Strawberry plant named ‘Driscoll Bonaire’

Abstract

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry named ‘Driscoll Bonaire’. The variety is similar to the varieties ‘Driscoll Malibu’ and ‘Driscoll Osceola.’ The variety is distinguished from ‘Driscoll Malibu’ and ‘Driscoll Osceola,’ in particular, by its longer petiole length and wider petiole diameter, longer sepal length and greater sepal width, longer fruit length, greater berry weight and longer harvest interval.

Description

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: The variety is botanically identified as Fragaria×ananassa.

Variety denomination: The strawberry variety denomination is ‘Driscoll Bonaire’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new variety originated as a result of a controlled cross between female cultivar ‘Driscoll Marathon’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,817) and male cultivar ‘Driscoll Madeira’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,109) in an ongoing breeding program, and was discovered as a seedling in Hillsborough County, Fla. in December 2000. The original seedling of the new cultivar was asexually propagated by stolons in a nursery in Shasta County, Calif. Propagules were transplanted to a controlled breeding plot in Hillsborough County, Fla., where the variety was identified and selected for further evaluation. ‘Driscoll Bonaire’ was subsequently asexually propagated and underwent further testing in Hillsborough County, Fla. for 5 years. This propagation and testing has demonstrated that the combination of traits disclosed herein which characterize the new variety are fixed and retained true to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry named ‘Driscoll Bonaire.’ The variety is botanically identified as Fragaria×ananassa. The new variety is distinguished from other varieties by a number of characteristics as set forth in Tables 1-4.

COMPARISON TO SIMILAR VARIETIES

The varieties which we believe to be similar to ‘Driscoll Bonaire’ from those known to us are ‘Driscoll Malibu’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,070) and ‘Driscoll Osceola’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No 15,752). There are several characteristics of the new variety that are different from, or not possessed by ‘Driscoll Malibu’ and ‘Driscoll Osceola’. For example, the new variety has a longer petiole length and wider petiole diameter, longer sepal length and greater sepal width, longer fruit length, greater berry weight and longer harvest interval. Additional characteristics of Driscoll Bonaire include an orbicular petal shape, a rounded petal apex and an obtuse petal base. The typical and observed petal number of ‘Driscoll Bonaire’ is five and the petal margin is entire. The typical and observed sepal number of ‘Driscoll Bonaire’ is ten. ‘Driscoll Bonaire’ also has a laceolate sepal shape, an acute sepal apex and a serrate sepal margin. ‘Driscoll Bonaire’ also has a typical and observed broadly orbicular leaflet shape and a round leaflet apex. The typical and observed diameter of the fruiting truss of ‘Driscoll Bonaire’ is 2.9 and is pale green in color (RHS, 142A). The average number of strawberries on the fruiting truss of ‘Driscoll Bonaire’ is one. Additionally, the typical and observed length and width of the hollow center of ‘Driscoll Bonaire’ is 21.7 mm and 7.9 mm respectively. ‘Driscoll Bonaire’ has a medium sweetness with an average brix of 9.2 and medium acidity with an average brix to acid ratio of 12.18:1.

‘Driscoll Bonaire’ is distinguished from its reference varieties, ‘Driscoll Malibu’ and ‘Driscoll Osceola’ as indicated in Tables 1-4.

The parents, ‘Driscoll Marathon’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,817) and ‘Driscoll Madeira’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,109), were not available for side by side comparison with ‘Driscoll Bonaire’. ‘Driscoll Bonaire’ differs from ‘Driscoll Marathon’ by being a less vigorous plant, having much greater flesh firmness and greatly improved skin strength. ‘Driscoll Bonaire’ differs from ‘Driscoll Madeira’ by having a much glossier skin and a brighter red color where ‘Driscoll Madeira’ was a darker red color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographs show typical specimens of the new variety, including fruit, foliage and flowers, in color as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make in color illustrations of these characteristics.

FIG. 1 shows the upper side of the leaves of the plant.

FIG. 2 shows the under side and upper side of the flowers.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up of the fruit.

FIG. 4 shows the fruit in longitudinal cross-section.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description of the new variety is based upon observations taken of plants harvested from a nursery in McArthur, Calif. in September and October, 2004 and held in cold storage until planting in Hillsborough County, Fla. in October, 2004. Plants were grown in raised beds of soil under conditions typical of commercial strawberry production in Hillsborough County, Fla. Fruits were harvested twice weekly from November, 2004 to April, 2005 for yield determination. Observations of ‘Driscoll Bonaire’, ‘Driscoll Malibu’, and ‘Driscoll Osceola’ were made in side by side comparison in January, 2005. Color designations, color descriptions, and other phenotypical descriptions may deviate from the stated values and descriptions depending upon variation in environmental, seasonal, climatic and cultural conditions. Colors are described and the most similar color designations are provided from The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.) Colour Chart.

PROPAGATION

The new variety is principally propagated by way of stolons. Although propagation by stolons is presently preferred, other known methods of propagating strawberry plants may be employed.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NEW VARIETY

Information on the new variety is presented in Tables 1, 2, 3 and 4. In the tables, the flowers described are secondary flowers except where indicated. The fruit described is the secondary fruit on four month old plants. Fruit and flower measurements are an average of both primary and secondary fruit and flowers.

Table 1 provides information on the plant and fruit characteristics of the new variety ‘Driscoll Bonaire’ compared with characteristics of ‘Driscoll Malibu’ and ‘Driscoll Osceola’. Table 2 provides additional information of the plant and fruit characteristics of the new variety ‘Driscoll Bonaire’ compared with characteristics of the varieties ‘Driscoll Malibu’ and ‘Driscoll Osceola’. Table 3 provides reactions of the new variety to stresses, pests and diseases compared with reactions of the varieties ‘Driscoll Malibu’ and ‘Driscoll Osceola’. Table 4 provides isozyme characteristics of the new variety as compared to that of the varieties ‘Driscoll Malibu’ and ‘Driscoll Osceola’.

TABLE 1
QUANTITATIVE COMPARISON OF ‘DRISCOLL BONAIRE’,
‘DRISCOLL MALIBU’ AND ‘DRISCOLL OSCEOLA’
	‘Driscoll	‘Driscoll	‘Driscoll
	Bonaire’	Malibu’	Osceola’
Plant Characteristics
Height of Plant (cm)	9.2	11.4	8.3
Spread of Plant (cm)	32.4	33.9	31.2
Number of Crowns	3.7	4.9	3.8
Leaf Characteristics
Terminal Leaflet	7.8	6.6	6.7
Length (cm)
Terminal Leaflet	7.9	6.6	8.1
Width (cm)
Terminal Leaflet	0.98	0.99	0.83
Length/Width Ratio
# Teeth/Terminal	25.7	22.5	23.8
Leaflet
Color of upper side	132B	141A	135B
	medium green	light to	medium
		medium green	green
Color of under side	130B	139C	138B
	light green	light green	light
			green
Petiole Length (cm)	7.7	10.3	8.0
Petiole Diameter (mm)	4.2	3.2	3.5
Petiole Color	142C	141C	140C
	green	green	green
Petiolule Length (mm)	11.2	9.8	8.3
Petiolule Diameter	2.5	1.9	2.0
(mm)
Petiolule Color	142C	141C	140C
	green	green	green
Bract Frequency	92%	83%	8%
	typically paired	typically paired	typically
			single
Stipule Length (cm)	3.07	3.46	3.53
Stipule Width (cm)	0.99	0.81	0.89
Stolon Characteristics
Anthocyanin color	185A	58A	59D
	greyed purple	purple red	purple red
	red
Diameter at bract (mm)	3.09
Avg. # of Daughter	54	55	65
plants (2003 Nursey)
Flower Characteristics
Petal Length (cm)	1.40	1.22	1.38
Petal Width (cm)	1.52	1.29	1.48
Petal Length/Width	0.92	0.95	0.93
Ratio
Flower Diameter (cm)	2.94	2.57	2.83
Calyx Diameter (cm)	4.42	3.99	4.41
Sepal Length (mm)	18.3	15.6	16.9
Sepal Width (cm)	8.5	7.1	6.8
Color of Upper Side of	155C	155C	155C
Petal	white	white	white
Receptical Color	1B	1B	1B
	yellow	yellow	yellow
Anther Color	1A	1A	1A
	yellow	yellow	yellow
Fruiting Truss Length	13.5	14.4	11.8
(cm)
Fruit Characteristics
Fruit Length (cm)	5.2	4.7	4.2
Fruit Width (cm)	4.1	3.7	3.8
Fruit Length/Width	1.25	1.25	1.13
Ratio
Average Berry Weight	32.9	28.0	29.9
(g)
External Color	46A	46B	46A
	red	red	red
Internal Color	43A	48C	48D
	light red	orange red	orange red
Achene Coloration	178B to 160B	178C to 160C	178C to
	Greyed Orange	Greyed Orange	161B
	to Greyed	to Greyed	Greyed
	Yellow	Yellow	Orange to
			Greyed
			Yellow
Achenes per berry	342	240	225
Achene weight (g)	0.00058	0.00062	0.00089
2004-2005 Marketable	435	333	348
Yield (g/plant)

TABLE 2
QUALITATIVE COMPARISON OF ‘DRISCOLL BONAIRE’,
‘DRISCOLL MALIBU’ AND ‘DRISCOLL OSCEOLA’
	‘Driscoll	‘Driscoll	‘Driscoll
	Bonaire’	Malibu’	Osceola’
Plant
Habit	flat globose	globose	flat globose
Canopy Density	medium	medium	open to
			medium
Vigor	medium	weak to	medium
		medium
Leaf
Shape in cross section	concave	slightly	concave to
		concave to	slightly
		flat	concave
Interveinal blistering	weak	medium	medium
Glossiness	medium	weak	medium
Number of leaflets	three only	three only	three only
Terminal leaflet margin	revolute	flat	flat
profile
Terminal leaflet shape of	rounded	rounded	rounded
base
Terminal leaflet shape of	obtuse	obtuse to	obtuse
teeth		rounded
Stipule pubescence	medium	medium	medium
Petiole pubescence	dense	dense	dense
Petiole pose of hairs	outwards	downwards	outwards to
			downwards
Stolon
Anthocyanin coloration	strong	medium to	medium to
		strong	strong
Thickness	medium	medium to	medium to
		thick	thick
Pubescence	medium	medium	dense
Inflorescence
Position relative to	level with	level to	level with
foliage		above	to above
Diameter of calyx	larger	larger	larger
relative to corolla on
secondary flowers
Diameter of inner calyx	same size	larger	smaller to
relative to outer on			same size
secondary flowers
Spacing of petals	overlapping	overlapping	overlapping
Fruiting Truss
Attitude at first picking	prostrate	prostrate	prostrate
Fruit
Predominant shape	conical	conical	conical
Difference in shapes	slight	slight	slight
between primary and
secondary fruits
Band without achenes	very narrow	very narrow	very narrow
Unevenness of surface	weak	medium	weak
Evenness of color	slightly	slightly	slightly
	uneven	uneven	uneven
Glossiness	strong	strong	strong
Insertion of achenes	level with	below to level	below surface
	surface	with the
		surface
Insertion of calyx	level	level	level
Pose of the calyx	reflexed	reflexed	spreading to
segments			reflexed
Size of calyx in relation	same size	same size	same size
to fruit on secondary	to larger	to larger	to larger
fruit
Adherence of calyx	strong	strong	strong
Firmness of flesh	soft	soft to medium	soft to medium
Evenness of flesh color	slightly	slightly	slightly
	uneven	uneven	uneven
Distribution of flesh	marginal and	marginal and	marginal and
color	central	central	central
Hollow center size	small	small	medium
Sweetness	medium	medium	medium
Texture when tasted	fine	medium	fine
Acidity	medium	medium	medium
Time of First Flowering	late October	early	early
in 2003		November	November
Harvest Interval in 2003	late	early December	early December
	November	through early	through early
	through early	April	April
	April
Type of Bearing	partially	partially	partially
	everbearing	everbearing	everbearing

REACTION TO STRESS, PESTS, AND DISEASE

TABLE 3
REACTIONS TO STRESS PESTS AND DISEASES FOR
‘DRISCOLL BONAIRE’, ‘DRISCOLL MALIBU’
AND ‘DRISCOLL OSCEOLA’
	‘Driscoll	‘Driscoll
	Bonaire’	El Capitan’	‘Driscoll Venice’
Reaction to Pests
Tetranychus urticae	susceptible	susceptible	susceptible
Lygus hesperus	susceptible	susceptible	susceptible
Reaction To
Diseases
Botrytis fruit rot	susceptible	susceptible	susceptible
Powdery mildew	moderately	moderately	moderately
	susceptible	susceptible	susceptible
Verticillium wilt	susceptible	highly susceptible	highly susceptible
Strawberry Mottle	susceptible	susceptible	susceptible
Virus
Xanthomonas	moderately	moderately	moderately
fragariae	susceptible	susceptible	susceptible

ISOZYME ANALYSIS

In addition to the morphological description above, the new cultivar ‘Driscoll Bonaire’ has been analyzed to obtain an indication of its genetic makeup to provide further means for identifying the new variety and distinguishing it from other somewhat similar and/or related strawberry varieties. Specifically, leaf samples of ‘Driscoll Bonaire’, ‘Driscoll Malibu’ and ‘Driscoll Osceola’ were analyzed by electrophoresis for isozyme patterns of the enzymes phosphoglucoisomerase (“PGI”), leucine aminopeptidase (“LAP”) and phosphoglucomutase (“PGM”). See J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 106:684-687. Isozyme characterization of the three varieties is presented in Table 4, with the letters representing the banding patterns for each enzyme as designated in the above-identified article.

TABLE 4
ISOZYME ANALYSIS FOR ‘DRISCOLL BONAIRE’,
‘DRISCOLL MALIBU’ AND ‘DRISCOLL OSCEOLA’
Locus	‘Driscoll Bonaire’	‘Driscoll Malibu’	‘Driscoll Osceola’
PGI	A1	A1	A1
LAP	B3	B3	B3
PGM	C2	C4	C4

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of strawberry plant, substantially as shown and described.