Strawberry plant Sharon

Abstract

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

Description

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/490,103, 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 "Sharon". 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 "Chandler". The variety was asexually vegetatively propagated through runners and the reproduction ran true.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety "Sharon" resembles the variety "Chandler" and 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 "Sharon" 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 "Sharon" variety illustrating the foliage and fruit.

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

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The "Sharon" variety was grown in winter under polyethylene tunnels in Israel. "Sharon" 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 September 15th to the 20th with the approximate date of flowering on October 20, and the approximate date of first fruiting on November 20. "Sharon" 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 (RHSCC) 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 "Sharon" (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 remonant (e.g., "Sharon" blooms perpetuously, during late fall and winter).

The fruit is longer than broad, with primary, secondary and tertiary fruit possessing distinct shape (Table 2). The fruit is firm to very firm with a dark red color (Table 2). The variety "Sharon" 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. 07/735,968 ("Dorit"), 07/735,695 ("Shalom"), 07/435,967 ("Smadar"), and 07/735,970 ("Saaid"). Additionally, early flowering results in early fruit production for "Sharon" 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 "SHARON"
MORPHOLOGICAL               COMPARABLE
TRAIT         DESCRIPTIONa
VARIETYb
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Classification
Botanical-
Fragaria L.
Plant habit   Flat          "Panta-
gruella"
Plant density Medium        "Gorella"
Plant vigor   Strong        "Grande"
Leaf:
a)  Lebght        14-18 cm
b)  Width         11-13 cm
c)  Color         Green Group 143 A
(RHSCC)
1) Upper Side:
Medium Green
d)  Blistering    Absent or Very
Weak
e)  Cross-section Flat
f)  # of leaflets Sometimes >3
Terminal leaflet
a)  Length/Width ratio
As long as broad
b)  Shape of base Obtuse
c)  Shape of teeth
Rounded
d)  Length        6-7 cm
e)  Width         6-7 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
Broader than long
f)  Time of flowering
Early         "Karina"c
Stolon
a)  Number        Medium         "Gorella"
b)  Thickness     Thick
c)  Pubescence    Weak
d)  Anthocyanin   Absent or very
coloration    weak
Petiole
a)  Pose of hairs Outwards
b)  Length        7-11 cm
Inflorescence
a)  Position relative
Above
to foliage
______________________________________
a The description of "Sharon" 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 "Sharon" 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 "SHARON"
CHARACTERISTIC       DESCRIPTION
______________________________________
Time of ripening     Very Early
Ratio of length/maximum width
Longer than broad
Primary Fruita  Wedged
Length               43-50 mm
Width                30-36 mm
Secondary Fruit      Conical
Length               33-37 mm
Width                27-32 mm
Tertiary Fruit       Ovoid
length               28-30 mm
width                25-26 mm
Size                 Large
Band without achenes Medium
Unevenness of surface
Medium
Color                Red
Evenness of color    Even
Glossiness           Medium
Insertion of achenes Below surface
Insertion of calyx   Level with surface
Pose of calyx segments
Reflexed
Size of calyx in relation
Larger
to fruit diameter
Adherence of calyx   Very strong
Firmness             Firm to Very Firm
Color of Flesh       Red
Evenness of flesh color
Uneven
Sweetnessb      Weak
Color                44 AB circa (RHSCC)
Tasteb          Slightly Acidic
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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 "SHARON"a
Nov. Dec.     Jan.   Feb.   Mar. Apr.
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Sharon   40     60       80    80     80   80
Doritb
30     70       100  100    100  100
Shalomc
50     70       80   100    100   70
Smadard
50     70       100  100    100   50
Saaide
0     70       100  100    100  100
Douglasf
0      0       40   150    150  150
Chandlerg
0      0       30   150    150  120
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a Average yield in g/m2 in Ramat Hadar, Isreal (1989-90). The
time of ripening for "Sharon" fruit is very early.
b U.S. application Ser. No. 07/735,968. The time of ripening for
"Dorit" fruit is 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. 07/735,970. The time of ripening for
"Saaid" fruit is early to medium.
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 "SHARON"
T.S.S.a
Acidityb
in %    in %     Aroma     Taste
______________________________________
Sharon    6.5-7.0   1.0      3       Slightly
Acidic
Doritc
8.5-9.5   1.0      5       Good
Shalomd
8.0-9.0   1.0      4       Normal
Smadare
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. 07/735,968.
d U.S. application Ser. No. 07/735,695.
e U.S. application Ser. No. 07/735,967.
f U.S. application Ser. No. 07/735,970.
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 November and lasting until summer, with fruit having a good taste and shape and a long shelf life.