Strawberry plant named `Malah`

Abstract

A new and distinct variety of strawberry (Fragaria L.) called `Malah` is a cross between `Dorit` and `Chandler`, and flowers early on a scale of "very early" to "very late."

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry (Fragaria L.) called `Malah`.

BACKGROUND

This new variety was developed from an organized scientifically designated breeding program, carried out at the Agricultural Research Organization, the Volcani center, Bet Dagan, Israel. This new variety originated as a single seedling selected from a seedling population obtained from crosses between the strawberry varieties `Dorit` and `Chandler`. The variety was asexually vegetatively propagated at Bet Dagan, Israel through runners and the propagation ran true.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety `Malah` is able to grow in September and produce fruit starting in November and lasting until summer. The production of fruit beginning in November (Northern Hemisphere, latitude 30-33 degrees) is two months earlier than short day varieties of Fragaria L. The fruit of the `Malah` variety is characterized by good taste, good shape and good size.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1: Photograph of the `Malah` variety, illustrating the fruits.

FIG. 2: Photograph of the `Malah` variety, illustrating a cross-section of the fruits.

FIG. 3: Photograph of the `Malah` variety, illustrating the entire plant with foliage, flowers and fruit.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The `Malah` variety was grown in winter, under polyethylene tunnels in Israel. `Malah` is an infra short day variety, which flowers earlier than short day type strawberry varieties. Infra-Short-Day (I.S.D.) varieties are defined as varieties which initiate flower bud primordia under long light regimes of 13-14 hours at the time night temperatures are about 22.degree. C., compared to strawberry types classified as short-day or day-neutral, which do not initiate flower bud primordia under the above-mentioned conditions, thus resulting in early flowering and fruit production. The plants are grown in polyethylene tunnels to prevent malformation of the fruit that can be caused by wind and rain. Flowering and fruit production are not affected by the use of polyethylene tunnels.

This production procedure is utillized in normal agricultural practices by the skilled artisan and does not involve temperature or light control. 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 September 5 and 15, with the approximate date of flowering on October 5-15, and the approximate date of first fruiting on November 5-15; or if planting is carried out between September 25 and 30, flowering occurs approximately on October 25-30, and first fruiting on November 25-30. Flowering is not induced by chilling, but by natural exposure to short day length (long nights) characteristic of late fall and early winter.

Strawberry plants in general are self-fertile, as is `Malah`; no pollinator is needed as pollination is brought about by insects and wind.

Color readings described herein were taken under natural light conditions and color identifications were made by reference to The Royal Horticultural Society Color Chart (R.H.S.C.C.) 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 `Malah` (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, i.e. `Malah` blooms continuously during late fall and winter.

Fruit shape of `Malah` is longer than broad, with primary, secondary and tertiary fruit possessing almost similar shape (Table 2). The fruit is of strong firmness with an orange red color (Table 2).

The variety `Malah` flowers two months earlier than known short-day strawberry varieties. A close known comparable variety would be Dorit (Table 1); also see the new varieties mentioned in 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. 7,869 (Dorit); U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,746 (OFRA); U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,748 (Virginia); U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,747 (NAMA).

Additionally early flowering results in early fruit production. Total Soluble Solids (T.S.S.), percent acidity, aroma evaluation and taste are presented in Table 4, by comparing to the varieties listed in Table 3.

TABLE 1______________________________________PLANT CHARACTERISTICS OF `MALAH`MORPHOGICALTRAIT DESCRIPTIONBotanical Classification Fragaria L.______________________________________Plant1) Height 16-18 cm2) Diameter 31-38 cm3) Habit Globose4) Density Dense5) Vigor Medium to strongLeaf:1) Length 20-24 cm2) Width 15-18 cm3) Green color of Upper Side Very dark RHS ca. 147 A4) Blistering Medium5) Cross section Concave6) No. of leaflets Sometimes > 3Petiole1) Length 11-14 cm2) Thickness 4-5 mm3) Pubescence Strong4) Green Color Light RHS ca. 144 BTerminal leaflet1) Length/Width ratio As long as broad2) Shape of base Obtuse3) Shape of Teeth Rounded4) Length 6-7 cm5) Width 6-7 cmCalyx1) Diameter of Primary Calyx 50-57 mm2) Diameter of Secondary Calyx 35-48 mm3) Diameter of Tertiary Calyx 30-40 mm4) Size of Inner Calyx in relation Larger to Outer CalyxFlower1) Diameter of Primary Flower 28-30 mm2) Diameter of Secondary Flower 22-30 mm3) Diameter of Tertiary Flower 25-32 mm4) Spacing of petals Touching5) Petal length 10-15 mm6) Petal width 11-14 mm7) Petal length/width As long broad8) Time of beginning flowering Early9) Fragrance NoneStolon1) Number per Plant ca. 182) Thickness 3.8-5.0 mm3) Pubescence Medium4) Anthocyanin coloration Absent or very weakInflorescence1) Position relative to foliage Above2) Peduncle length 17-18 cm3) Peduncle thickness ca, 3 mm4) Peduncle color light green5) Peduncle pubescence strong______________________________________

The description of `Malah` is based on the test guidelines for Fragaria L. of the International Union for the Protection of New Plant Varieties (UPOV). Only characteristics which are relevant for comparing varieties are listed; for example, there are no varietal differences acknowledged in the characteristic "color of lower side of leaf".

The time of beginning of fowering is scaled as from "very early" to "very late". "Very early" is defined as approximately the first week of October under the prevailing conditions, while "very late" is defined as approximately the first week of December. `Malah` is scaled as "early" while `Dorit` is between "very early to early" and "early", and `Chandler` is "very late".

Strawberry plants have dichotome inflorescences, thus producing one primary, two secondary and four tertiary flowers per inflorescence. Flowers of higher order do not normally produce commercial fruit.

TABLE 2______________________________________FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS OF `MALAH` CHARACTERISTIC DESCRIPTION Time of first ripening Early*****______________________________________ Primary Fruit 1) Length 48-55 mm 2) Width 38-45 mm 3) Shape Bi-conical 4) Weight ca. 40 g Secondary Fruit 1) Length 45-53 mm 2) Width 35-43 mm 3) Shape Bi-conical 4) Weight ca. 28 g Tertiary Fruit Medium 1) Length 40-48 mm 2) Width 30-36 mm 3) Shape Cylindrical 4) Weight ca 21 g Band without achenes Medium Unevenness of surface Absent or very weak Color Orange red 43A Evenness of color Uneven Glossiness Medium Insertion of achenes Above surface Insertion of calyx Slight basin Pose of calyx segments Clasping or detached Size of calyx in relation Very large to fruit diameter Adherence of calyx Strong Firmness Firm Color of Flesh Light red 42D Evenness of flesh color Uneven Sweetness Strong to very strong. Acidity Medium______________________________________ Note: *****The time of first ripening, approximately one month after beginning of flowering, is scaled as from "very early" to "very late". "Very early" is defined as approximately the first week of November, while "very. late is defined as the first week of January. `MALAH` is scaled as early, whil "DORIT" is between "very early to early" and "early", and "CHANDLER" is "very late". The shape of `MALAH` fruit is not similar to other varieties. There is no difference in shape of fruit between primary, secondary fruit. The tertiary fruit differs slightly from the former two. See Table 4. TABLE 3______________________________________COMPARATIVE YIELD.sup.1 OF `MALAH`November December January February March April______________________________________Malah 20 40 120 130 130 130Dorit 30 70 100 100 100 100Ofra 50 60 60 100 100 100Chand- 0 0 30 150 150 120ler______________________________________ .sup.1 The time of beginning of ripening for `MALAH` fruit is the end of November. The time of ripening for "Ofra" (infra short day U.S. Plant Pat No. 8746) fruit is "very early". The time of ripening for "DORIT" (infra short day U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7869) fruit is between "very early to early and "early". The time of ripening for "CHANDLER" (short day U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5262) fruit is "very late". Note: Average yield in g/m.sup.2, in Ramat Hadar, Israel. TABLE 4______________________________________COMPARATIVE FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS OF `MALAH`T.S.S..sup.a Acidity.sup.b Aroma.sup.c Taste______________________________________Malah 12.0-14.0 1.2 5 Very goodDorit 8.5-9.5 1.0 5 GoodOfra 8.0-9.5 1.0 4 GoodChand- 6.5-7.5 0.8 4 Slightly acidicler______________________________________ Notes: .sup.a Total Soluble Solids (Sugars) expresses fruit sweetness and was determined with a refractometer; for strawberry fruit a T.S.S. of 14.0 is very sweet, while below 6.5 is not sweet. .sup.b Percent of acidity was determined as follows: 2 cc of juice extrac was mixed with 20 cc of water. Five drops of phenolphthaleine was added and the mixture was titrated with NaOH. The percent acidity is calculated as the quantity of NaOH (cc) .times. 0.32. .sup.c The aroma value is a subjective expression obtained by tasting, using a scale from 1 (no aroma) to 5 (strong aroma).

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.