Strawberry plant named `Driscoll Jubilee`

Abstract

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry named `Driscoll Jubilee.` The variety is similar to the varieties `Driscoll Camarillo` and `Driscoll Coronation.` The variety is distinguished from `Driscoll Camarillo` and `Driscoll Coronation,` in particular, by its smaller spread of plant, conic shaped fruit of greater length than width, thinner stolons, red and white internal fruit color, the shape of the base of the terminal leaflets is acute, and the inflorescence is beneath the foliage.

Description

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

Variety denomination: The strawberry variety denomination is `Driscoll Jubilee`.

1. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new variety originated as a result of a controlled cross between the strawberry plants `50C130` (unpatented variety) and `19A331` (unpatented variety) in an ongoing breeding program, and was discovered as a seedling in Kent, England in 1999. The original seedling of the new cultivar was asexually propagated by stolons in a Nursery in Kent, England. Propagules were transplanted to a controlled breeding plot in Monterey, Calif., where the variety was identified and selected for further evaluation. `Driscoll Jubilee` was subsequently asexually propagated and underwent further testing in Monterey, Calif. for one year. 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.

2. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

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

3. COMPARISON TO SIMILAR VARIETIES

The varieties which we believe to be similar to `Driscoll Jubilee` from those known to us are `Driscoll Camarillo` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,771) and `Driscoll Coronation` (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 10/619,692). These are several characteristics of the new variety that are different from, or not possessed by `Driscoll Camarillo` and `Driscoll Coronation`. The new variety has a smaller spread of plant, conic shaped fruit of greater length than width, thinner stolons, red and white internal fruit color, the shape of the base of the terminal leaflets is acute, and the inflorescence is beneath the foliage. The internal fruit color of `Driscoll Jubilee` and `Driscoll Camarillo` comprises a white color interspersed in a striped manner among the orange-red or red color described for each variety. Each color described for the internal fruit color of `Driscoll Camarillo` and `Driscoll Jubilee` is individually present in the internal fruit tissues. In contrast, the internal fruit color of `Driscoll Coronation` is whitish.

`Driscoll Jubilee` is distinguished from its maternal parent `50C130` by its smaller fruit size, firmer flesh, and its fully everbearing habit. `Driscoll Jubilee` is distinguished from its paternal parent `19A331` by its redder external fruit color, firmer flesh, and sweeter taste.

4. 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 whole the plant.

FIG. 2 shows the upper side of the leaves of the plant.

FIG. 3 shows the upper side and underside of the flowers.

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

FIG. 5 shows a close-up of the fruit.

5. DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description of the new variety is based upon observations taken of plants and fruit grown in Monterey County, Calif., U.S.A. This description is in accordance with UPOV terminology. Observations of `Driscoll Jubilee`, `Driscoll Camarillo` and `Driscoll Coronation` were taken in side by side comparison in the year 2002. Plants for observation were harvested from a low elevation nursery in Tehama County, Calif. in December 2001, and held in refrigerated storage until planting in Monterey County, Calif. in March 2002. Plants were grown in raised beds of soil under conditions typical of commercial strawberry production along the central coast of California. Fruits were harvested twice weekly for yield determination from May to October 2002. Measurements of plant, flower, and fruit characteristics were made in August 2002, approximately five months after planting. 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.

5.1 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.

5.2 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 five 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 Jubilee` compared with characteristics of `Driscoll Camarillo` and `Driscoll Coronation.` Table 2 provides additional information of the plant and fruit characteristics of the new variety `Driscoll Jubilee` compared with characteristics of the varieties `Driscoll Camarillo` and `Driscoll Coronation.` Table 3 provides reactions of the new variety to stresses, pests and diseases compared with reactions of the varieties `Driscoll Camarillo` and `Driscoll Coronation.` Table 4 provides isozyme characteristics of the new variety as compared to that of the varieties `Driscoll Camarillo` and `Driscoll Coronation.`

TABLE 1 QUANTITATIVE COMPARISON OF `DRISCOLL JUBILEE`, `DRISCOLL CAMARILLO,` AND `DRISCOLL CORONATION` `Driscoll `Driscoll `Driscoll Jubilee` Camarillo` Coronation` Plant Characteristics Height of plant (cm) 18.3 20.5 17.0 Spread of plant (cm) 30.7 39.4 33.2 Number of crowns 3.5 3.0 3.0 Leaf Characteristics Terminal leaflet length (cm) 6.9 8.4 7.9 Terminal leaflet width (cm) 6.7 8.5 7.4 Terminal leaflet length/width 1.04 0.99 1.07 ratio # Teeth/terminal leaflet 20.1 27.0 24.3 Color of upper side 147A 147A 147A dark dark dark green green green Color of under side 138B 147C 139C light to light light to medium green medium green green Petiole length (cm) 15.8 16.8 16.2 Petiole color 145A 145A 145A Bract frequency 42% 67% 25% typically typically typically double double double Stipule length (cm) 3.1 4.0 3.3 Stipule width (cm) 1.0 1.0 0.8 Flower Characteristics Petal length (cm) 1.12 1.13 0.96 Petal width (cm) 1.17 1.29 0.93 Petal length/width Ratio 0.96 0.88 1.03 Flower diameter (cm) 2.92 3.17 2.55 Calyx diameter (cm) 2.65 3.09 2.51 Average Fruiting truss length 27.7 33.2 24.2 (cm) Petal color (cm) 155C 155C 155C Fruit Characteristics Fruit length (cm) 3.8 3.8 3.9 Fruit width (cm) 3.4 3.9 3.9 Fruit length/width ratio 1.10 0.97 0.99 Average berry weight (g) 19.8 20.7 20.0 External color 45A 42A 45B red red red Internal color 43A - 155B 33A - 155C 159D red and orange red whitish white and white Achene coloration 184A to 4A 184B to 4B 184A to 8B Yield (g/plant) 600 1200 850

TABLE 2 QUALITATIVE COMPARISON OF `DRISCOLL JUBILEE`, `DRISCOLL CAMARILLO,` AND `DRISCOLL CORONATION` `Driscoll `Driscoll `Driscoll Jubilee` Camarillo` Coronation` Plant Habit flat globose flat globose flat Density open to open open medium Vigor weak to medium to weak to medium strong medium Leaf Shape in cross section slightly concave slightly concave to flat concave to flat Interveinal blistering strong strong medium Glossiness medium medium to strong strong Number of leaflets three only three only three only Terminal leaflet revolute revolute revolute margin profile Terminal leaflet shape acute rounded obtuse of base Terminal leaflet shape rounded rounded obtuse of teeth Stipule pubescence sparse to medium sparse medium Petiole pubescence very sparse sparse very sparse to sparse Petiole pose of hairs outwards to upwards to outwards downwards outward Stolon Amount medium medium few to medium Anthocyanin medium medium medium coloration Thickness thin to medium thick medium Pubescence sparse to medium medium medium Inflorescence Position relative to beneath above level foliage Diameter of calyx smaller to same smaller to same smaller to same relative to corolla on size size size secondary flowers Diameter of inner smaller same size smaller calyx relative to outer on secondary flowers Spacing of petals touching to overlapping touching overlapping Fruiting Truss Attitude at first semi-erect semi-erect to prostrate picking prostrate Fruit Predominant shape conical chordate chordate Difference in shapes very slight to slight to slight to between primary and slight moderate moderate secondary fruits Band without achenes very narrow very narrow very narrow Unevenness of surface very weak weak to very weak to medium weak Evenness of color slightly uneven even slightly uneven uneven to even Glossiness strong strong strong Insertion of achenes level to above below to level level Insertion of calyx in a basin to in a basin in a basin level Pose of the calyx spreading spreading to spreading segments reflexed Size of calyx in smaller to same smaller same size to relation to fruit on size larger secondary fruit Adherence of calyx strong strong medium Firmness of flesh medium to firm firm medium Evenness of flesh slightly uneven slightly uneven even color Distribution of flesh marginal and marginal and central color central central Hollow center size absent to small absent to small small to medium Sweetness medium to medium strong strong Texture when tasted medium medium fine Acidity medium medium weak Time of flowering medium medium medium Type of bearing fully fully fully everbearing everbearing everbearing

5.3 REACTION TO STRESS, PESTS, AND DISEASE

TABLE 3 REACTIONS TO STRESS PESTS AND DISEASES FOR `DRISCOLL JUBILEE`, `DRISCOLL CAMARILLO,` AND `DRISCOLL CORONATION` `Driscoll `Driscoll `Driscoll Jubilee` Camarillo` Coronation` Reaction to Stress high pH moderately moderately moderately resistant resistant resistant high soil salt levels moderately moderately moderately susceptible resistant susceptible Reaction to Pests Tetranychus urticae moderately moderately moderately susceptible susceptible susceptible Lygus hesperus susceptible susceptible susceptible Reaction To Diseases Botrytis fruit rot moderately moderately moderately susceptible to susceptible to susceptible to moderately moderately moderately resistant resistant resistant Powdery mildew susceptible susceptible to moderately highly susceptible susceptible Verticillium wilt moderately moderately moderately resistant susceptible susceptible

5.4 ISOZYME ANALYSIS

In addition to the morphological description above, the new cultivar `Driscoll Jubilee` 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 Jubilee`, `Driscoll Camarillo` and `Driscoll Coronation` 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 JUBILEE,` `DRISCOLL CAMARILLO,` AND `DRISCOLL CORONATION` `Driscoll `Driscoll `Driscoll Locus Jubilee` Camarillo` Coronation` PGI A1 A2 A3 LAP B3 B3 B3 PGM C4 C4 C4

Claims

What is claimed:

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