USPP13079P2 - Strawberry plant named ‘Camino Real’ - Google Patents

Abstract

A new and distinct short-day strawberry cultivar is provided. Attractive mostly symmetrical-conic fruit of very good quality typically is formed in a good yield. The fruit flavor is good and the fraction of non-marketable fruit tends to be low. The growth habit is very compact. Relatively small broad concave leaflets are formed that display semi-pointed serrations.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

A new and distinctive short-day type strawberry cultivar designated ‘Camino Real’ is provided that resulted from a cross performed in 1994 between advanced selections Cal 89.230-7 (non-patented in the United States) and Cal 90.253-3 (non-patented in the United States). The cultivar is botanically identified as Fragaria×ananassa Duch. The parentage of the new cultivar can be summarized as follows:

Cal 89.230-7×Cal 90.253-3.

‘Camino Real’ was first fruited at the University of California, Wolfskill Experimental Orchard, near Winters, Calif., U.S.A., in 1995, where it was selected, was originally designated Cal 94.3-11, and was propagated asexually by runners. The characteristics of the new cultivar have been found to be fully transmissible by such asexual propagation. Following selection and during testing the plant was designated ‘C213’, and subsequently has been named ‘Camino Real’ for introduction. Asexual propagules from this original source have been tested at the Watsonville Strawberry Research Facility, the South Coast Research and Extension Center of the University of California, and to a limited extent in grower test fields starting in 1996.

It was found that the new cultivar of the present invention exhibits the following combination of characteristics:

(a) Exhibits a very compact growth habit,

(b) Typically forms attractive mostly symmetrical-conic fruit of very good quality in a good yield, and

(c) Forms relatively small broad concave leaflets having semi-pointed serrations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The depicted plants and plant parts of the ‘Camino Real’ cultivar were grown at Watsonville, Calif., U.S.A.

FIG. 1—shows rows of typical fruiting plants during early May, 2000;

FIG. 2—shows a close view of a representative individual fruiting plant during early May, 2000;

FIG. 3—shows a one-half crate of representative fruit during early May, 2000;

FIG. 4—shows representative mature fruit externally on the upper row and internally on the lower row with dimensions in centimeters being shown at the left; and

FIG. 5—shows a typical mature leaf during late spring.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

‘Camino Real’ as other short-day strawberry cultivars produces fruit over an extended period when treated appropriately in arid, subtropical climates. The production pattern for ‘Camino Real’ is similar to that of the ‘Camarosa’ cultivar U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,708), although it is somewhat later to initiate fruiting with most cultural treatments. ‘Camino Real’ will be of special interest for winter plantings where the ‘Camarosa’ cultivar has been successful, and in summer plantings where the ‘Pajaro’ cultivar (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,538) and the ‘Chandler’ cultivar (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,262) have been successful.

Plants and Foliage

Fruiting plants of ‘Camino Real’ are smaller and more compact, more open, more erect, and less vigorous than plants of the ‘Camarosa’ cultivar. The ‘Camino Real’ plants are more compact but less erect than those of the ‘Gaviota’ cultivar (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,461). Comparative statistics for foliar characters near mid-season are given for the three cultivars in Table 1 that follows. Individual leaflets of ‘Camino Real’ are smaller than those of the ‘Gaviota’ and ‘Camarosa’ cultivars, and are somewhat more rounded than those of the ‘Camarosa’ cultivar. Leaves (including petioles) are similar in length to those of the ‘Gaviota’ cultivar, but are much broader. The leaves of ‘Camino Real’ are shorter and broader than those of the ‘Camarosa’ cultivar. Petioles are similar in thickness to those of ‘Gaviota’ cultivar. Leaves on vigorous plants of ‘Camino Real’ occasionally have 4 or 5 leaflets. ‘Camino Real’ has a consistently concave leaf form, generally much more concave than leaves of the ‘Gaviota’ and ‘Camarosa’ cultivars, and has more and usually more pointed serrations than these comparison cultivars. Plant height and width values were obtained for established plants growing at Watsonville, Calif. that were established on October 23rd and were measured on January 21st. This is the industry standard for planting these cultivars at this location. The typical length and color of the stipule is provided. The stipule color varies somewhat depending on age and stage of development. Individual stipules commonly display a green interior and reddish margins. The stipules are substantially the same for all three varieties. Strawberry plants do not commonly produce stolons during the fruiting period in annual planted systems such as those used in California. The stolon information included in Table 1 is estimated from the initial stolon production in a foundation nursery located near Redding, Calif.

	TABLE 1
	Cultivar

Foliar Character	‘Camarosa’	‘Gaviota’	‘Camino Real’
Plant height (mm)
mean	56	54	62
range	40-70	50-50	50-70
Plant spread (mm)
mean	167	143	193
range	150-200	130-155	165-220
Mid-Tier Leaflet
Length (mm)
mean	91	95	81
range	80 to 100	83 to 109	64 to 90
Width (mm)
mean	83	95	82
range	68 to 104	71 to 105	62 to 95
Mid-Tier Leaf
Length (mm)
mean	313	254	252
range	256 to 426	201 to 314	199 to 314
Width (mm)
mean	161	182	150
range	130 to 183	146 to 205	125 to 173
Leaf components
Petiole length (mm)
mean	209	168	170
range	171-285	133-208	135-212
Petiole diameter
(mm)
mean	3.0	3.2	3.1
range	2.9-3.1	3.1-3.4	2.9-3.3
Petiolule length
(mm)
mean	11	11	11
range	9-16	9-14	9-14
Number of	3	3	3, rarely 4 or 5
Leaflets/Leaf
Leaf Convexity	flat-convex, most	most are	very concave
	are slightly	concave, some
	concave	flat
Serrations
number/leaf (mean)	19.4	17.8	17.8
range	18-21	16-19	17-20
shape	rounded, some	rounded to	semi-pointed
	semi-pointed	semi-pointed
Leaf Pubescence	light-moderate	light-moderate	light
Petiole Pubescence
density	moderate to	heavy	moderate
	heavy
direction	perpendicular to	perpendicular	perpendicular
	acropetal
Petiole color	2.5 GY 5/5	2.5 GY 6/8	2.5 GY 6/8
(Munsell)
Stipule length (mm)
mean	22	21.8	26.2
range	20-23	21-23	23-30
Stipule color
core	2.5 GY 6/8	2.5 GY 6/8	2.5 GY 6/8
margins	2.5 R 6/11	2.5 R 6/11	2.5 R 6/11
Stolons per nursery	215	194	184
mother plant
Venation pattern	pinnate	pinnate	pinnate
Color (Munsell)	2.5 GY 6/8	2.5 GY 6/8	2.5 GY 6/8

The adaxial (upper) surfaces of leaves of ‘Camino Real’ are darker than those of the ‘Gaviota’ cultivar and the ‘Camarosa’ cultivar, and the abaxial (lower) leaf surface colors are similar. See Table 2 that follows.

	TABLE 2
	Cultivar

Color Character	‘Camarosa’	‘Gaviota’	‘Camino Real’
Leaf Color (CIELAB)*
Adaxial
L*
mean	32.3	29.0	27.4
range	30.8 to 34.6	27.4 to 30.0	26.1 to 28.5
a*
mean	−7.0	−7.0	−6.4
range	−4.8 to −8.2	−6.1 to −7.7	−5.3 to −8.0
b*
mean	14.0	11.5	11.1
range	9.4 to 18.4	9.7 to 13.7	9.4 to 14.3
Munsell	5GY 4/3	5GY 4/3	5GY 4/3
Abaxial
L*
mean	46.1	47.5	45.7
range	43.9 to 49.2	46.4 to 48.7	44.0 to 47.5
a*
mean	−7.6	−7.6	−7.5
range	−6.8 to −8.0	−6.7 to −8.5	−6.6 to −8.3
b*
mean	21.8	20.4	19.8
range	20.1 to 25.0	17.2 to 24.5	18.4 to 20.7
Munsell	2.5GY 5/5	2.5GY 5/5	2.5GY 4/3
*CIELAB is the abbreviation of the international color system known as “Commission Internationale De L' Eclairage” 1978. For recommendations concerning uniform color spaces, color difference equations, and psychometric color terms see Supplement No. 2 of CIE Publication No. 15, Paris.

Isozymes in Leaf Extracts

‘Camino Real’ has been classified for three isozyme systems using Starch Gel Electrophoresis: Phosophoglucoisomerase (PGI), Leucine Aminopeptidase (LAP), and Phosphoglucomutase (PGM). It is distinguishable from the ‘Gaviota’ and ‘Camarosa’ cultivars using this methodology. See Table 3 that follows.

	TABLE 3
	Cultivar

	Locus	‘Camarosa’	‘Gaviota’	‘Camino Real’
	PGI	A2	A2	A2
	LAP	B3	B3	B3
	PGM	C1	C1	C3

For electrophoretic procedures see: J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 106:684 to 687.

Disease and Pest Reactions

‘Camino Real’ is moderately susceptible to common leaf spot (Ramularia tulasnei) and somewhat sensitive to powdery mildew (Sphaerotheca macularis). It is quite resistant to Verticillium wilt (Verticillium dahliae) and Phytophthora crown rot (Phytophthora cactorum), and relatively resistant to Anthracnose crown rot (Colletotrichum acutatum). When treated properly, it has tolerance to two-spotted spidermites (Tetranychus urticae) equal or greater than ‘Gaviota’ and ‘Camarosa’. ‘Camino Real’ is tolerant to strawberry viruses encountered in California.

Flowering, Fruiting, Fruit and Production Characteristics

Comparative statistics for flower and fruit characters near mid-season are given for ‘Camarosa’, ‘Gaviota’ and ‘Camino Real’ in Table 4 that follows. The primary flowers for ‘Camino Real’ are similar in size to those of the ‘Gaviota’ and ‘Camarosa’ cultivars. The petals for all three cultivars are white on both surfaces. The petal apex for all three cultivars is flat across the top with slightly rounded edges to slightly rounded across the top. The sepals are somewhat larger than those of the ‘Gaviota’ cultivar and are similar to those of the ‘Camarosa’ cultivar. The number of sepals equals the number of petals for all three cultivars. The calyx for ‘Camino Real’ varies from slightly indented to slightly necked, and each primary flower has 5 to 8 petals. The fruit shape for ‘Camino Real’ can vary but is typically rounded or symmetrical conic, and is easily distinguishable from that of the ‘Camarosa’ cultivar that is shortened flat conic. ‘Camino Real’ commonly has a greater proportion of symmetrical fruit than the ‘Gaviota’ cultivar. The fruit color information included in Table 4 was obtained using a reflectance spectrophotometer that integrates color over a 1.5 cm diameter circle. As indicated in FIG. 4, the internal fruit coloration is variable over a wide range and is lighter in the center than at the margin. This wide color variation is present in almost all strawberry cultivars. Achenes vary from yellow to dark red, and are generally even with the fruit surface or slightly indented. The pedicel information included in Table 4 was obtained on Jan. 21, 2002.

	TABLE 4
	Cultivar

Character	‘Camarosa’	‘Gaviota’	‘Camino Real’
Number of Petals
mean	6.3	5.9	5.8
range	5 to 8	5 to 8	5 to 8
Petal shape
apex	truncate to	truncate to	truncate to
	slightly obtuse	slightly obtuse	slightly obtuse
base	attenuate	attenuate	attenuate
margin	entire	entire	entire
Petal length (mm)
mean	14.4	14.4	17.4
range	14-15	13-15	16-19
Petal width (mm)
mean	14.2	15.7	17.4
range	14-15	14-17	17-18
Flower Position	mostly even	exposed	exposed
(relative to	some exposed
foliage)
Calyx Diam.
(mm)
mean	48.1	41.7	47.1
range	32 to 58	30 to 58	37 to 57
Corolla Diam.
(mm)
mean	35.6	37.9	26.8
range	30 to 47	32 to 48	32 to 42
Sepal length
(mm)
mean	17.8	16.2	19.8
range	17-20	15-17	19-20
Sepal width
(mm)
mean	6.4	9.6	6-8
range	6-7	9-11	6-7
Sepal color	7.5 GY 4/4	5 GY 4/3	5 GY 4/3
(Munsell)
Pedicel length
(mm)
mean	93.2	72.8	76.0
range	85-112	62-87	72-80
Pedicel diameter
(mm)
mean	2.4	2.6	2.8
range	2.2-2.5	2.5-2.9	2.7-2.9
Pedicel color	5 GY 6/8	2.5 GY 6/8	5 GY 6/8
(Munsell)
Fruit Shape
Fruit length (mm)
mean	54	54	56
range	42-63	45-70	48-68
Fruit width (mm)
mean	49	44	50
range	39-72	37-51	43-62
length/width
ratio	1.13	1.22	1.14
range	0.61 to 1.51	1.02 to 1.45	0.92 to 1.28
subjective	short flat conic	mostly rounded	mostly
		conic, some flat	symmetrical
		conic	conic, some flat
			conic
Calyx Position	even to	even to	even to
	slightly necked	slightly indented	slightly indented
Seed Position	even to	even	even
	slightly
	indented

External and internal fruit color for ‘Camino Real’ is darker than that of the ‘Camarosa’ cultivar, and slightly darker than that of the ‘Gaviota’ cultivar. See Table 5 that follows where CIELAB fruit color information is presented.

	TABLE 5
	Cultivar

	‘Camarosa’	‘Gaviota’	‘Camino Real’

	External
	L*
	mean	23.3	22.4	20.1
	range	20.7 to 27.0	20.3 to 24.5	15.6 to 22.9
	a*
	mean	26.6	28.2	26.3
	range	21.6 to 29.5	25.3 to 31.4	21.6 to 29.4
	b*
	mean	12.8	14.8	13.6
	range	9.9 to 14.6	12.0 to 17.7	7.8 to 20.3
	Munsell	2.5R 3/7	5R 3/7	5R 3/7
	Internal
	L*
	mean	44.0	48.1	40.2
	range	40.7 to 46.9	44.3 to 53.9	26.3 to 45.4
	a*
	mean	41.4	37.2	39.2
	range	35.0 to 45.1	26.1 to 41.3	31.8 to 43.6
	b*
	mean	29.9	28.6	28.8
	range	24.1 to 35.3	19.9 to 32.6	19.8 to 35.5
	Munsell	5R 4/12	5R 5/13	5R 5/13

Performance

‘Camino Real’ has been tested under a variety of cultural regimes, and optimal performance is obtained when nursery treatments and nutritional programs similar to those used with the ‘Gaviota’ and ‘Camarosa’ cultivars are employed. In general, ‘Camino Real’ is less adapted to very early season planting but less sensitive to excess chilling than the ‘Camarosa’ cultivar. ‘Camino Real’ retains excellent fruit quality in summer planting systems.

When treated with appropriate planting regimes, ‘Camino Real’ has larger fruit and produces greater individual-plant yields than the ‘Gaviota’ or ‘Camarosa’ cultivars. ‘Camino Real’ is intermediate to the ‘Gaviota’ and ‘Camarosa’ cultivars in its production pattern. It is somewhat later to initiate production than the ‘Camarosa’ cultivar, with conventional winter planting in central California but has earlier average production than the ‘Gaviota’ cultivar. Commercial appearance ratings have been better than those for the ‘Gaviota’ and ‘Camarosa’ cultivars and trials conducted at Santa Maria, Calif., U.S.A. in 1998 to 1999 have indicated that the fraction of non-marketable fruit is approximately one-half that produced by the ‘Camarosa’ cultivar. Fruit for ‘Camino Real’ is substantially firmer than the fruit of the ‘Gaviota’ cultivar, and is similar in firmness to that of the ‘Camarosa’ cultivar. Subjectively, the ‘Camino Real’ fruit has very good flavor. The fruit will be outstanding for both the fresh market and for processing, and will be useful for home garden purposes as well. See the comparative data presented in Table 6 that follows. There information is provided for plants that were evaluated during 1998 and 1999 at the Watsonville, Calif., U.S.A., Research Faculty of the University of California. Such plants had been asexually reproduced by the use of runners at Macdoel, Calif., U.S.A., were harvested on October 15^th, and were subjected to supplemental storage for approximately 7 to 10 days prior to being transplanted. The test planting consisted of 52 inch two-row beds, 17,300 plants/acre. Harvest was initiated in early April and continued through the last week of August.

TABLE 6
	Yield	Appearance	Size
Cultivar	(g/plant)	Score	(g/fruit)	Firmness
‘Camarosa’	1,783	3.3	27.2	7.7
‘Gaviota’	1,437	3.5	27.8	7.1
‘Camino Real’	1,813	3.8	31.1	7.6

‘Camino Real’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment.

Claims (1)

We claim:

1. A new and distinct short-day strawberry plant cultivar that exhibits the following combination of characteristics:

(a) Exhibits a very compact growth habit,

(b) Typically forms attractive mostly symmetrical-conic fruit of very good quality in a good yield, and

(c) Forms relatively small broad concave leaflets having semi-pointed serrations;

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