Strawberry plant named `Yael`

Abstract

A new and distinct variety of strawberry (Fragaria L.) called `Yael` is a cross between `Oso Grande` and `Dorit`, and flowers early to medium 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 `Yael`.

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 `Oso Grande` and `Dorit`. The variety was asexually vegetatively propagated at Bet Dagan, Israel, through runners and the propagation ran true.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety `Yael` 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 `Yael` variety is characterized by good taste, good shape and good size.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

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

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

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

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The "Yael" variety was grown in winter, under polyethylene tunnels in Israel. `Yael` 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 that 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 varieties classified as short-day or day-neutral, that do not initiate flower bud primordia under 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 utilized 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 1-15, and the approximate date of first fruiting on November 5-15. If planting is September 25-30, the approximate date of fruit flowering is October 25-30, and first fruiting is approximately 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 `Yael`; 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 Colour 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 `Yael` (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. "Yael" blooms continuously during late fall and winter.

Fruit shape of `Yael` is similar to the strawberry variety `Dorit` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,869). The fruit is longer than broad, with primary, secondary and tertiary fruit possessing almost similar shape (Table 2). The fruit is of medium firmness with a red color (Table 2).

The variety `Yael` flowers two months earlier than known short-day strawberry varieties. A close known variety would be `Dorit` U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,869 (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. 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 YAELMORPHOLOGICALTRAIT DESCRIPTIONBotanical Classification Fragaria L.______________________________________Plant1) Height 17-21 cm2) Diameter 31-35 cm3) Habit Globose4) Density Dense5) Vigor StrongLeaf:1) Length 21-24 cm2) Width 16-19 cm3) Green Color of Upper Side Medium RHS ca. 147 AB4) Blistering Medium5) Cross section Concave6) No. of leaflets Sometimes > 3Petiole1) Length 9-12 cm2) Thickness 4-6 mm3) Pubescence Strong4) Green Color Light RHS ca. 144 CTerminal leaflet1) Length/Width ratio Longer than broad2) Shape of base Obtuse3) Shape of Teeth Rounded4) Length 7-8 cm5) Width 7-8 cmCalyx1) Diameter of Primary Calyx 40-50 mm2) Diameter of Secondary Calyx 28-38 mm3) Diameter of Tertiary Calyx 32-35 mm4) Size of Inner Calyx in relation Same size to Out CalyxFlower1) Diameter of Primary Flower 25-28 mm2) Diameter of Secondary Flower 21-26 mm3) Diameter of Tertiary Flower 20-26 mm4) Spacing of petals Touching5) Petal length 11-12 mm6) Petal width 10-13 mm7) Petal length/width Broader than long8) TIme of beginning of flowering Early to medium9) Fragrance NoneStolon1) Number per Plant ca. 132) Thickness 3.5-4 mm3) Pubescence Weak4) Anthocyanin coloration StrongInfloresence1) Position relative to foliage At level with2) Peduncle length ca. 10 cm3) Peduncle thickness ca. 3 mm4) Peduncle color light green RHS ca. 144C5) Peduncle pubescence strong______________________________________

The description of `Yael` 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 flowering 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. `Yael` is scaled as "early to medium", while `Dorit` is between "very early to early" and "early", and `Oso Grande` is "late to 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 YAELCHARACTERISTIC DESCRIPTION______________________________________Time of first ripening Early to MediumPrimary Fruit1) Length 50-56 mm2) Width 42-55 mm3) Shape Conical4) Weight ca. 48 gSecondary Fruit1) Length 48-54 mm2) Width 40-45 mm3) Shape Conical4) Weight ca. 38 gTertiary Fruit1) Length 45-53 mm2) Width 35-40 mm3) Shape Conical4) Weight ca. 25 gBand without achenes narrowUnevenness of surface Absent or very weakColor Red 45AEvenness of color EvenGlossiness MediumInsertion of achenes Bellow surfaceInsertion of calyx In a basinPose of calyx segments Clasping or detachedSize of calyx in relation largerto fruit diameterAdherence of calyx StrongFirmness FirmColor of Flesh Orange red 43BEvenness of flesh color Slightly UnevenSweetness MediumAcidity Medium______________________________________

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 approximately the first week of January. `Yael` is scaled as "early to medium", while `Dorit` is between "very early to early" and "early", and `Oso Grande` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,578) is "late to very late". The shape of `Yael` fruit is similar to that of the variety `Dorit`.

TABLE 3______________________________________COMPARATIVE YIELD OF YAELNovember December January February March April______________________________________`Yael` 30 50 100 120 130 120`Dorit` 30 70 100 100 100 100`Ofra` 50 60 60 100 100 100`Chandler` 0 0 30 150 150 120______________________________________

Average yield in g/m.sup.2, in Ramat, Hadar, Israel. The time of beginning of ripening for `Yael` fruit is the end of November. The time of ripening for `Ofra` (infra short day U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,746) fruit is "very early". The time of ripening for `Dorit` (infra short day U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,869) fruit is between "very early to early" and "early". The time of ripening for `Chandler` (short day U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,262) fruit is "very late".

TABLE 4______________________________________COMPARATIVE FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS OF YAEL T.S.S..sup.a Acidity.sup.b Aroma.sup.c Taste______________________________________`Yael` 8.0-9.0 0.9 4 Good`Dorit` 8.5-9.5 1.0 5 Good`Ofra` 8.0-9.5 1.0 4 Good`Chandler` 6.5-7.5 0.8 4 Slightly acidic______________________________________ .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 phenolphthalein was added an 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). 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. b. Percent of acidity was determined as follows: 2 cc of juice extract was mixed with 20 cc of water. Five drops of phenolphthalein was added and the mixture was titrated with NaOH. The precent acidity is calculated as the quantity of NaOH (cc) .times.0.32. 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