Strawberry plant named `DrisStrawFifteen`

Abstract

This invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of strawberry plant named `DrisStrawFifteen`. The new cultivar is primarily characterized by a flat globose plant habit, medium vigor, and medium-sized berries, is disclosed.

Description

Genus and species: Fragaria.times.ananassa.

Variety denomination: `DrisStrawFifteen`.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry cultivar designated `DrisStrawFifteen` and botanically known as Fragaria.times.ananassa. This new strawberry cultivar was discovered in Monterey County, Calif. in June 2004 and originated from a cross between the proprietary female parent `Driscoll Lanai` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,145) and the proprietary male parent `38J181` (unpatented). The original seedling of the new cultivar was first asexually propagated at a nursery in Shasta County, Calif.

`DrisStrawFifteen` was subsequently asexually propagated at the McArthur Nursery in Shasta County, Calif. and underwent further testing in Monterey County, Calif. for six years. The present invention has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations via stolons and tissue culture.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying color photographs show typical specimens of the new cultivar at various stages of development as nearly true as it is possible to make in color reproductions. The photographs were taken from 91/2-month-old plants.

FIG. 1 shows overall plant habit including fruit at various stages of development.

FIG. 2 shows leaves of the plant with three leaflets.

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

FIG. 4 shows the whole fruit.

FIG. 5 shows the fruit in longitudinal cross-section.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following description of `DrisStrawFifteen` is based on observations taken in Monterey County, Calif. from 2004 to 2009. This description is in accordance with UPOV terminology. 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. `DrisStrawFifteen` has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The botanical description of `DrisStrawFifteen` was taken from 91/2-month-old plants and the botanical descriptions of the comparison varieties, `Driscoll Lanai` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,145) and `DrisStrawNine` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,733), were taken from 10-month-old plants and from 9-month-old plants, respectively. Color terminology follows The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, London (R.H.S.) (2001).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Table 1 shows plant characteristics of the new variety compared with plant characteristics of the commercial varieties `Driscoll Lanai` and `DrisStrawNine`. Plant characteristics include plant height, diameter, number of crowns per plant, habit, the density of individual plants and the vigor.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Characteristic `DrisStrawFifteen` `Driscoll Lanai` `DrisStrawNine` Plant height (cm) 20.5 21.9 20.9 Plant diameter 37.1 47.6 32.9 (cm) Number of 2 5.3 3 crowns/plant Habit Flat globose Flat Upright Density of Open Open Medium individual plant Vigor Medium Medium Weak

Table 2 shows leaf characteristics of the new cultivar compared with leaf characteristics of `Driscoll Lanai` and `DrisStrawNine`. Leaf characteristics include terminal leaflet length and width in centimeters, length to width ratio, number of teeth per terminal leaflet, shape of teeth, color of upper side and underside of leaf, leaf shape in cross section, leaf blistering, leaf glossiness, number of leaflets, terminal leaflet margin, terminal leaflet length to width ratio, overall leaf shape and shape of leaf apex and base.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Leaf Characteristic `DrisStrawFifteen` `Driscoll Lanai` `DrisStrawNine` Terminal leaflet 0.7 8.1 6.8 length (cm) Terminal leaflet 0.66 7.6 7.2 width (cm) Terminal leaflet 1.1 1.07 1.0 length/width ratio No. teeth/ 19 23.4 24 terminal leaflet Shape of teeth Rounded Rounded Rounded Color of upper RHS 136A RHS 139A RHS 147A surface of leaf (Dark green) (Medium green) (Dark yellow- green) Color of lower RHS 147B RHS 138B RHS 147B surface of leaf (Medium yellow- (Light green) (Medium green) yellow-green) Leaf shape in Slightly concave Slightly Concave cross section concave to flat Leaf blistering Medium Medium Medium Leaf glossiness Medium Weak Between medium and strong No. leaflets 3 only 3 only 3 only Terminal leaflet Revolute to flat Revolute Flat margin to flat Terminal leaflet As long as broad As long as length/width ratio broad Terminal leaflet Orbicular Orbicular shape Terminal leaflet Rounded Rounded Rounded base shape Terminal leaflet Rounded Rounded apex shape

Table 3 shows information about the petiole, the petiolule, the bract, and the stipule of the new cultivar compared to `Driscoll Lanai` and `DrisStrawNine`. This includes petiole length in centimeters, petiole diameter in centimeters, petiole pubescence, pose of hairs on the petiole, color of the petiole, color of the petiolule, petiolule length in centimeters, petiolule diameter in centimeters, bract frequency per petiole, stipule length in centimeters, stipule width in centimeters, stipule pubescence and stipule anthocyanin coloration.

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Characteristic `DrisStrawFifteen` `Driscoll Lanai` `DrisStrawNine` Petiole length (cm) 15.4 18.7 11.2 Petiole diameter 0.279 0.323 (cm) Petiole pubescence Medium Medium Dense Petiole pose of Outwards Downward Upwards hairs Petiole color RHS 145A RHS 145A RHS 145A (Medium (Yellow-green) (Medium yellow-green) yellow-green) Petiolule color RHS 145A RHS 145A RHS 145B (Medium (Yellow-green) (Medium yellow-green) yellow-green) Petiolule length 0.616 1.55 0.826 (cm) Petiolule diameter 0.143 0.32 0.158 (cm) Stipule length (cm) 3.1 3.7 3.4 Stipule width (cm) 0.891 1.2 0.823 Stipule pubescence Medium Medium to Medium Stipule RHS 145D dense Absent to anthocyanin (Light yellow- very weak coloration green)

Table 4 shows stolon characteristics of the new cultivar compared to `Driscoll Lanai` and `DrisStrawNine`. These characteristics include the number of stolons, average number of daughter plants, the anthocyanin coloration of the stolons, the thickness of the stolons, and the pubescence of the stolons.

TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Characteristic `DrisStrawFifteen` `Driscoll Lanai` `DrisStrawNine` Stolon number Many Many Medium Average number 40 67 35 of daughter plants Stolon RHS 59B RHS 60A Medium anthocyanin (Dark red-purple) (Dark red-purple) Stolon thickness Medium Medium to thick Medium Stolon Dense Dense Sparse pubescence

Table 5 shows inflorescence characteristics of the new cultivar compared to `Driscoll Lanai` and `DrisStrawNine`. These characteristics include inflorescence position relative to foliage, time of flowering, relative flower size, flower diameter in centimeters (measured from petal tip to petal tip), petal shape, relative spacing of petals, petal apex, base and margin, petal length in centimeters, petal width in centimeters, petal length to width ratio, number of petals, petal color, calyx diameter in centimeters (measured on back of flower from sepal tip to sepal tip), diameter of calyx relative to corolla, diameter of inner calyx relative to outer, sepal shape, apex and margin, sepal length in centimeters (measured from sepal tip to point of attachment to receptacle), sepal width in centimeters, number of sepals, receptacle color and anther color.

TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5 Characteristic `DrisStrawFifteen` `Driscoll Lanai` `DrisStrawNine` Inflorescence Beneath Level to above Above position relative to foliage Time of Between early flowering (50% and medium of plants at first flower) Flower size Medium Medium Flower diameter 2.399 2.58 2.920 (cm) Petal shape Orbicular Orbicular Petal spacing Overlapping Overlapping Overlapping Petal apex shape Rounded Rounded Petal margin Entire Entire Petal base shape Rounded Concave- convex Petal length 1.310 1.21 1.257 (cm) Petal width (cm) 1.269 1.29 1.332 Petal length/ As long as broad As long as As long as width ratio broad broad Petal length/ 1.0 0.94 0.9 width ratio Typical and 6 7 observed petal number Petal color RHS 155B RHS 155C RHS 155B (both surfaces) (White) (White) (White) Calyx diameter 3.036 3.25 3.573 (cm) Calyx diameter Larger Same size Larger relative to to larger corolla Inner calyx Same size Larger Same size diameter relative to outer Sepal shape Oval Elliptical Sepal apex Convex Convex shape Sepal margin Entire Entire Sepal length 1.176 1.480 1.318 (cm) Sepal width 0.673 0.767 0.647 (cm) Typical and 13 14 observed sepal number Receptacle RHS 2A RHS 2B color (Medium yellow) (Medium yellow) Anther color RHS 174A RHS 22A (Dark greyed- (Medium orange) yellow- orange)

Table 6 shows fruit characteristics of the new cultivar compared to `Driscoll Lanai` and `DrisStrawNine`. These characteristics include fruiting truss length in centimeters, fruiting truss diameter, number of berries per truss, fruiting truss attitude, fruiting truss color, fruit length in centimeters, fruit truss width in centimeters, fruit length to width ratio, fruit hollow length and width in centimeters, fruit hollow length to width ratio, fruit weight in grams, relative fruit size, predominant fruit shape, difference in shape between primary and secondary fruits, band without achenes, unevenness of fruit surface, fruit skin color, evenness of fruit color, fruit glossiness, insertion of achenes, achene coloration (sunward and shaded sides of berry) and the number of achenes per berry.

TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 6 Characteristic `DrisStrawFifteen` `Driscoll Lanai` `DrisStrawNine` Fruiting truss 19.4 30.0 16.9 length (cm) Fruiting truss Between medium length (general) and long Fruiting truss 0.361 0.512 diameter (cm) at base of truss Number of berries 5 4 per fruiting truss Fruiting truss Prostrate Prostrate Semi-erect attitude Fruiting truss RHS N144C RHS 144A color at base (Medium yellow- (Medium of truss green) yellow-green) Fruit length (cm) 3.666 4.5 4.274 Fruit width (cm) 3.492 3.8 4.222 Fruit length/width 1.0 1.19 1.0 ratio Fruit hollow 1.017 1.341 length (cm) Fruit hollow width 0.442 1.023 (cm) Fruit hollow 2.3 1.3 length/width ratio Fruit weight (g) 21.6 23.3 23.1 Fruit ratio of As long as broad As long as length/maximum broad width Relative fruit size Medium Medium Predominant fruit Conical Conical to Conical shape ovoid Difference in Between slight and Slight Slight shape between moderate primary and secondary fruits Band without Narrow Narrow to Narrow achenes medium Unevenness of Weak Weak Weak fruit surface Fruit skin color RHS 46A RHS 45B RHS 46A (Dark red) (Orange red) (Dark red) Evenness of fruit Even Even Even color Fruit glossiness Medium Strong Medium Insertion of Below surface Level with Level with achenes surface surface Achene coloration RHS 175A RHS 185B to RHS 184A (sunward side of (Dark greyed- RHS 154B (Dark greyed- berry) orange) (Gray purple to purple) yellow-green) Achene coloration RHS N144A RHS 185B to RHS 153B (shaded side of (Medium yellow- RHS 154B (Medium berry) green) (Gray purple to yellow-green) yellow-green) Achenes per berry 324.0 300 320

Table 7 shows fruit characteristics of the new cultivar compared to `Driscoll Lanai` and `DrisStrawNine`. These characteristics include the harvest maturity, insertion of calyx, pose of calyx segments, size of calyx in relation to fruit, adherence of calyx, firmness of flesh, color of the fruit flesh, evenness of the flesh color, distribution of flesh color, hollow center, sweetness of fruit, acidity of fruit, texture of fruit when tasted, type of bearing, grams of fruit per plant.

TABLE-US-00007 TABLE 7 Characteristic `DrisStrawFifteen` `Driscoll Lanai` `DrisStrawNine` Harvest interval Late March to Late March to Late March to early November early November early November Harvest maturity Between early and mid-season Insertion of calyx Set above fruit Level Level Pose of calyx Spreading Spreading to Spreading segments reflexed Size of calyx in Smaller and Smaller Larger relation to fruit larger Adherence of calyx Strong Strong Strong Firmness of flesh Firm Medium Medium Color of the flesh RHS N155B RHS 47C RHS 155C (White) and (Orange-red) (White) and RHS 46B RHS 41A (Dark red) (Medium red) Evenness of flesh Slightly uneven Uneven Uneven color Distribution of Marginal and Marginal and Marginal and flesh color central central central Hollow center Small Medium Small Sweetness Strong Medium Medium Acidity Medium Medium Medium Texture when Medium Fine Medium tasted Type of bearing Fully everbearing Partially Fully everbearing everbearing Grams of 1,513 1,679 1,505 fruit/plant

Table 8 shows pest, stress and disease characteristics of the new cultivar compared to `Driscoll Lanai` and `DrisStrawNine`.

TABLE-US-00008 TABLE 8 Pest, Stress, or Disease `DrisStrawFifteen` `Driscoll Lanai` `DrisStrawNine` Tetranychus urticae Moderately Susceptible Moderately susceptible susceptible Botrytis fruit rot Moderately Susceptible Susceptible susceptible Powdery mildew Moderately Susceptible Between susceptible moderately susceptible and susceptible Verticillium wilt Moderately Moderately Susceptible resistant resistant Rain Between moderately resistant and moderately susceptible

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

When `DrisStrawFifteen` is compared to the proprietary female parent `Driscoll Lanai` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,145), `DrisStrawFifteen` is fully everbearing while `Driscoll Lanai` is partially everbearing. In addition, `DrisStrawFifteen` has a strong sweetness of fruit while `Driscoll Lanai` has a medium sweetness of fruit. Finally, `DrisStrawFifteen` has smaller fruit size (length: 3.666 cm; width: 3.492 cm) than `Driscoll Lanai` (length: 4.5 cm; width: 3.8 cm).

When `DrisStrawFifteen` is compared to the proprietary male parent `38J181` (unpatented), `DrisStrawFifteen` has larger fruit and is more prone to bruising during handling than `38J181`.

When `DrisStrawFifteen` is compared to the commercial variety `DrisStrawNine`, the petiole pose of hairs for `DrisStrawFifteen` is outwards while the petiole pose of hairs for `DrisStrawNine` is downward. In addition, `DrisStrawFifteen` is moderately resistant to Verticillium wilt while `DrisStrawNine` is susceptible to Verticillium wilt.

Claims

We claim:

1. A new and distinct cultivar of strawberry plant as described and shown herein.