Patent Grant
PP36100
Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: ‘USDA LUMINA’ is a new strawberry plant that is Fragaria x ananassa Duchesne ex Rozier.
Variety denomination: The new strawberry plant claimed is of the variety denominated ‘USDA Lumina’ Fragaria x ananassa Duchesne ex Rozier.
The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry cultivar designated ‘USDA Lumina’. This new strawberry cultivar was discovered in Beltsville, Maryland, in Spring 2019 and originated from a cross between the female parent B2475 (unpatented) and the male parent B2197 (unpatented). The original seedling of the new cultivar was asexually propagated in Beltsville since 2019 by rooting daughter plants from stolons of the mother plant. The present invention has been found to be stable and reproduce true to type through successive asexual propagations rooting daughter plants from stolons.
The cultivar ‘USDA Lumina’ is an early-season strawberry cultivar resistant to anthracnose fruit rot. Fruit yields are higher than other early-season cultivars. It has sweet fruit which are very attractive, brightly colored, glossy, and with uniform symmetry.
The accompanying color photographs show typical specimens of the new cultivar at various stages of development as nearly true as it is possible to make color reproductions.
The following description of ‘USDA Lumina’ is based on observations taken from 2020 through 2023 growing seasons in in evaluations in Beltsville, Maryland, 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 7b. This description is in accordance with UPOV terminology. Color designations, color descriptions, and other phenotypical descriptions may deviate from the stated values and descriptions, depending on variation in environmental, seasonal, climatic, and cultural conditions. ‘USDA Lumina’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The botanical description of ‘USDA Lumina’ was taken from plants nine months after establishment in the field. Color terminology follows The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, London (R.H.S.86).
Table 1 shows selected characteristics of the new cultivar compared with plant characteristics of ‘Earliglow’ (unpatented) and ‘Galletta’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,763). Characteristics include fruit diameter and length, and the length/width ratio, average fruit weight, sweetness (Brix), acidity (pH and TA), and yield (weight and berry number).
Table 2 shows plant characteristics of the new cultivar compared with plant characteristics of ‘Earliglow’ and ‘Galletta’. Plant characteristics include plant height, diameter, number of crowns per plant, habit, density of individual plants and vigor.
Table 3 shows leaf characteristics of the new cultivar compared with leaf characteristics of ‘Earliglow’ and ‘Galletta’. Leaf characteristics include leaf type, leaf shape, leaf length, leaf width, terminal leaflet length, terminal leaflet width, terminal leaflet length to width ratio, leaf margins, shape of teeth, leaf serrations per leaflet, upper and lower leaf surface color, number of leaflets, terminal leaflet apex shape, terminal leaflet base shape, glossiness upper side leaf surface, texture upper side leaf surface, texture underside leaf surface, and leaf arrangement.
Table 4 shows information about the petiole, the petiolule, the bract and the stipule of the new cultivar compared to ‘Farliglow’ and ‘Galletta’. This includes petiole length, petiole diameter, petiole pubescence, petiole color, petiolule color, petiolule length, petiole hair attitude, bract frequency and color, texture petiole, and stipule length, width and color.
Table 5 shows stolon characteristics of the new cultivar compared to ‘Farliglow’ and ‘Galletta’. These characteristics include the number of stolons, the anthocyanin coloration of the stolons, the thickness of the stolons, and the pubescence of the stolons.
Table 6 shows inflorescence characteristics of the new cultivar compared to ‘Earliglow’ and ‘Galletta’. These characteristics include inflorescence position relative to foliage, flower type, flower size, petal shape, relative petal spacing, petal apex shape, petal margin, petal base shape, petal length, petal width, petal length/width ratio, number of petals, petal color, Stigma color, style color, anther color, filament color, and flower truss type.
Table 7 shows fruit characteristics of the new cultivar compared to ‘Earliglow’ and ‘Galletta’. These characteristics include number of berries per truss, fruiting truss attitude, fruit length, fruit diameter, fruit length/width ratio, fruit weight, relative fruit size, predominant fruit shape, difference in shape between primary and secondary fruit, band without achenes, evenness of fruit surface, top color, non-blush side color, blush side color, internal color, achene color, achene count per fruit, insertion of calyx, pose of calyx segments, size of calyx in relation to fruit, ease of calyx removal, firmness of flesh, evenness of flesh color, distribution of flesh color, sweetness, acidity, Brix, pH, titratable acidity, texture when tasted, time of flowering, harvest maturity (50% of plants with ripe fruit), type of bearing, and yield.
Table 8 shows the fruit quality of the new cultivar compared to ‘Earliglow’ and ‘Galletta’ after one week and two weeks in refrigerated storage. The postharvest fruit quality characteristics include the percentage of stored fruits that are marketable, degraded, or rotted after one week and two weeks in refrigerated storage.
When ‘USDA Lumina’ is compared to female parent, B2475 (unpatented), the fruits have better symmetry and are less susceptible to Botrytis fruit rot. When ‘USDA Lumina’ is compared to male parent, B2197 (unpatented), the fruits a more desirable, less mealy texture and are less susceptible to Botrytis fruit rot.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PP19763 | Ballington | Feb 2009 | P2 |
| Entry |
|---|
| CPVO OCVV on p. 15, col. 5 at No. 40 retrieved on Feb. 6, 2024 at https://cpvo.europa.eu/sites/default/files/documents/TP/fruits/TP_022-2_Strawberry.pdf, 2009, pp. 1 and 15. (Year: 2009). |
| International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants, ISHS Scripta Horticulturae No. 18, Ninth ed. 2016, 2 cover pages and p. 30. (Year: 2016). |
