STRAWBERRY PLANT NAMED 'VALOR'

Information

  • Patent Application
  • 20090217436
  • Publication Number
    20090217436
  • Date Filed
    February 21, 2008
    16 years ago
  • Date Published
    August 27, 2009
    15 years ago
  • US Classifications
  • International Classifications
    • A01H5/00
Abstract
This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry plant named ‘VALOR’. This new strawberry plant named ‘VALOR’ is primarily adapted to the growing conditions of the central coast of California, and is primarily characterized by its medium plant size; medium to large fruit; red to dark red fruit color; strong fruit skin firmness; medium to dark green foliage; good fruit flavor; medium sized foliage and short fruiting trusses.
Description
LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED


Fragaria ananassa


VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘VALOR’


BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry variety named ‘VALOR’. This new variety is a result of a controlled cross made in 2001 in an ongoing breeding program between strawberry variety designated ‘PS-1269’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,686) and the unpatented strawberry breeding line designated ‘PS-3003’. It is unknown as to which strawberry parent is the seed parent and which strawberry parent 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 fall of 2003. After its selection, the new variety was asexually propagated by stolons in a nursery located in San Joaquin County, California. The new variety was extensively tested over the next several years 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

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


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


1. Medium plant size;


2. Medium to large fruit size;


3. Red to dark red fruit color;


4. Strong fruit skin firmness;


5. Medium to dark green foliage color;


6. Good fruit flavor;


7. Medium sized foliage; and


8. Short fruiting trusses.


The new strawberry variety ‘VALOR’ differs from the parental strawberry varieties ‘PS-1269’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,686) and the unpatented strawberry breeding line ‘PS-3003’, by the following characteristics:


1. Type of bearing: ‘VALOR’ is everbearing while ‘PS-1269’ is partial everbearing and ‘PS-3003’ is everbearing;


2. Firmness of the skin: ‘VALOR’ is strong while ‘PS-1269’ is medium and ‘PS-3003’ is strong;


3. Fruit color: ‘VALOR’ is red to dark red while ‘PS-1269’ is red and ‘PS-3003’ is orange red to red; and


4. Plant vigor: ‘VALOR’ is medium while ‘PS-1269’ is medium to large and ‘PS-3003’ is medium.


The strawberry variety that is believed to be most closely related to the new strawberry variety ‘VALOR’ is ‘PS-2880’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,597). In comparison to the similar strawberry variety ‘PS-2880’, the new strawberry variety ‘VALOR’ differs by the following combination of characteristics as described in Table 1:











TABLE 1







‘PS-2880’


Characteristic
‘VALOR’
(US PP 15,597)







1. Average fruit weight (gm)
23.3
20.7


2. Marketable yield (gm/plt)
566
457


3. Uneveness of fruit surface
Weak
Medium to strong


4. Insertion of achenes
Level with to below the surface
Above the surface


5. Attitude of calyx
Spreading
Spreading to reflexed


6. Firmness of the skin
Strong
Medium


7. Plant size
Medium
Medium to large


8. Average number of stolons
Medium
Few


9. Foliage color (upper surface)
Medium to dark green
Light to medium green


10. Interveinal leaf blistering
Medium
Medium to strong


11. Foliage size
Medium
Medium to large


12. Fruiting truss length (cm)
20.5
27.1









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





BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance of typical specimens of the new strawberry variety ‘VALOR’, 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 description which accurately describe the color of ‘VALOR’. The depicted plant and plant parts of the new strawberry variety ‘VALOR’ were taken in Ventura County, California, and are approximately 3 to 4 months old.



FIG. 1 shows typical fruiting field characteristics of ‘VALOR’ taken in the month of October 2007.



FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of a typical leaf structure of ‘VALOR’ taken in the month of November 2007.



FIG. 3 shows typical mature and immature field fruit of ‘VALOR’ taken in the month of October 2007.



FIG. 4 shows a close-up view of mature fruit of ‘VALOR’ taken in the month of October 2007.



FIG. 5 shows typical internal and external mature fruit characteristics of ‘VALOR’ taken in the month of October 2007.





DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

‘VALOR’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The characteristics of the new variety 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 ‘VALOR’, unless otherwise noted, is based on observations taken during the 2007 growing season in Ventura County, California. These measurements and ratings were taken from plants of ‘VALOR’ dug from a low-elevation nursery located in San Joaquin County, California, during late January 2007 and planted approximately 6 months later in Ventura County, California. The approximate age of the observed plants is 3 to 4 months. Yield observations and fruit quality characteristics are averaged from four years of data collected from the 2004 through 2007 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 Munsell Book of Colors, Munsell Color, Baltimore, Md. (1976).


The following tables 2-8 describe fruit, plant, stolon, foliage, fruiting truss, flower and pest disease characteristics of the new strawberry ‘VALOR’ in comparison to the similar strawberry variety ‘PS-2880’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,597).









TABLE 2







FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS











‘PS-2880’


Characteristic
‘VALOR’
(US PP 15,597)





Color of mature fruit
7.5R 3/8 to 4/10
7.5R 4/8 to 3/8



Red to dark red
Red


Color of internal flesh
7.5R 3/12 to 4/12
7.5R 3/12 to 4/12



Red to dark red
Red to dark red


Color of fruit core
7.5R 4/10 to 4/12
7.5R 4/12 to 5/12



Red
Red


Length (cm)
4.3
4.7


Width (cm)
3.8
3.6


Ratio length/width
1.13
1.29



Slightly longer than broad
Slightly longer than broad


Calyx diameter (cm)
4.9
5.2


Average weight (gm)
23.6
20.7


Achene color
5Y 5/6 to 7.5R 3/8
5Y 6/8 to 7.5R 3/8


Achenes per berry
406
364


Achene weight (mg)
0.48
0.53


Marketable yield (gm/plt)
566
457


Size
Medium to large
Medium


Predominant shape
Conical
Conical to wedged


Difference in shapes
Slight to moderate
Moderate


between primary and


secondary fruit


Band without achenes
Absent or very narrow
Absent or very narrow


Uneveness of surface
Weak
Medium to strong


Eveness of color
Even
Even to slightly uneven


Glossiness
Medium to strong
Medium to strong


Insertion of achenes
Level with to below the surface
Above the surface


Insertion of calyx
In the basin
In the basin to level


Attitude of the calyx
Spreading
Spreading to reflexed


Size of calyx in relation to
Slightly larger
Slightly larger


fruit diameter


Adherence of calyx
Strong
Weak


Firmness of skin
Strong
Medium


Firmness of flesh
Firm
Firm


Distribution of red color
Marginal and central
Marginal and central


of the flesh


Hollow center expression
Absent or very weak
Strong to moderate


Flavor
Good
Fair to good


Soluble solids (% brix)
8.0
7.7


Time of first flowering
Early to medium
Early to medium


Time of first harvesting
Early to medium
Early to medium


Harvest period
Late September to mid December
Late September to mid December


Type of bearing
Everbearing
Everbearing


Keeping quality
Very good
Good
















TABLE 3







PLANT CHARACTERISTICS













‘PS-2880’



Characteristic
‘VALOR’
(US PP 15,597)







Height (cm)
22.2
26.4



Spread (cm)
35.1
35.8



Size
Medium
Medium to large



Habit
Globose
Globose



Density
Medium
Medium



Vigor
Medium
Medium to strong

















TABLE 4







STOLON CHARACTERISTICS











‘PS-2880’


Characteristic
‘VALOR’
(US PP 15,597)





Average stolon number per plant
6.1
5.3


from the fruiting field
Medium to few
Few


Anthocyanin coloration
7.5R 4/8 to 5/8
7.5R 4/6 to 5/6


Anthocyanin intensity
Medium to weak
Medium


Diameter at bract (mm)
3.2
3.3



Medium to thick
Medium to thick


Pubescence
Strong
Strong
















TABLE 5







FOLIAGE CHARACTERISTICS











‘PS-2880’


Characteristic
‘VALOR’
(US PP 15,597)





Foliage:




Color of upper surface
7.5GY 2/4 to 3/4
7.5GY 3/4 to 4/4



Medium to dark green
Light to medium




green


Color of underside
5GY 5/4 to 6/4
5FY 5/4 to 6/4



Light grey green
Light grey green


Shape in cross section
Slightly concave to flat
Slightly concave to




flat


Interveinal blistering
Medium
Medium to strong


Glossiness
Medium
Medium to strong


Number of leaflets
Three
Three


Terminal Leaflet:


Length (cm)
8.5
10.3


Width (cm)
8.6
8.8


Length/width ratio
0.98
1.18


Serrations/leaf
20.3
22.9


Size
Medium
Medium to large


Shape of base
Obtuse
Acute


Shape of teeth
Obtuse
Obtuse


Petiole:


Length (cm)
14.8
13.9


Diameter (mm)
4.1
4.3


Color of petiole
5GY 5/6 to 6/6
5GY 7/6 to 7/8



Yellow green
Yellow green


Petiolule length (mm)
14.3
15.3


Color of petiolule
5GY 5/6 to 6/6
5GY 7/6 to 7/8



Yellow green
Yellow green


Pubescence
Sparse
Mederate


Attitude of hairs
Slightly outward
Slightly outward


Stipule:


Length (mm)
24.9
26.3


Width (mm)
11.6
9.2


Anthocyanin coloration
Weak
Weak



10RP 4/10 to 4/12
7.5RP 5/10 to 5/12



Red purple
Red purple


Color of stipule
2.5GY 4/4 to 4/6
2.5GY 4/6 to 5/6



Medium green
Medium to light




green
















TABLE 6







FRUITING TRUSS CHARACTERISTICS











‘PS-2880’


Characteristic
‘VALOR’
(US PP 15,597)





Length (cm)
20.5
27.1


Position relative to foliage
Level with
Level with


Pubescence
Medium to strong
Medium


Anthocyanin intensity
Very light to none
Light



5R 4/8 to 5/8
2.5R 5/6 to 6/6



Greyed red
Greyed red


Attitude at first pick
Prostrate
Prostrate


















TABLE 7







‘PS-2880’


Characteristic
‘VALOR’
(US PP 15,597)







Petal color
N 9.5/90.0%R to 9.25/84.2%R
N 9.5/90.0%R to 9.25/84.2%R



White
White


Sepal color
7.5GY 4/4 to 3/4
7.5GY 4/4 to 3/4



Green
Green


Corolla diameter (mm)
32.5
33.6



Medium to large
Medium to large


Calyx diameter (mm)
40.9
34.1


Petal length (mm)
12.5
13.0


Petal width (mm)
12.7
13.8


Petal length/width ratio
0.99
0.95


Petals/flower
5.7
6.5


Sepal length (mm)
15.6
12.3


Sepal width (mm)
6.9
4.4


Sepal length/width ratio
2.25
2.78


Sepals/flower
11.7
12.3


Size of calyx relativee to
Larger
Same size to larger


corolla


Size of inner calyx
Smaller
Smaller


relative to outer calyx


Relative position of petals
Touching to overlapping
Overlapping
















TABLE 8







PEST AND DISEASE REACTIONS











‘PS-2880’


Characteristic
‘VALOR’
(US PP 15,597)





Two spotted spider mite
Moderaltely susceptible
Moderately sus-




ceptible


Lygus bug
Susceptible
Susceptible


Flower thrips
Moderately susceptible
Moderately sus-




ceptible


Powdery mildew
Susceptible
Susceptible


Botrytis fruit rot
Moderately susceptible
Moderately sus-




ceptible


Angular leaf spot
Moderately susceptible
Susceptible








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