Strawberry plant named `Gaviota`

Abstract

`C205` is a new and distinct cultivar of strawberry plant of the short-day type which produces greater quantities of late-season fruit than the cultivars `Chandler` and `Camarosa` when grown in central California. Fruiting plants of `C205` are smaller and more compact, more open, more erect, and less vigorous than plants of `Chandler` or `Camarosa`.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

There are no related applications.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinctive short-day type strawberry cultivar designated as `C205`, which resulted from a cross performed in 1991 between advanced selections Cal 87.112-6 and Cal 88.270-1. The cultivar is botanically identified as F. .times.ananassa Duch.

`C205` was first fruited at the University of California Wolfskill Experimental Orchard, near Winters, Calif. in 1992 where it was selected, originally designated Cal 91.248-2, and propagated asexually by runners. Following selecting and during testing the plant of this disclosure was designated `CN205`. With the decision that this plant was to be released, it was given the name `Gaviota` for the purposes of introduction into commerce and for international registration and recognition. Asexual propagules from this original source have been tested at the Watsonville Strawberry Research Facility, the South Coast Research and Extension Center, and to a limited extent in grower fields starting in 1994.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts the general flowering and fruiting characteristics of the plant.

FIG. 2 depicts a typical mature leaf during late spring.

FIG. 3 depicts representative mid-season fruit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

`C205` is typical of short-day strawberry cultivars and produces fruit over an extended period when treated appropriately in arid, subtropical climates. The production pattern for `C205` is similar to that for `Chandler` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,262) and `Camarosa` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,708), although it produces greater quantities of late-season fruit than either cultivar in central California, and is somewhat later to initiate fruiting than `Camarosa`. `C205` will be of special interest for winter plantings , where `Chandler` and `Camarosa` have been successful, and in summer plantings where `Pajaro` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,538) has been successful.

Plants and foliage: Fruiting plants of `C205` are smaller and more compact, more open, more erect, and less vigorous than plants of `Chandler` or `Camarosa`. Comparative statistics for foliar characters near mid-season are given for the three cultivars in Table 1. Individual leaflets for `C205` are larger than for `Chandler` or `Camarosa`, and somewhat more rounded. Leaves (including petioles) are similar in length and broader than those of `Chandler`, and shorter and broader than those of `Camarosa`. Petioles are thicker and more stiff than those of `Chandler` and are similar to those of `Camarosa`. Also, the upper surface of leaves for `C205` are darker than either `Chandler` or `Camarosa` and the lower surfaces are somewhat lighter (Table 2). Leaves of `C205` have variable leaf convexity, are generally more concave than leaves of `Chandler` or `Camarosa`, and have fewer and more rounded serrations than the comparsion cultivars. Isozymes in leaf extracts: `C205` has been classified for three isozyme systems using starch gel electrophoresis (Table 3): Phosophoglucoisomerase (PGI), Leucine Aminopeptides (LAP), and Phosphoglucomutase (PGM). It is distinguishable from `Chandler` but not from `Camarosa` using this methodology. For electrophoretic procedures see: J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 106:684-687. Disease and pest reaction: `C205` is moderately susceptible to common leaf spot (Ramularia tulasnei) and Verticillium wilt (Verticillium dahliae), relatively resistance to powdery mildew (sphaerotheca macolaris) and Anthracnose crown rot (Colletotrichum acutatum). When treated properly, it has tolerance to two-spotted spidermites (Tetranychus urticae) equal or greater than `Chandler` and `Camarosa`. `C205` is tolerant to strawberry viruses encountered in California. TABLE 1______________________________________Foliar characteristics for `C205`, `Chandler`, and `Camarosa`Foliar CultivarCharacter `Chandler` `Camarosa` `C205`______________________________________Mid-tier leafletLength (mm)mean 64.1 68.7 71.7range 57-69 60-83 66-85Width (mm)mean 61.8 64.2 65.7range 55-66 56-80 61-74Mid-tier leafLength (mm)mean 110.0 131.9 122.1range 100-122 115-146 115-134Width (mm)mean 119.5 121.5 119.2range 109-135 110-147 108-145# Leaflets/leaf 3 3 3Leaf convexity most concave, flat-convex, convex, few some some concave flat or flat/convex concaveSerrationsnumber med-many few few to moderateshape semipointed rounded, some rounded to semipointed semipointedLeaf moderate light-moderate moderatepubescencePetiole pubescencedensity mod.-heavy heavy heavydirection perpendicular perpendicular perpendicular to acropetal______________________________________ Flowering, fruiting, fruit, and production characteristics: Comparative statistics for flower and fruit characters near mid-season are given for `C205`, `Chandler` and `Camarosa` in Table 4. The primary flowers for `C205` are similar in size to `Chandler` and `Camarosa`; the sepals are somewhat larger than for `Chandler` and substantially smaller than for `Camarosa`. The calyx for `C205` varies from slightly indented to slightly necked, and each primary flower has 4-6 petals. The fruit shape for `C205` can vary but is typically a rounded conic, and is easily distinguished from `Chandler` (flat conic, with some long conic) and `Camarosa` (shortened flat conic). External and internal fruit color for `C205` is darker than `Chandler` and slightly darker than `Camarosa` (Table 2). Achenes vary from yellow to dark red, and are even with the first surface or occasionally slightly extruded. `C205` has been tested under a variety of cultural regimes, and optimal performance is obtained when nursery treatments and nutritional programs similar to those for `Chandler` and `Camarosa` are used. In general, `C205` is less adapted to very early season planting but less sensitive to excess chilling than `Camarosa`. `C205` retains excellent fruit quality in summer planting systems. When treated with appropriate planting regimes, `C205` has larger fruit and produces greater yields than `Chandler` (Table 5); `C205` has lower yield but equal or larger sized fruit than `Camarosa`. `C205` is similar to `Chandler` in its production pattern, somewhat later to initiate production than `Camarosa`, and produces substantially more late-season fruit than either comparison cultivar (with conventional winter planting in central California). Commercial appearance ratings have been comparable to or better than those for `Chandler` and `Camarosa`. Fruit for `C205` is substantially firmer than fruit and `Chandler` but slightly less firm than `Camarosa`. Subjectively, `C205` has very good flavor, somewhat less aromatic than `Chandler`, but with better balance and texture than `Camarosa`. The fruit will be outstanding for both fresh market and processing, and will be useful for home garden purposes. TABLE 2______________________________________Foliar and fruit color characteristics for `C205`,`Chandler`, and `Camarosa`Color CultivarCharacter `Chandler` `Camarosa` `C205`______________________________________Leaf color (CIELAB)AdaxialL*mean 33.4 33.2 30.2range 30.2-37.8 30.9-34.3 28.8-31.8a*mean -7.5 -7.2 -6.3range -6.7--8.6 -5.6--8.9 -5.6--7.5b*mean 16.9 14.7 11.1range 14.7-21.2 13.4-17.7 9.5-13.8Munsell 5GY 5/6 2.5GY 5/5 2.5GY 5/5AbaxialL*mean 48.9 48.7 49.1range 47.1-50.0 47.3-50.0 46.9-50.3a*mean -7.6 -7.6 -7.8range -6.3--8.2 -7.3--8.3 -7.3--8.2b*mean 21.1 20.7 18.6range 18.3-23.6 19.8-21.8 16.8-20.1Munsell 5GY 4/3 5GY 4/3 5GY 4/3Fruit color (CIELAB)ExternalL*mean 24.0 25.7 23.9range 22.6-25.7 22.3-28.0 22.1-25.1a*mean 26.9 22.0 23.9range 23.9-29.2 16.7-28.0 21.4-25.1b*mean 13.9 26.8 12.4range 10.0-16.3 24.5-28.5 9.5-16.9Munsell 5R 5/13 2.5R 4/10 5R 4/12InternalL*mean 45.5 44.6 48.7range 42.0-49.9 38.4-52.0 45.5-51.3a*mean 39.0 39.6 33.1range 32.6-43.1 34.3-41.5 30.3-36.0b*mean 29.4 26.7 24.2range 24.7-33.8 24.5-28.5 21.2-27.2Munsell 5R 6/11 7.5R 5/13 5R 5/13______________________________________ *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 3______________________________________Isozyme phenotypes for `C205`, `Chandler`, and `Camarosa`.Cultivarlocus `Chandler` `Camarosa` `C205`______________________________________PGI A1 A2 A2LAP B3 B3 B3PGM C1 C1 C1______________________________________ TABLE 4______________________________________Flower and fruit characters for `C205`,`Chandler`, and `Camarosa` CultivarCharacter `Chandler` `Camarosa` `C205`______________________________________# petalsmean 5.8 5.5 5.1range 5-7 5-7 4-6Flower position even to most even exposed(relative to exposed some exposedfoliage)Calyx diam. (mm)mean 39.6 64.3 43.2range 33-44 40-77 35-55Corolla diam. (mm)mean 38.9 35.9 37.7range 37-42 31-40 35-41Fruit shapelength/widthratio 1.10 1.15 1.10range 1.00-1.43 0.96-1.19 1.08-1.12subjective conic to flat conic mostly rounded flat conic to flat conic, some flat conicCalyx position slight neck event to slight even to slight indent indentSeed position even even to slight even indent______________________________________ TABLE 5______________________________________Performance of `C205`, `Chandler`, and `Camarosa`evaluated at the Watsonville Research Facility in 1995 and1996. All plants for these trials were harvested fromMacdoel on October 17, and transplanted after one weeksupplemental storage. Harvest was initiated in early Apriland continued through the first week of September. (52" 2-row beds, 17,300 plants/acre, 100 grams/plant = 316.3crates/acre) Yield Appearance SizeItem (g/plant) Score (g/fruit) Firmness______________________________________`Chandler` 1,372 3.1 22.9 6.1`Camarosa` 1,820 3.7 26.3 7.8`C205` 1,443 3.7 27.4 7.3______________________________________

Claims

1. The new and distinct cultivar of strawberry plant substantially as herein described and illustrated.