USPP28470P3 - Strawberry plant named ‘Flame’ - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a new and distinct strawberry variety designated as ‘Flame’ (a.k.a. ‘108229’).

Description

Latin name of the genus and species: Fragaria×ananassa.

Varietal denominations: ‘Flame’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to new and distinct day-neutral strawberry variety designated as ‘Flame’ (a.k.a. ‘108229’).

‘Flame’ (a.k.a. ‘108229’) is the result of a controlled-cross between a female parent cultivar designated 102850 and a male parent cultivar designated 106734 (both unpatented, proprietary cultivars) made by the Inventor and was first fruited in Watsonville, Calif. growing fields. Following selection and during testing, the plant was originally designated ‘108229’ and subsequently named ‘Flame’.

This new variety was asexually reproduced via runners (stolons) by the inventor at Watsonville, Calif. Asexual propagules from the original source have been tested in Watsonville growing fields and to a limited extent, grower fields in high elevation. The properties of this variety were found to be transmissible by such asexual reproduction. This cultivar was stable and reproduces true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to new and distinctive strawberry cultivar designated as ‘Flame’. This cultivar is primarily adapted to the climate and growing conditions of the central coast of California. This region provides the necessary temperatures required for it to produce a strong vigorous plant and to remain in fruit production from March through October. The nearby Pacific Ocean provides the needed humidity and moderate day temperatures and evening chilling to maintain fruit quality for the production months.

The following traits and photographs in combination distinguish strawberry variety ‘Flame’ from known strawberry varieties. In addition, this new cultivar was confirmed to be a unique strawberry germplasm when tested against the California Seed & Plant Lab, Inc. (Elverta, Calif.) database using Short Sequence Repeats (SSRs). Plants for the botanical measurements in the present application were grown as annuals. Any color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The fruit produced by this new cultivar is attractive and of excellent quality.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color photographs depict various characteristics of the cultivar as nearly true as possible to make color reproductions. Dormant bare root plants of ‘Flame’ were planted on October, Year 1, and the photos were taken around May to June, Year 2.

FIG. 1 shows ripe and near-ripe fruits of ‘Flame’ in May.

FIG. 2 shows sliced fruits of ‘Flame’.

FIG. 3 shows ‘Flame’ plants growing in the field.

FIG. 4 shows ‘Flame’ plant leaves with petioles.

FIG. 5 shows a close-up look of a ‘Flame’ plant leaf.

FIG. 6 shows flower petals and sepals of ‘Flame’ plant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

‘Flame’ (a.k.a. ‘108229’)

This invention relates to a new and distinctive day-neutral type cultivar designated as ‘Flame’. It is primarily adapted to the climate and growing conditions of the central coast of California. This region provides the necessary temperatures required for it to produce a strong vigorous plant and to remain in fruit production from March through October. The nearby Pacific Ocean provides the needed humidity and moderate day temperatures and evening chilling to maintain fruit quality for the production months.

The following traits in combination distinguish strawberry variety ‘Flame’ from the known strawberry varieties. Plants for the botanical measurements in the present application were grown as annuals. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Dormant bare root plants were planted on October, Year 1, and measurements in the table below were taken on November, Year 2.

‘Flame’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions, and the phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment. The following observations, measurements, and comparisons describe this plant as grown under normal conditions in Watsonville, Calif. unless otherwise noted.

Hybrid Patent Data Sheet
(Dormant bare root plants were planted on October, Year 1, and
measured on November, Year 2)
Variety: FLAME (A.K.A. ‘108229’)
Plant

Plant Growth Habit	semi-upright
Day length	neutral
Planting season	fall
Density of foliage	light to medium
Average number of	2
crowns per mature plant
Plant vigor	moderate
Rain/weather tolerance	moderate
Harvest Ease	easy
Height (mm)	420
Diameter (mm)	495 (the entire plant structure, including the
	“superstructure” of petioles, leaves, flowers)
	161 (inner “base” or “heart” structure of the
	plant, i.e. the mature apical and axial crowns of
	the strawberry plant where petioles, flowers and
	runners are attached)

Terminal Leaf

Length (mm)	87
Width (mm)	75
Terminal leaflet	1
length/width ratio
Blistering	none
Leaf glossiness	weak
No. teeth/terminal leaflet	22
shape of the terminal	rounded
leaflet base
shape of terminal leaflet	concave
in cross-section
margin description of the	serrate to crenate
terminal
Shape of teeth	obtuse
Color of upper side of	136A
leaves
Color of lower side of	139C
leaves
presence or absence of	absence
any leaf variegation
Number of leaflets	33
Terminal Leaflet margin	flat
Terminal Leaflet shape	orbicular
Terminal Leaflet shape	rounded
of base
Terminal Leaflet shape	rounded
of apex

Petiole

Length (mm)	34.1
Width (mm)	3.5
Petiole pubescence	medium
Petiole pose of hairs	outwards
Petiole color	145C

Petiolule

Length (mm)	30
Width(mm)	2

Stolon

Count (mm)	N/A
Diameter (mm)	N/A
Stolon color	145A
Stolon anthocyanin	187A
density of pubescence on	medium
the stolon
Stolon number	4
Stolon thickness	medium
Stolon pubescence	medium
Inflorescence
Petal/flower	6

Inflorescence

position relative	even to above
to foliage
flower arrangement of	touching
petals
Number of flowers per	30-40
plant
Flower size	medium
Corolla diameter (mm)	11
Calyx diameter (mm)	15
level of adherence of	medium
calyx
Color of calyx	137A
Pose of calyx segments	spreading
Petal length (mm)	12
Petal width (mm)	9
Petal length/width ratio	1.3
Petal shape	orbicular
Petal apex	rounded
Petal margin	entire
Petal base shape	concave
Petal spacing	overlapping
Petal color	155C
Sepal length (mm)	12
Sepal width (mm)	16
Sepal shape	elliptical
Sepal apex	convex
Sepal margin	entire
Sepal number per flower	20
Peduncle
Stipules
Pedicel color	145B
attitude of hairs on	upwards
pedicel
Receptacle color	150B
Fertility	self-fertile
Time of flowering	March
Anther color	20A
Anther shape	NA
Anther size	NA
Number of stamen	30
Stamen length (mm)	NA
Number of pistils per	NA
flower
Pistil length (mm)	NA
Shape of the stigma	NA
Stigma color	NA
Style color	NA
Style length (mm)	NA
Ovary color	NA
Pollen color	NA
Pollen amount	NA
Filament length	NA
Filament color	NA

Fruit

Fruit/truss	4
Fruiting truss attitude	erect
Length (mm)	50
Width (mm)	41
Core length (mm)	40
Core width (mm)	18
Fruit skin color (color	41A
code)
Fruit weight (g)	25
Relative fruit size	medium
Predominant fruit shape	conical
Difference in shape
between	none to very slight
primary & secondary
fruits
Fruit glossiness	medium
Position of achenes	even
Achenes per fruit	136
Achene weight (g)	0.09
Firmness	firm
Color of the flesh	41A
Distribution of flesh	entire
color
Time of fruit ripening	April
Harvest maturity (50%	early
of plants with ripe fruit)
Type of bearing	Day neutral
Grams of fruit/plant	912
(Peak season, June)
Appearance Score (from	4
1-5, with 5 = best)
Storage longevity	7 to 10 days
Cull rate: Non salable	<10%
fruit production rate
Disease and pest	Not tested
resistance:
(NA: not available)

When ‘Flame’ is compared to the proprietary female parent, ‘Flame’ has a lower height. The margin of the terminal leaf of ‘Flame’ is serrate to crenate, while the margin of the terminal leaf of the female parent is serrate.

When ‘Flame’ is compared to the proprietary male parent, ‘Flame’ has moderate plant vigor, while the male parent has high plant vigor.

When ‘Flame’ is compared to ‘Seascape’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 07,614), ‘Flame’ has a higher height. The margin of the terminal leaf of ‘Flame’ is serrate to crenate, while the margin of the terminal leaf of ‘Seascape’ is crenate. ‘Flame’ has fewer leaflets per plant when compared to ‘Seascape’.

Claims (1)

The invention claimed is:

1. A new and distinct cultivar of strawberry plant named ‘Flame’ substantially as shown and described herein.

Images