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

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/491,758 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 "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°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 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
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PLANT CHARACTERISTICS OF "SAAID"
MORPHOLOGICAL              COMPARABLE
TRAIT        DESCRIPTIONa
VARIETYb
______________________________________
Classification
Botanical-
Fragaria L.
Plant habit  Globose       "Gorella"
Plant density
Dense         "Talisman"
Plant vigor  Strong        "Grande"
Leaf:
a) Length    17-18 cm
b) Width     11-14 cm
c) Color     Green Group 146 A
(RHSCC)
1) Upper Side:
Dark Green
d) Blistering
Weak
e) Cross-section
Concave
f) # of leaflets
Three only
Terminal leaflet
a) Length/Width
ratio        Longer than broad
b) Shape of base
Acute
c) Shape of teeth
Rounded
d) Length    7-8 cm
e) Width     5-6 cm
Flower
a) Size      Medium        "Gorella"
b) Size of calyx to
Same Size
corolla
c) Size of inner calyx
Same Size
versus outer calyx
d) Spacing of petals
Overlapping
e) Petal length/width
As load as broad
f) Time of flowering
Early to Medium
"Karina"c
Stolon
a) Number    Medium        "Gorella"
b) Thickness Medium
c) Pubescence
Weak
d) Anthocyanin
Strong
coloration
Petiole
a) Pose of hairs
Outwards
b) Length    10-12 cm
Inflorescence
a) Position relative
Level
to foliage
______________________________________
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).
b Only characteristics which are relevant for comparing varieties ar
listed.
c "Saaid" flowers at the beginning of November. One of the earliest
known varieties for comparison is "Karina", which flowers in January.

TABLE 2
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FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS OF "SAAID"
CHARACTERISTIC       DESCRIPTION
______________________________________
Time of ripening     early
Ratio of length/maximum width
longer than broad
Primary Fruita  Bi-conical
Length               43-50 mm
Width                30-36 mm
Secondary Fruit      Bi-conical
Length               33-37 mm
Width                27-32 mm
Tertiary Fruit       Conical
length               28-30 mm
width                25-26 mm
Size                 Large
Brand without achenes
Narrow
Unevenness of surface
Weak
Color                Red
Evenness of color    Even
Glossiness           Strong
Insertion of achenes Level with surface
Insertion of calyx   Level with surface
Pose of calyx segments
Reflexed
Size of calyx in relation
Larger
to fruit diameter
Adherance of calyx   Strong
Firmness             Firm
Color of Flesh       Medium Red
Evenness of flesh color
Uneven
Sweetnessb      Strong
Color                42BC circa (RHSCC)
Tasteb          Good
______________________________________
a There is a marked difference between the shape of the primary,
secondary and tertiary fruit.
b See Table 4.

TABLE 3
______________________________________
COMPARATIVE YIELD OF "SAAID"a
Nov. Dec.     Jan.   Feb.   Mar. Apr.
______________________________________
Saaid     0     70       100  100    100  100
Sharonb
40     60        80   80     80   80
Shalomc
50     70        80  100    100   70
Smadard
50     70       100  100    100   50
Dorite
30     70       100  100    100  100
Douglasf
0      0        40  150    150  150
Chandlerg
0      0        30  150    150  120
______________________________________
a Average yield in g/m2 in Ramat Hadar, Israel (1989-90). The
time of ripening for "Saaid" fruit is early to medium.
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. 07/735,967. The time of ripening for
"Smadar" fruit is very early to early.
e U.S. Application Ser. No. 07/735,968. The time of ripening for
"Dorit" fruit is early.
f U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,487. The time of ripening for "Douglas" frui
is late.
g U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,262. The time of ripening for "Chandler"
fruit is late.

TABLE 4
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COMPARATIVE FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS OF "SAAID"
T.S.S.a
Acidityb
in %    in %     Aroma     Taste
______________________________________
Saaid     8.0-9.0   1.0      3       Normal
Sharonc
6.5-7.0   1.0      3       Slightly
Acidic
Shalomd
8.0-9.0   1.0      4       Normal
Smadare
8.5-9.5   1.0      5       Good
Doritf
8.5-9.5   1.0      5       Good
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. 07/735,967.
f U.S. Application Ser. No. 07/735,968.
g U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,487.
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.