Patent Grant
PP16070
Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: The variety is botanically identified as Fragaria×ananassa.
The new variety originated as a result of a controlled cross between the strawberry plants ‘Marathon’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,817) and ‘Sonora’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,386) in an ongoing breeding program, and was discovered as a seedling in Hillsborough Country, Fla. in 1998. The original seedling of the new cultivar was asexually propagated by stolons in a Shasta County, Calif. Propagules were transplanted to a controlled breeding plot in Hillsborough County, Fla., where the variety was identified and selected for further evaluation. ‘Driscoll Malibu’ was subsequently asexually propagated and underwent further testing in Hillsborough Country, Fla. for three years. This propagation and testing has demonstrated that the combination of traits disclosed herein which characterize the new variety are fixed and retained true to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.
The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry named ‘Driscoll Malibu’. The new variety is distinguished from other varieties by a number of characteristics as set forth in Tables 1-4.
The varieties which we believe to be similar to ‘Driscoll Malibu’ from those known to us are ‘Biscayne’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,186) and ‘Madeira’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,109). There are several characteristics of the new variety that are different from, or not possessed by ‘Biscayne’ and ‘Madeira’. The new variety is distinguished from ‘Biscayne’ and ‘Madeira’ by having, for example, a flat terminal leaflet margin profile, dense petiole pubescence, 20% of plants with single bracts, a very narrow band without achenes on the fruit, and a small hollow fruit center.
The accompanying photographs show typical specimens of the new variety, including fruit, foliage, and flowers, in color as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make in color illustrations of these characteristics.
The following detailed description of the new variety is based upon observations taken of plants and fruit grown in Hillsborough Country, Fla., U.S.A. This description is in accordance with UPOV terminology. Observations of ‘Driscoll Malibu’, ‘Biscayne’, and ‘Madeira’ were taken in side-by-side comparison in 2002-2003. Color designations, color descriptions, and other phenotypical descriptions may deviate from the stated values and descriptions depending upon variation in environmental, seasonal, climatic and cultural conditions. Colors are described and the most similar color designations are provided from The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.) Colour Chart.
The new variety is principally propagated by way of stolons. Although propagation by stolons is presently preferred, other known methods of propagating strawberry plants may be employed.
Information on the new variety is presented in Tables 1, 2, 3 and 4. In the tables, the flowers described are secondary flowers except where indicated. The fruit described is the secondary fruit on one-year-old plants. Fruit and flower measurements are an average of both primary and secondary fruit and flowers. Flowers of ‘Driscoll Malibu’ are fully self-fertile and typical of the species. The average size of the hollow fruit center of ‘Driscoll Malibu’ is 8.0 mm. ‘Driscoll Malibu’ differs from its maternal parent ‘Marathon’ by possessing darker red fruit and having superior shelf-life. Plants of ‘Driscoll Malibu’ are less vigorous and more compact than those of ‘Marathon.’ ‘Driscoll Malibu’ differs from its paternal parent ‘Sonora’ by being partially everbearing, while ‘Sonora’ is fully everbearing. In addition, the fruit of ‘Driscoll Malibu’ is brighter red than those of ‘Sonora.’
Table 1 provides information on the plant and fruit characteristics of the new variety ‘Driscoll Malibu’ compared with characteristics of ‘Biscayne’ and ‘Madeira’. Table 2 provides additional information of the plant and fruit characteristics of the new variety ‘Driscoll Malibu’ compared with characteristics of the varieties ‘Biscayne’ and ‘Madeira’. Table 3 provides reactions of the new variety to pests and diseases compared with reactions of the varieties ‘Biscayne’ and ‘Madeira’. Table 4 provides isozyme characteristics of the new variety as compared to that of the varieties ‘Biscayne’ and ‘Madeira’.
Tetranychus urticae
Lygus hesperus
Verticillium wilt
Xanthomonas fragariae
In addition to the morphological description above, the new cultivar ‘Driscoll Malibu’ has been analyzed to obtain an indication of its genetic makeup to provide further means for identifying the new variety and distinguishing it from other somewhat similar and/or related strawberry varieties. Specifically, leaf samples of ‘Driscoll Malibu’, ‘Biscayne’, and ‘Madeira’ were analyzed by electrophoresis for isozyme patterns of the enzymes phosphoglucoisomerase (“PGI”), leucine aminopeptidase (“LAP”) and phosphoglucomutase (“PGM”). See J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 106:684-687. Isozyme characterization of the three varieties is presented in Table 4, with the letters representing the banding patterns for each enzyme as designated in the above-identified article.
