Strawberry plant Saaid

Abstract

A new and distinct variety of strawberry (Fragaria L.) called "Saaid" is disclosed. The variety is a cross between "Rachel" and "Douglas", which results in a variety that flowers several months earlier than other known strawberry varieties.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry (Fragaria L.) called "Saaid". The variety was developed from an organized scientifically designated breeding program carried out at the Agricultural Research Organization, the Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel. The variety is the product of selection of seedlings resulting from crosses between the strawberry varieties "Rachel" and "Douglas". The variety was asexually vegetatively propagated through runners and the reproduction ran true.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety "Saaid" resembles the variety "Douglas" and is able to grow in September and produce fruit starting in early December and lasting until summer. The production of fruit beginning in early December is two months earlier than any known variety of Fragaria L. The fruit of the "Saaid" variety is characterized by good taste, good shape and size as well as a long shelf life.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1. Photograph of the "Saaid" variety illustrating the foliage and fruit.

FIG. 2. Photograph of the "Saaid" variety illustrating the fruit.

FIG. 3. Photograph of the "Saaid" variety illustrating the entire plant with both flowers and fruit.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The "Saaid" variety was grown in winter under polyethylene tunnels in Isreal. "Saaid" is a short day variety that flowers earlier than other known and available short day length strawberry varieties. Flowering and fruit production is not affected by the use of polyethylene wind tunnels. This production procedure is utilized in normal agricultural practices by the skilled artisan and does not involve temperature or light control. Mother 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 exaple of an optimum planting date is between September 20th to the 25th with the approximate date of flowering on November 4, and the approximate date of first fruiting on December 4. "Saaid" flowering is not induced by chilling, but by natural exposure to short day length (long nights) characteristic of late fall and early winter. 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 "Saaid" (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 (e.g., "Saaid" blooms perpetuously, during late fall and winter).

The fruit is longer than broad, with primary, secondary and tertiary fruit of moderately distinct shape (Table 2). The fruit is firm with a red color (Table 2).

The variety "Saaid" flowers several months earlier than known strawberry varieties. One of the closest known varieties would be "Karina" (Table 1) as well as the new varieties under co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 07/735,969 ("Sharon"), 07/735,695 ("Shalom"), 07/735,967 ("Smadar"), and 07/735,968 ("Dorit"). Additionally, early flowering results in early fruit production for "Saaid" and the four co-pending varieties (Table 3). Total Soluble Solids (TSS), percent acidity and aroma are presented in Table 4 by comparison to the varieties listed in Table 3.

TABLE 1______________________________________PLANT CHARACTERISTICS OF "SAAID"MORPHOLOGICAL COMPARABLETRAIT DESCRIPTION.sup.a VARIETY.sup.b______________________________________Classification Botanical- Fragaria L.Plant habit Globose "Gorella"Plant density Dense "Talisman"Plant vigor Strong "Grande"Leaf:a) Length 17-18 cmb) Width 11-14 cmc) Color Green Group 146 A (RHSCC)1) Upper Side: Dark Greend) Blistering Weake) Cross-section Concavef) # of leaflets Three onlyTerminal leafleta) Length/Widthratio Longer than broadb) Shape of base Acutec) Shape of teeth Roundedd) Length 7-8 cme) Width 5-6 cmFlowera) Size Medium "Gorella"b) Size of calyx to Same Sizecorollac) Size of inner calyx Same Sizeversus outer calyxd) Spacing of petals Overlappinge) Petal length/width As load as broadf) Time of flowering Early to Medium "Karina".sup.cStolona) Number Medium "Gorella"b) Thickness Mediumc) Pubescence Weakd) Anthocyanin StrongcolorationPetiolea) Pose of hairs Outwardsb) Length 10-12 cmInflorescencea) Position relative Levelto foliage______________________________________ .sup.a The description of "Saaid" is based on the test guidelines for Fragaria L. of the International Union for the Protection of New Plant Varieties, (UPOV). .sup.b Only characteristics which are relevant for comparing varieties ar listed. .sup.c "Saaid" flowers at the beginning of November. One of the earliest known varieties for comparison is "Karina", which flowers in January. TABLE 2______________________________________FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS OF "SAAID"CHARACTERISTIC DESCRIPTION______________________________________Time of ripening earlyRatio of length/maximum width longer than broadPrimary Fruit.sup.a Bi-conicalLength 43-50 mmWidth 30-36 mmSecondary Fruit Bi-conicalLength 33-37 mmWidth 27-32 mmTertiary Fruit Conicallength 28-30 mmwidth 25-26 mmSize LargeBrand without achenes NarrowUnevenness of surface WeakColor RedEvenness of color EvenGlossiness StrongInsertion of achenes Level with surfaceInsertion of calyx Level with surfacePose of calyx segments ReflexedSize of calyx in relation Largerto fruit diameterAdherance of calyx StrongFirmness FirmColor of Flesh Medium RedEvenness of flesh color UnevenSweetness.sup.b StrongColor 42BC circa (RHSCC)Taste.sup.b Good______________________________________ .sup.a There is a marked difference between the shape of the primary, secondary and tertiary fruit. .sup.b See Table 4. TABLE 3______________________________________COMPARATIVE YIELD OF "SAAID".sup.a Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr.______________________________________Saaid 0 70 100 100 100 100Sharon.sup.b 40 60 80 80 80 80Shalom.sup.c 50 70 80 100 100 70Smadar.sup.d 50 70 100 100 100 50Dorit.sup.e 30 70 100 100 100 100Douglas.sup.f 0 0 40 150 150 150Chandler.sup.g 0 0 30 150 150 120______________________________________ .sup.a Average yield in g/m.sup.2 in Ramat Hadar, Israel (1989-90). The time of ripening for "Saaid" fruit is early to medium. .sup.b U.S. Application Ser. No. 07/735,969. The time of ripening for "Sharon" fruit is very early. .sup.c U.S. Application Ser. No. 07/735,695. The time of ripening for "Shalom" fruit is early. .sup.d U.S. Application Ser. No. 07/735,967. The time of ripening for "Smadar" fruit is very early to early. .sup.e U.S. Application Ser. No. 07/735,968. The time of ripening for "Dorit" fruit is early. .sup.f U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,487. The time of ripening for "Douglas" frui is late. .sup.g U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,262. The time of ripening for "Chandler" fruit is late. TABLE 4______________________________________COMPARATIVE FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS OF "SAAID" T.S.S..sup.a Acidity.sup.b in % in % Aroma Taste______________________________________Saaid 8.0-9.0 1.0 3 NormalSharon.sup.c 6.5-7.0 1.0 3 Slightly AcidicShalom.sup.d 8.0-9.0 1.0 4 NormalSmadar.sup.e 8.5-9.5 1.0 5 GoodDorit.sup.f 8.5-9.5 1.0 5 GoodDouglas.sup.g 6.5-7.0 0.8 3 Slightly AcidicChandler.sup.h 6.5-7.0 0.8 3 Slightly Acidic______________________________________ .sup.a Total Soluble Solids expresses fruit sweetness and was determined with a refractometer. .sup.b Percent of acidity was determined as follows: 2 cc of juice extrac was mixed with 20 cc of water. Five drops of fenolfthaleinen 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 U.S. Application Ser. No. 07/735,969. .sup.d U.S. Application Ser. No. 07/735,695. .sup.e U.S. Application Ser. No. 07/735,967. .sup.f U.S. Application Ser. No. 07/735,968. .sup.g U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,487. .sup.h U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,262.

Claims

1. A new distinct variety of strawberry substantially as illustrated and described and distinguished as being able to grow in September and produce fruit starting in early December and lasting until summer, with fruit having a good taste and shape and a long shelf life.