Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Fragaria ananassa.
Variety denomination: ‘BG-4316’.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry variety named ‘BG-4316’. This new variety is a result of a controlled cross made in 2002 in an ongoing breeding program between strawberry variety designated ‘BG-633’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,320) and strawberry variety designated ‘BG-1445’ (a non-patented selection). Due to the combining of the reciprocal seed lots, it is unknown as to which parent variety is the seed parent and which parent variety is the pollen parent. The variety is botanically known as Fragaria ananassa.
The seedling resulting from the aforementioned cross was selected from a controlled breeding plot in Ventura County, Calif. in the winter of 2004. After its selection, the new variety was asexually propagated by stolons in both San Joaquin County, Calif. and Siskiyou County, Calif. The new variety was extensively tested over the next several years in fruiting fields in Ventura County, Calif. This propagation has demonstrated that the combination of traits disclosed herein as characterizing the new variety are fixed and remain true to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
‘BG-4316’ is primarily adapted to the climate and growing conditions of the central coast of California. The nearby Pacific Ocean provides the needed humidity and moderate temperatures to produce a strong vigorous plant and maintain fruit quality during the winter and spring production months.
The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘BG-4316’, which in combination distinguish this strawberry plant as a new and distinct variety:
-
- 1. Acute terminal leaflet base;
- 2. Medium to strong anthocyanins on the fruiting truss;
- 3. Orange red fruit color;
- 4. Medium-sized fruit; and
- 5. Calyx is slightly to much larger than the fruit.
The strawberry variety that is believed to be most closely related to the new variety ‘BG-4316’ is ‘BG-1975’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,725). In side-by-side comparisons to the similar strawberry variety ‘BG-1975’, ‘BG-4316’ differs by the following combination of characteristics as described in Table 1.
TABLE 1 |
|
COMPARISON TO THE SIMILAR VARIETY |
|
|
‘BG-1975’ |
Characteristic |
‘BG-4316’ |
(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,725) |
|
Marketable yield |
1,134 |
1,080 |
(gm/plant) |
|
|
Fruit predominant shape |
Conical |
Ranges from conical to |
|
|
almost cylindrical |
Insertion of achenes |
Level with |
Ranges from level with to |
|
the surface |
below the surface |
50% of plants with ripe |
Medium |
Ranges from medium to |
fruit |
|
early |
Plant size |
Medium |
Ranges from medium to |
|
|
large |
Foliage color |
Medium green |
Ranges from medium to |
|
|
light yellow green |
Petiole pubescence |
Moderate |
Heavy |
Fruiting truss anthocyanin |
Ranges from |
Weak |
intensity |
medium to strong |
|
Expression of hollow |
Ranges from |
Moderate |
center |
weak to moderate |
|
Fruit color |
Orange red |
Ranges from orange red to |
|
|
red |
|
For identification, a series of molecular markers have been determined for this new variety.
‘BG-4316’ differs from its parents, ‘BG-633’ and ‘BG-1445’ by the following combination of characteristics as described in Table 2.
TABLE 2 |
|
COMPARISON WITH PARENT VARIETIES |
|
|
‘BG-633’ |
|
Characteristic |
‘BG-4316’ |
(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,320) |
‘BG-1445’ |
|
Marketable yield |
1,134 |
964 |
692 |
(gm/plant) |
|
|
|
Fruit gloss |
Medium |
Weak |
Medium |
Fruit size |
Medium |
Ranges from medium to |
Large |
|
|
large |
|
Plant size |
Medium |
Ranges from medium to |
Medium |
|
|
small |
|
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS
The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance of typical specimens of the new strawberry variety ‘BG-4316’, at various stages of development as true as it is reasonably possible with color reproductions of this type. Color in the photographs may differ slightly from the color value cited in the botanical descriptions which accurately describe the color of ‘BG-4316’. The depicted plant and plant parts of the new strawberry variety ‘BG-4316’ are approximately six months old. The photographs were taken in Ventura County, Calif.:
FIG. 1 shows typical fruiting field characteristics of ‘BG-4316’, taken in the month of April 2011;
FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the typical leaf structure of ‘BG-4316’, taken in the month of April 2011;
FIG. 3 shows typical mature and immature field fruit of ‘BG-4316’, taken in the month of April 2011; and
FIG. 4 shows typical internal and external mature fruit characteristics of ‘BG-4316’, taken in the month of April 2011.
DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION
The new variety ‘BG-4316’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The characteristics of the new variety ‘BG-4316’ may vary in detail, depending upon variations in environmental factors, including weather (temperature, humidity and light intensity), day length, soil type and location. In addition, the characteristics of any parental variety or comparison variety included in Tables 1-9 of the present invention may vary in detail, depending upon variations in environmental factors, including weather (temperature, humidity and light intensity), day length, soil type and location.
The aforementioned photographs, together with the following description of the new variety ‘BG-4316’, unless otherwise noted, are based on observations taken during the 2011 growing season in Ventura County, Calif. These measurements and ratings were taken from plants of ‘BG-4316’ dug from a high-elevation nursery located in Siskiyou County, Calif. during early October 2010 and planted approximately four to five days later in Ventura County, Calif. The approximate age of the observed plants is six months. Yield observations and fruit quality characteristics are averaged from six years of data collected from the 2006 through 2011 growing seasons. Flower measurements and characteristics are from secondary flowers unless otherwise noted. Fruit characteristics and measurements are from secondary fruit unless otherwise noted.
Color terminology where noted follows The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, London (2007).
The following tables 3-9 describe fruit, plant, stolon, foliage, fruiting truss, flower and pest disease characteristics of the new strawberry ‘BG-4316’ in comparison to the similar strawberry variety ‘BG-1975’.
TABLE 3 |
|
FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS |
|
|
‘BG-1975’ |
|
|
(U.S. Plant |
Characteristic |
‘BG-4316’ |
Pat. No. 17,725) |
|
Color of mature fruit |
RHS 34A |
RHS 45A |
|
Orange red |
Ranges from orange red |
|
|
to red |
Color of internal flesh |
RHS 34C |
RHS 44A |
|
Light red |
Medium red |
Fruit length (cm) |
4.3 |
4.5 |
Fruit width (cm) |
3.8 |
3.9 |
Fruit length/width ratio |
1.15 |
1.14 |
|
Slightly longer than |
Slightly longer than |
|
broad |
broad |
Calyx diameter (cm) |
5.5 |
5.2 |
Average fruit weight |
24.9 |
26.6 |
(gm) |
|
|
Achene color, shaded |
RHS 153D |
RHS 152D |
side |
Yellow green group |
Yellow green group |
Achene color, sun- |
RHS 182A |
RHS 183A |
exposed side |
Greyed purple group |
Greyed purple group |
Achenes per berry |
331 |
300 |
Achene weight (mg) |
0.50 |
0.67 |
Marketable fruit yield |
1,134 |
1,080 |
(gm/plant) |
|
|
Fruit size |
Medium |
Ranges from medium to |
|
|
large |
Predominant fruit shape |
Conical |
Ranges from conical to |
|
|
almost cylindrical |
Difference in shapes |
Slight |
Ranges from slight to |
between primary and |
|
moderate |
secondary fruit |
|
|
Band without achenes |
Absent or very narrow |
Absent or very narrow |
Unevenness of fruit |
Absent or very weak |
Weak |
surface |
|
|
Evenness of fruit color |
Even |
Ranges from slightly |
|
|
uneven to even |
Fruit glossiness |
Medium |
Ranges from medium to |
|
|
strong |
Insertion of achenes |
Level with surface |
Ranges from below |
|
|
surface to level with |
|
|
surface |
Insertion of calyx |
In basin |
In basin |
Attitude of calyx |
Ranges from |
Spreading |
|
collapsing to |
|
|
spreading |
|
Size of calyx in relation |
Ranges from slightly |
Ranges from slightly |
to fruit diameter |
larger to much larger |
larger to much larger |
Adherence of calyx |
Strong |
Very strong |
Firmness of fruit skin |
Ranges from medium |
Ranges from medium to |
|
to strong |
strong |
Firmness of fruit flesh |
Firm |
Medium |
Keeping quality |
Good |
Good |
Distribution of red color |
Marginal and central |
Marginal and central |
of the flesh |
|
|
Hollow center expression |
Ranges from weak to |
Moderate |
|
moderate |
|
Fruit flavor |
Good |
Very good |
Soluble solids (% brix) |
7.4 |
8.6 |
Time of first flowering |
Ranges from early to |
Ranges from early to |
|
medium |
medium |
Time of first harvesting |
Ranges from early to |
Ranges from early to |
|
medium |
medium |
Harvest period |
Late December to late |
Early January to late |
|
May |
May |
Type of bearing |
Not remontant |
Not remontant |
|
TABLE 4 |
|
PLANT CHARACTERISTICS |
|
|
‘BG-1975’ |
Characteristic |
‘BG-4316’ |
(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,725) |
|
Plant height (cm) |
21.3 |
23.0 |
Plant spread (cm) |
28.5 |
26.1 |
Plant size |
Medium |
Ranges from large to medium |
Plant habit |
Globose |
Globose |
Plant density |
Medium |
Medium |
Plant vigor |
Ranges from medium to |
Ranges from medium to |
|
strong |
strong |
|
TABLE 5 |
|
STOLON CHARACTERISTICS |
|
|
‘BG-1975’ |
Characteristic |
‘BG-4316’ |
(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,725) |
|
Stolon color |
RHS 146C |
RHS 146D |
|
Yellow green group |
Yellow green group |
Stolon anthocyanin |
RHS 184A |
RHS 182A |
coloration |
Greyed red group |
Greyed red group |
Stolon anthocyanin |
Strong |
Weak |
intensity |
|
|
Average stolon quantity |
Ranges from |
Medium |
|
medium to many |
|
Stolon diameter at bract |
2.8 |
3.1 |
(mm) |
|
|
Stolon pubescence |
Medium |
Strong |
Attitude of hairs |
Upwards |
Slightly outward |
|
TABLE 6 |
|
FOLIAGE CHARACTERISTICS |
|
|
‘BG-1975’ |
|
|
(U.S. Plant |
Characteristic |
‘BG-4316’ |
Pat. No. 17,725) |
|
Foliage: |
|
|
Color of upper surface |
RHS 137B |
RHS 146B |
|
Medium green |
Ranges from light |
|
|
yellow green to medium |
|
|
yellow green |
Color of underside |
RHS 147C |
RHS 147C |
|
Yellow green group |
Yellow green group |
Shape in cross section |
Slightly concave to flat |
Slightly concave to flat |
Interveinal blistering |
Ranges from weak to |
Ranges from weak to |
|
medium |
medium |
Leaf glossiness |
Medium |
Ranges from weak to |
|
|
medium |
Number of leaflets |
3 |
3 |
Terminal Leaflet: |
|
|
Length (cm) |
7.0 |
7.0 |
Width (cm) |
5.8 |
6.2 |
Length/width ratio |
1.22 |
1.13 |
|
Longer than broad |
Ranges from as long as |
|
|
broad to longer than |
|
|
broad |
Serrations/leaf |
20.0 |
20.8 |
Leaf Size |
Ranges from medium to |
Ranges from medium to |
|
small |
small |
Shape of base |
Acute |
Acute |
Shape of teeth |
Rounded |
Rounded |
Petiole: |
|
|
Petiole color |
RHS 144A |
RHS 144B |
|
Yellow green group |
Yellow green group |
Petiole length (cm) |
14.3 |
15.5 |
Petiole diameter (mm) |
3.4 |
3.7 |
Petiolule color |
RHS 144A |
RHS 144B |
|
Yellow green group |
Yellow green group |
Petiolule length (mm) |
5.8 |
11.7 |
Petiole pubescence |
Moderate |
Heavy |
Attitude of hairs |
Ranges from slightly |
Strongly outward |
|
outward to strongly |
|
|
outward |
|
Stipule: |
|
|
Color |
RHS 146C |
RHS 146C |
|
Yellow green group |
Yellow green group |
Anthocyanin coloration |
RHS 60B |
RHS 61B |
|
Red purple group |
Red purple group |
Anthocyanin intensity |
Ranges from medium to |
Weak |
|
strong |
|
Length (mm) |
17.8 |
16.0 |
Width (mm) |
12.7 |
10.1 |
|
TABLE 7 |
|
FRUITING TRUSS CHARACTERISTICS |
|
|
‘BG-1975’ |
Characteristic |
‘BG-4316’ |
(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,725) |
|
Anthocyanin coloration |
RHS 181C |
RHS 181C |
|
Greyed red group |
Greyed red group |
Anthocyanin intensity |
Ranges from |
Weak |
|
medium to strong |
|
Length at maturity (cm) |
23.8 |
28.6 |
Position relative to foliage |
Level with the |
Ranges from level with to |
|
foliage |
above the foliage |
Pubescence |
Ranges from |
Strong |
|
weak to medium |
|
Attitude at first pick |
Prostrate |
Prostrate |
|
TABLE 8 |
|
FLOWER CHARACTERISTICS |
|
|
‘BG-1975’ |
Characteristic |
‘BG-4316’ |
(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,725) |
|
Petal color |
RHS NN155C |
RHS NN155C |
|
White group |
White group |
Sepal color |
RHS N137A |
RHS 138A |
|
Green group |
Green group |
Corolla diameter (mm) |
30.2 |
27.7 |
Calyx diameter (mm) |
38.0 |
38.8 |
Petal length (mm) |
11.8 |
10.7 |
Petal width (mm) |
11.8 |
10.5 |
Petal length/width ratio |
1.0 |
1.02 |
Petals/flower |
5.8 |
6.3 |
Sepal length (mm) |
15.7 |
15.5 |
Sepal width (mm) |
4.5 |
5.5 |
Sepal length/width ratio |
3.46 |
2.81 |
Sepals/flower |
11.7 |
12.6 |
Size of calyx relative to |
Larger |
Larger |
corolla |
|
|
Size of inner calyx relative |
Ranges from |
Ranges from same to |
to outer calyx |
same to smaller |
smaller |
Relative position of petals |
Overlapping |
Overlapping |
|
TABLE 9 |
|
PEST AND DISEASE REACTIONS |
|
|
‘BG-1975’ |
Characteristic |
‘BG-4316’ |
(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,725) |
|
Two-spotted spider mite |
Moderately |
Moderately susceptible |
|
susceptible |
|
Powdery mildew |
Moderately |
Moderately susceptible |
|
susceptible |
|
Botrytis fruit rot |
Moderately |
Moderately susceptible |
|
susceptible |
|
Angular leaf spot |
Susceptible |
Susceptible |
|