  • 4. Medium to small plant;
  • 5. Fruiting trusses held above the plant; and
  • 6. Short fruiting trusses.

The strawberry variety that is believed to be most closely related to the new variety ‘DILIGENT’ is ‘BG-959’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,864). In side-by-side comparisons to the similar strawberry variety ‘BG-959’, ‘DILIGENT’ differs by the following combination of characteristics as described in Table 1.

TABLE 1
		‘BG-959’
Characteristic	‘DILIGENT’	(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,864)
Fruit: size (grams)	35.4 (large)	27.2 (medium)
Fruit: color of	Medium red	Ranges from medium to
internal flesh		dark red
Fruit: size of calyx	Slightly smaller	Slightly larger
relative to fruit
diameter
Fruit: hollow center	Absent or very weak	Ranges from moderate to
expression		strong
Plant: habit	Upright	Semi-upright
Plant: density	Ranges from medium	Medium
	to sparse
Foliage: color	Medium yellow green	Ranges from medium to
		dark green
Fruiting truss:	Absent or very weak	Medium
anthocyanin
intensity
Fruiting truss:	Above	Level with
position relative to
foliage

For identification, a series of molecular markers have been determined for this new variety.

‘DILIGENT’ differs from its parents, ‘BG-959’ and ‘BG-2010’ by the following combination of characteristics as described in Table 2.

TABLE 2
		‘BG-959’ (U.S. Plant
Characteristic	‘DILIGENT’	Pat. No. 17,864)	‘BG-2010’
Marketable	1,098	1,058	900
yield
(gm/plant)
Fruit size	Large	Medium	Ranges from
			medium to large
Plant size	Ranges from	Ranges from	Ranges from
	medium to small	medium to small	medium to large
Fruit color	Red	Red	Ranges from red to
			dark red

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance of typical specimens of the new strawberry variety ‘DILIGENT’ at various stages of development, as true as it is reasonably possible with color reproductions of this type. Color in the photographs may differ slightly from the color value cited in the botanical descriptions which accurately describe the color of ‘DILIGENT’. The depicted plant and plant parts of the new strawberry variety ‘DILIGENT’ are approximately five to six months old. The photographs were taken in Ventura County, California.

FIG. 1 shows typical fruiting field characteristics of ‘DILIGENT’, taken in the month of April 2014;

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the typical leaf structure of ‘DILIGENT’, taken in the month of April 2014;

FIG. 3 shows typical mature and immature field fruit of ‘DILIGENT’, taken in the month of March 2014; and

FIG. 4 shows typical internal and external mature fruit characteristics of ‘DILIGENT’, taken in the month of March 2014.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new variety ‘DILIGENT’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The characteristics of the new variety ‘DILIGENT’ may vary in detail, depending upon variations in environmental factors, including weather (temperature, humidity and light intensity), day length, soil type and location. In addition, the characteristics of any parental variety or comparison variety included in Tables 3 through 9 of the present invention may vary in detail, depending upon variations in environmental factors, including weather (temperature, humidity and light intensity), day length, soil type and location.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following description of the new variety ‘DILIGENT’, unless otherwise noted, are based on observations taken during the 2014 growing season in Ventura County, California. These measurements and ratings were taken from plants of ‘DILIGENT’ dug from a high-elevation nursery located in Siskiyou County, California during early October 2013 and planted approximately four to five days later in Ventura County, California. The approximate age of the observed plants is five to six months. Yield observations and fruit quality characteristics are averaged from five years of data collected from the 2010 through 2014 growing seasons. Flower measurements and characteristics are from secondary flowers unless otherwise noted. Fruit characteristics and measurements are from secondary fruit, unless otherwise noted.

Color terminology where noted follows The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, London (2007).

The following Tables 3 through 9 describe fruit, plant, stolon, foliage, fruiting truss, flower, and pest and disease characteristics of the new strawberry ‘DILIGENT’.

TABLE 3
FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS
Characteristic                   ‘DILIGENT’
Color of mature fruit            RHS 46B, red
Color of internal flesh          RHS 44A, medium red
Color of core                    RHS 38A, light red
Fruit length (cm)                4.5
Fruit width (cm)                 4.2
Fruit size                       Very large
Fruit length/width ratio         1.07, slightly longer than broad
Calyx diameter (cm)              3.8
Average fruit weight (gm)        35.4
Achene color, shaded side        RHS 153B, yellow green group
Achene color, sun-exposed side   RHS 183A, greyed purple group
Achene weight (mg)               0.40
Average achenes per berry        396
Marketable fruit yield (gm/plant) 1,098
Predominant fruit shape          Conical
Difference in shapes between primary Moderate
and secondary fruit
Band without achenes             Absent or very narrow
Evenness of fruit surface        Even or very slightly uneven
Evenness of fruit color          Even or very slightly uneven
Fruit glossiness                 Ranges from medium to strong
Insertion of achenes             Level with surface
Position of calyx attachment     Inserted
Attitude of sepals               Ranges from downward to
                                 outward
Size of calyx relative to fruit diameter Slightly smaller
Adherence of calyx (when fully ripe) Strong
Firmness of fruit flesh          Medium
Distribution of red color of the flesh Marginal and central
Hollow center expression         Absent or very weak
Fruit flavor                     Good
Soluble solids (% Brix)          7.6
Time of first flower             Early
Time of first harvest            Early
Harvest period                   January to June
Harvest maturity                 Early season
Type of bearing                  Not remontant (short day)

TABLE 4
PLANT CHARACTERISTICS
Characteristic    ‘DILIGENT’
Plant height (cm) 13.1
Plant spread (cm) 27.0
Plant size        Ranges from small to medium
Plant habit       Upright
Plant density     Ranges from sparse to medium
Plant vigor       Medium

TABLE 5
STOLON CHARACTERISTICS
Characteristic                   ‘DILIGENT’
Stolon color                     RHS 146D, yellow green group
Stolon anthocyanin coloration    RHS 180D, greyed red group
Stolon anthocyanin intensity     Absent or very weak
Stolon pubescence                Medium
Attitude of hairs                Upward
Average stolon quantity          Medium
Average stolon diameter at bract (mm) 3.0

TABLE 6
FOLIAGE CHARACTERISTICS
Characteristic           ‘DILIGENT’
Foliage:
Color of upper surface   RHS 146A, medium yellow green
Color of underside       RHS 137C, yellow green group
Number of leaflets       3
Shape in cross section   Slightly concave to flat
Interveinal blistering   Medium
Leaf glossiness          Medium
Leaf variegation         Absent
Terminal Leaflet:
Length (cm)              6.3
Width (cm)               5.6
Leaf size                Ranges from medium to small
Length/width ratio       1.11, longer than broad
Shape of base            Obtuse
Margins (shape of teeth) Rounded (crenate)
Serrations per leaf      19.4
Petiole:
Petiole color            RHS 144A, yellow green group
Petiole length (cm)      8.7
Petiole diameter (mm)    3.2
Petiolule color          RHS 144A, yellow green group
Petiolule length (mm)    7.6
Attitude of hairs        Strongly outward
Petiole pubescence       Heavy
Stipule:
Color                    RHS 146A, yellow green group
Anthocyanin coloration   RHS 161B, red purple group
Anthocyanin intensity    Medium
Length (mm)              13.5
Width (mm)               10.8

TABLE 7
FRUITING TRUSS CHARACTERISTICS
Characteristic               ‘DILIGENT’
Anthocyanin coloration       RHS 181D, greyed red group
Anthocyanin intensity        Absent or very weak
Length at maturity (cm)      26.0
Position relative to foliage Above
Number of flowers            Medium
Pedicel attitude of hairs    Upward
Pubescence                   Medium
Attitude at first pick       Prostrate

TABLE 8
FLOWER CHARACTERISTICS
Characteristic                   ‘DILIGENT’
Petal color                      RHS NN155C, white group
Sepal color                      RHS 137B, green group
Receptacle color                 RHS 147B, yellow green group
Anther color                     RHS 13A, yellow group
Corolla diameter (mm)            32.5, large
Calyx diameter (mm)              33.9
Petal length (mm)                11.0
Petal width (mm)                 12.1
Petal length/width ratio         0.90, broader than long
Petals per flower                5.6
Sepal length (mm)                11.1
Sepal width (mm)                 4.6
Sepal length/width ratio         2.43
Sepals per flower                11.3
Size of calyx relative to corolla Larger
Relative position of petals      Overlapping
Stamen                           Present
Size of inner calyx relative to outer calyx Ranges from smaller to same

TABLE 9
PEST AND DISEASE REACTIONS
Characteristic          ‘DILIGENT’
Powdery mildew          Moderately susceptible
Verticillium wilt       Moderately susceptible
Angular leaf spot       Susceptible
Botrytis fruit rot      Moderately susceptible
Two-spotted spider mite Moderately susceptible

Claims

1. A new and distinct strawberry plant named ‘DILIGENT’, as herein described and illustrated by the characteristics set forth above.