Strawberry plant Smadar

Abstract

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

Description

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/490,102, filed Mar. 6. 1990, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry (Fragaria L.) called "Smadar". 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 "Dover A". The variety was asexually vegetatively propagated through runners and the reproduction ran true.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety "Smadar" resembles the variety "Dover A" is able to grow in September and produce fruit starting in November and lasting until summer. The production of fruit beginning in November is two months earlier than any known variety of Fragaria L. The fruit of the "Smadar" 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 "Smadar" variety illustrating the foliage and fruit.

FIG. 2--Photograph of the "Smadar" variety illustrating the fruit.

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

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The "Smadar" variety was grown in winter under polyethylene tunnels in Israel. "Smadar" 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°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°C during the day and 22°C at night. Water and fertilizers were applied through drip irrigation. An example of an optimum planting date is between Sep. 15th to the 20th with the approximate date of flowering on Oct. 27, and the approximate date of first fruiting on Nov. 27. "Smadar" 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 "Smadar" (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., "Smadar" blooms perpetuously, during late fall and winter).

The fruit is as long as broad, with primary, secondary and tertiary fruit possessing a slight difference in shape (Table 2). The fruit is firm with a red color (Table 2).

The variety "Smadar" 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"), 07/735,968 ("Dorit"), and 07/735,970 ("Saaid"). Additionally, early flowering results in early fruit production for "Smadar" and the four copending 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
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PLANT CHARACTERISTICS OF "SMADAR"
MORPHOLOGICAL               COMPARABLE
TRAIT         DESCRIPTIONa
VARIETYb
______________________________________
Classification
Botanical-
Fragaria L.
Plant habit   Flat-Globose  "Senagana"
Plant density Dense         "Talisman"
Plant vigor   Strong        "Grande"
Leaf:
a)  Length        17-18 cm
b)  Width         11-13 cm
c)  Color         Green Group 146 A
(RHSCC)
1)    Upper Side: Dark
d)  Blistering    Medium
e)  Cross-section Concave
f)  # of leaflets Sometimes >3
Terminal leaflet
a)  Length/Width  Longer than broad
ratio
b)  Shape of base Obtuse
c)  Shape of teeth
Rounded
d)  Length        6-7 cm
e)  Width         4-6 cm
Flower
a)  Size          Medium        "Gorella"
b)  Size of calyx to
Smaller to small
corolla       size
c)  Size of inner calyx
Same size
versus outer calyx
d)  Spacing of petals
Overlapping
e)  Petal length/width
Longer than broad
f)  Time of flowering
Very early to "Karina"c
Early
Stolon
a)  Number        Medium to Many
b)  Thickness     Thin to Medium
c)  Pubescence    Medium
d)  Anthocyanin   Strong
coloration
Petiole
a)  Pose of hairs Outwards
b)  Length        9-11 cm
Inflorescence
a)  Position relative
Level
to foliage
______________________________________
a The description of "Smadar" is based on the test guidelines for
Fragaria L. of the International Union for the Protection of New Plant
Varieties, (UPOV).
b Only characteristics which are relevant for comparing varieties ar
listed.
c "Smadar" flowers at the end of October. One of the earliest known
varieties for comparison is "Karina", which flowers in January.

TABLE 2
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FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS OF "SMADAR"
CHARACTERISTIC      DESCRIPTION
______________________________________
Time of ripening    Very early to Early
Ratio of length/maximum width
As long as broad
Primary Fruita Bi-conical or
Cylindrical
Length              48-50 mm
Width               35-37 mm
Secondary Fruit     Bi-conical or
Cylindrical
Length              39-42 mm
Width               30-31 mm
Tertiary Fruit      Bi-conical or
Cylindrical
Length              33-37 mm
Width               23-26 mm
Size                Large
Band without achenes
Very narrow to Narrow
Unevenness of surface
Weak
Color               Red
Evenness of color   Slightly Uneven
Glossiness          Medium
Insertion of achenes
Below surface
Insertion of calyx  Level with surface
Pose of calyx segments
Clasping
Size of calyx in relation
Larger
to fruit diameter
Adherance of calyx  Strong
Firmness            Firm
Color of Flesh      Light red
Evenness of flesh color
Even
Sweetnessb     Strong
Color               43 AB circa (RHSCC)
Tasteb         Good
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a There is a marked difference between the shape of the primary,
secondary and tertiary fruit.
b See Table 4.

TABLE 3
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COMPARATIVE YIELD OF "SMARDAR"a
Nov.  Dec.    Jan.    Feb.  Mar.  Apr.
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Smadar   50      70      100   100   100    50
Sharonb
40      60      80     80    80    80
Shalomc
50      70      80    100   100    70
Doritd
30      70      100   100   100   100
Saaide
0      70      100   100   100   100
Douglasf
0       0      40    150   150   150
Chandlerg
0       0      30    150   150   120
______________________________________
a Average yeild in g/m2 in Ramat Hadar, Israel (1989-90). The
time of ripening for "Smadar" fruit is very early to early.
b U.S. Application Ser. No. 07/735,969. The time of ripening for
"Sharon" fruit is very early.
c U.S. Application Ser. No. 07/735,695. The time of ripening for
"Shalom" fruit is early.
d U.S. Application Ser. No. 07/735,968. The time of ripening for
"Dorit" fruit is early.
e U.S. Application Ser. No. 07/735,970. The time of ripening for
"Saaid" fruit is early to medium.
f Plant Patent No. 4,487. The time of ripening for "Douglas" fruit i
late.
g Plant Patent No. 5,262. The time of ripening for "Chandler" fruit
is late.

TABLE 4
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COMPARATIVE FRUIT
CHARACTERISTICS OF "SMADAR"
T.S.S.a
Acidityb
in %    in %     Aroma     Taste
______________________________________
Smadar    8.5-9.5   1.0      5       Good
Sharonc
6.5-7.0   1.0      3       Slightly
Acidic
Shalomd
8.0-9.0   1.0      4       Normal
Dorite
8.5-9.5   1.0      5       Good
Saaidf
8.0-9.0   1.0      3       Normal
Douglasg
6.5-7.0   0.8      3       Slightly
Acidic
Chandlerh
6.5-7.0   0.8      3       Slightly
Acidic
______________________________________
a Total Soluble Solids expresses fruit sweetness and was determined
with a refractometer.
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) × 0.32.
c U.S. Application Ser. No. 07/735,969.
d U.S. Application Ser. No. 07/735,695.
e U.S. Application Ser. No. 07/735,968.
f U.S. Application Ser. No. 07/735,970.
g Plant Patent No. 4,487.
h Plant Patent 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 November and lasting until summer, with fruit having a good taste and shape and a long shelf life.