Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: ‘USDA LUMINA’ is a new strawberry plant that is Fragaria x ananassa Duchesne ex Rozier.
Variety denomination: The new strawberry plant claimed is of the variety denominated ‘USDA Lumina’ Fragaria x ananassa Duchesne ex Rozier.
BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT
The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry cultivar designated ‘USDA Lumina’. This new strawberry cultivar was discovered in Beltsville, Maryland, in Spring 2019 and originated from a cross between the female parent B2475 (unpatented) and the male parent B2197 (unpatented). The original seedling of the new cultivar was asexually propagated in Beltsville since 2019 by rooting daughter plants from stolons of the mother plant. The present invention has been found to be stable and reproduce true to type through successive asexual propagations rooting daughter plants from stolons.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The cultivar ‘USDA Lumina’ is an early-season strawberry cultivar resistant to anthracnose fruit rot. Fruit yields are higher than other early-season cultivars. It has sweet fruit which are very attractive, brightly colored, glossy, and with uniform symmetry.
DESCRIPTIONS 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 color reproductions.
FIG. 1 shows a six-plant plot of ‘USDA Lumina’ during fruiting.
FIG. 2 shows the uniform shape and variation in size of ‘USDA Lumina’ fruit from a single harvest of a six-plant plot.
FIG. 3 shows the glossiness of ‘USDA Lumina’ fruit.
DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR
The following description of ‘USDA Lumina’ is based on observations taken from 2020 through 2023 growing seasons in in evaluations in Beltsville, Maryland, 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 7b. 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 on variation in environmental, seasonal, climatic, and cultural conditions. ‘USDA Lumina’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The botanical description of ‘USDA Lumina’ was taken from plants nine months after establishment in the field. Color terminology follows The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, London (R.H.S.86).
DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION
Table 1 shows selected characteristics of the new cultivar compared with plant characteristics of ‘Earliglow’ (unpatented) and ‘Galletta’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,763). Characteristics include fruit diameter and length, and the length/width ratio, average fruit weight, sweetness (Brix), acidity (pH and TA), and yield (weight and berry number).
| TABLE 1 |
| |
| |
‘USDA |
|
|
| Characteristic |
Lumina’ |
‘Earliglow’ |
‘Galletta’ |
| |
| Diameter fruit (cm) |
5.0 |
3.8 |
4.8 |
| Length fruit (cm) |
3.9 |
3.6 |
3.6 |
| Ratio fruit length/width |
1.3 |
1.1 |
1.3 |
| Weight fruit (g) |
14.1 |
6.9 |
17.1 |
| Brix (percent soluble solids) |
9.13 |
10.87 |
8.07 |
| pH |
3.73 |
3.67 |
3.58 |
| Titratable acidity (TA) |
0.92 |
1.01 |
0.89 |
| Yield (kg/plant) |
1.00 |
0.55 |
0.86 |
| Yield (non-decayed berries/plant) |
53.9 |
73.7 |
43.6 |
| |
Table 2 shows plant characteristics of the new cultivar compared with plant characteristics of ‘Earliglow’ and ‘Galletta’. Plant characteristics include plant height, diameter, number of crowns per plant, habit, density of individual plants and vigor.
| TABLE 2 |
| |
| |
‘USDA |
|
|
| Characteristic |
Lumina’ |
‘Earliglow’ |
‘Galletta’ |
| |
| Plant height (cm) |
23.5 |
20.8 |
18.5 |
| Plant diameter (cm) |
46.2 |
45.5 |
37.7 |
| Number of crowns |
5.3 |
4.2 |
2.5 |
| plant |
|
|
|
| Habit |
Upright open |
Upright open |
Upright open |
| |
globose |
globose |
globose |
| Density of indi- |
Medium to |
Medium |
Not dense |
| vidual plant |
dense |
|
|
| Vigor |
Medium to |
Medium to |
Medium |
| |
strong |
strong |
| |
Table 3 shows leaf characteristics of the new cultivar compared with leaf characteristics of ‘Earliglow’ and ‘Galletta’. Leaf characteristics include leaf type, leaf shape, leaf length, leaf width, terminal leaflet length, terminal leaflet width, terminal leaflet length to width ratio, leaf margins, shape of teeth, leaf serrations per leaflet, upper and lower leaf surface color, number of leaflets, terminal leaflet apex shape, terminal leaflet base shape, glossiness upper side leaf surface, texture upper side leaf surface, texture underside leaf surface, and leaf arrangement.
| TABLE 3 |
| |
| |
‘USDA |
|
|
| Characteristic |
Lumina’ |
‘Earliglow’ |
‘Galletta’ |
| |
| Leaf type |
Semi- |
Semi- |
Semi- |
| |
evergreen |
evergreen |
evergreen |
| Leaf shape |
Trifoliolate |
Trifoliolate |
Trifoliolate |
| |
with ovate |
with ovate |
with ovate |
| |
leaflets |
leaflets |
leaflets |
| |
touching |
touching |
touching |
| |
to over- |
to over- |
to over- |
| |
lapping |
lapping |
lapping |
| Leaf length (cm) |
12.8 |
15.0 |
12.9 |
| Leaf width (cm) |
16.0 |
17.3 |
15.9 |
| Terminal leaflet |
8.7 |
8.8 |
8.3 |
| length (cm) |
|
|
|
| Terminal leaflet |
6.9 |
7.8 |
7.1 |
| width (cm) |
|
|
|
| Terminal leaflet |
1.3 |
1.1 |
1.2 |
| length width ratio |
|
|
|
| Leaf margins |
Serrate |
Serrate |
Serrate |
| Shape of teeth |
Apiculate |
Apiculate |
Apiculate |
| Leaf serrations |
27.7 |
26.8 |
26.3 |
| per leaflet |
|
|
|
| Color mature |
Yellow-Green |
Green |
Green |
| leaves upper |
Group 146A |
Group 137A |
Group 137A |
| surface |
|
|
|
| Color mature |
Yellow-Green |
Green |
Green |
| leaves lower |
Group 147B |
Group 137C |
Group 137C |
| surface |
|
|
|
| Number of |
3 |
3 |
3 |
| leaflets |
|
|
|
| Terminal leaflet |
Obtuse |
Obtuse |
Obtuse |
| apex shape |
|
|
|
| Terminal leaflet |
Acute cuneate |
Acute cuneate |
Acute cuneate |
| base shape |
|
|
|
| Glossiness upper |
Semi-gloss |
Semi-gloss |
Semi-gloss |
| side leaf surface |
|
|
|
| Texture upper |
Very slightly |
Very slightly |
Very slightly |
| side leaf surface |
rugose |
rugose |
rugose |
| Texture under- |
Very slightly |
Very slightly |
Very slightly |
| side leaf surface |
reticulate |
reticulate |
reticulate |
| Leaf arrange- |
Individual tri- |
Individual tri- |
Individual tri- |
| ment |
foliate leaves |
foliate leaves |
foliate leaves |
| |
attached to |
attached to |
attached to |
| |
compressed |
compressed |
compressed |
| |
stem (crown) |
stem (crown) |
stem (crown) |
| |
at ground |
at ground |
at ground |
| |
level |
level |
level |
| |
Table 4 shows information about the petiole, the petiolule, the bract and the stipule of the new cultivar compared to ‘Farliglow’ and ‘Galletta’. This includes petiole length, petiole diameter, petiole pubescence, petiole color, petiolule color, petiolule length, petiole hair attitude, bract frequency and color, texture petiole, and stipule length, width and color.
| TABLE 4 |
| |
| Charac- |
‘USDA |
|
|
| teristic |
Lumina’ |
‘Earliglow’ |
‘Galletta’ |
| |
| Leaf petiole |
15.0 |
16.9 |
12.6 |
| length (cm) |
|
|
|
| Petiole dia- |
0.36 |
0.32 |
0.41 |
| meter (cm) |
|
|
|
| Petiole tex- |
Smooth |
Smooth |
Smooth |
| ture |
|
|
|
| Petiole |
Sparse |
Very sparse |
Moderately |
| pubescence |
|
|
dense |
| Petiole hair |
Upwards to |
Outwards |
Outwards |
| attitude |
outwards |
|
|
| Petiole |
Yellow Green |
Yellow Green |
Yellow Green |
| color |
Group 144A |
Group 144B |
Group 144B |
| Petiolule |
Yellow Green |
Yellow Green |
Yellow Green |
| color |
Group 144A |
Group 144B |
Group 144B |
| Petiolule |
0.84 |
0.52 |
0.58 |
| length (cm) |
|
|
|
| Bract |
1 to 2 per |
1 to 2 per |
1 to 2 per |
| frequency |
florescence, |
florescence, |
florescence, |
| |
generally |
generally |
generally |
| |
unifoliate |
unifoliate |
unifoliate |
| Bract color |
Yellow Green |
Yellow Green |
Yellow Green |
| |
Group 144A |
Group 144B |
Group 144B |
| Stipule |
3.6 |
3.1 |
2.8 |
| length (cm) |
|
|
|
| Stipule |
0.59 |
0.49 |
0.70 |
| width (cm) |
|
|
|
| Stipule color |
Yellow Green |
Yellow Green |
Yellow Green |
| |
Group 144A, |
Group 144B, |
Group 144B, |
| |
Grayish Red |
Grayish Red |
Grayish Red |
| |
Group 182B |
Group 182B |
Group 182B |
| |
Table 5 shows stolon characteristics of the new cultivar compared to ‘Farliglow’ and ‘Galletta’. These characteristics include the number of stolons, the anthocyanin coloration of the stolons, the thickness of the stolons, and the pubescence of the stolons.
| TABLE 5 |
| |
| |
‘USDA |
|
|
| Characteristic |
Lumina’ |
‘Earliglow’ |
‘Galletta’ |
| |
| Stolon pro- |
9.3 |
2.3 |
7.7 |
| duction per |
|
|
|
| plant |
|
|
|
| Stolon color |
Yellow Green |
Yellow Green |
Yellow Green |
| |
Group 144A, |
Group 144B, |
Group 144B, |
| |
Grayish Red |
Grayish Red |
Grayish Red |
| |
Group 182B |
Group 182B |
Group 182B |
| Stolon antho- |
Medium |
Strong |
Medium |
| cyanin |
|
|
|
| Stolon thick- |
0.27 |
0.28 |
0.26 |
| ness (cm) |
|
|
|
| Stolon |
Medium |
Medium |
Medium |
| pubescence |
| |
Table 6 shows inflorescence characteristics of the new cultivar compared to ‘Earliglow’ and ‘Galletta’. These characteristics include inflorescence position relative to foliage, flower type, flower size, petal shape, relative petal spacing, petal apex shape, petal margin, petal base shape, petal length, petal width, petal length/width ratio, number of petals, petal color, Stigma color, style color, anther color, filament color, and flower truss type.
| TABLE 6 |
| |
| |
‘USDA |
|
|
| Characteristic |
Lumina’ |
‘Earliglow’ |
‘Galletta’ |
| |
| Inflorescence |
Slightly below |
Level to slightly |
Slightly below |
| position |
to level |
above |
to level |
| Flower type |
Complete |
Complete |
Complete |
| |
simple |
simple |
simple |
| Flower dia- |
3.1 |
2.3 |
1.9 |
| meter (cm) |
|
|
|
| Petal shape |
Circular to |
Circular to |
Circular to |
| |
obovate |
obovate |
obovate |
| Petal spacing |
Overlapping |
Separate to |
Overlapping |
| |
|
overlapping |
|
| Petal apex shape |
Circular |
Circular |
Circular |
| Petal margin |
Entire |
Entire |
Entire |
| Petal base shape |
Obovate |
Obovate |
Obovate |
| Petal length (cm) |
1.16 |
0.91 |
0.82 |
| Petal width (cm) |
1.14 |
0.74 |
0.93 |
| Petal length/ |
1.02 |
1.25 |
0.88 |
| width ratio |
|
|
|
| Petal count |
5.0 |
5.0 |
5.2 |
| Petal color |
White Group |
White Group |
White Group |
| |
155D |
155D |
155D |
| Stigma color |
Yellow-Orange |
Yellow-Green |
Yellow-Orange |
| |
Group 20C |
Group 150C |
Group 18B |
| Style color |
Yellow-Green |
Yellow-Green |
Yellow-Green |
| |
Group 150B |
Group 154B |
Group 151D |
| Anther color |
Yellow-Orange |
Yellow-Orange |
Yellow-Orange |
| |
Group 20A |
Group 21A |
Group 21B |
| Filament color |
Yellow-Green |
Yellow-Green |
Yellow-Green |
| |
Group 150C |
Group 154C |
Group 154D |
| Anther count |
23.6 |
22.3 |
24.6 |
| Blooming habit |
Cyme |
Cyme |
Cyme |
| |
Table 7 shows fruit characteristics of the new cultivar compared to ‘Earliglow’ and ‘Galletta’. These characteristics include number of berries per truss, fruiting truss attitude, fruit length, fruit diameter, fruit length/width ratio, fruit weight, relative fruit size, predominant fruit shape, difference in shape between primary and secondary fruit, band without achenes, evenness of fruit surface, top color, non-blush side color, blush side color, internal color, achene color, achene count per fruit, insertion of calyx, pose of calyx segments, size of calyx in relation to fruit, ease of calyx removal, firmness of flesh, evenness of flesh color, distribution of flesh color, sweetness, acidity, Brix, pH, titratable acidity, texture when tasted, time of flowering, harvest maturity (50% of plants with ripe fruit), type of bearing, and yield.
| TABLE 7 |
| |
| |
‘USDA |
|
|
| Characteristic |
Lumina’ |
‘Earliglow’ |
‘Galletta’ |
| |
| |
| Number of berries |
5.0 |
7.7 |
5.7 |
| per fruiting truss |
|
|
|
| Fruiting truss |
Prostrate |
Prostrate |
Prostrate |
| attitude |
|
|
|
| Diameter fruit |
5.0 |
3.8 |
4.8 |
| (cm) |
|
|
|
| Length fruit (cm) |
3.9 |
3.6 |
3.6 |
| Ratio fruit length/ |
1.3 |
1.1 |
1.3 |
| width |
|
|
|
| Weight fruit (g) |
14.1 |
6.9 |
17.1 |
| Relative fruit size |
Medium to |
Small |
Medium to |
| |
Large |
|
Large |
| Predominant fruit |
Ovate to |
Conic with |
Ovate to |
| shape |
conic |
neck |
conic |
| Difference in |
None, uni- |
None, uni- |
Moderate, |
| shape between |
form |
form |
primaries have |
| primary and |
|
|
some ridging |
| secondary fruits |
|
|
|
| Band without |
Slight |
Moderate |
None to |
| achenes |
|
|
slight |
| Evenness of fruit |
Even to |
Slightly |
Even to |
| surface |
slightly |
uneven |
slightly |
| |
uneven |
|
uneven |
| Color of top of |
Red Group |
Red Group |
Red Group |
| fruit |
44A |
46B |
45A |
| Blush side color |
Red Group |
Red Group |
Red Group |
| |
45A |
46A |
46A |
| Non-blush side |
Red Group |
Red Group |
Red Group |
| color |
44B |
44A |
45A |
| Internal flesh |
Orange-White |
White Group |
Orange-White |
| color |
Group 159D, |
155D, Red |
Group 159D, |
| |
Red Group |
Group 44A |
Red Group 44A, |
| |
44A, Red |
|
Red Group 44C |
| |
Group 44C |
|
|
| Achene position |
At surface |
At surface |
At surface to |
| |
|
|
slightly raised |
| Achene color |
Red Group |
Red Group 46B, |
Yellow-Green |
| |
45A, Yellow |
Yellow-Green |
Group 153B, |
| |
Group 153A, |
Group 152C, |
Greyed-Orange |
| |
Yellow-Green |
Greyed-Orange |
Group 166B |
| |
Group 152C |
Group 166A |
|
| Achene count |
305 |
252 |
304 |
| Insertion of |
At surface |
Necked |
At surface |
| calyx |
to slightly |
|
to necked |
| |
necked |
|
|
| Pose of calyx |
Reflexed |
Reflexed |
Reflexed |
| segments |
|
|
|
| Size of calyx |
Smaller to |
Same to |
Same to |
| in relation to |
slightly larger |
slightly larger |
slightly larger |
| fruit |
|
|
|
| Ease of calyx |
Difficult |
Difficult |
Difficult |
| removal |
|
|
|
| Firmness of |
Medium to |
Medium |
Medium to |
| flesh |
firm |
|
firm |
| Evenness of |
Uneven |
Uneven |
Uneven |
| flesh color |
|
|
|
| Distribution |
Red Group 44C |
Red Group 44A |
Red Group 44C |
| of flesh color |
core, Orange- |
core, then White |
core, Orange- |
| |
White Group |
Group 155D halo |
White Group |
| |
159D halo, area |
and radiant lines, |
159D area near |
| |
near calyx, and |
through Red |
calyx and radiant |
| |
radiant lines, |
Group 44A |
lines through Red |
| |
through Red |
outer ring |
Group 44A outer |
| |
Group 44A |
|
ring |
| |
outer ring |
|
|
| Sweetness |
Sweet |
Very sweet |
Mild |
| Acidity |
Mild |
Medium |
Tart |
| Brix (percent |
9.13 |
10.87 |
8.07 |
| soluble solids) |
|
|
|
| pH |
3.73 |
3.67 |
3.58 |
| Titratable |
0.92 |
1.01 |
0.89 |
| acidity (TA) |
|
|
|
| Texture when |
Smooth to |
Fine, some- |
Fine, some- |
| tasted |
Creamy |
what smooth |
what smooth, |
| |
|
|
slightly |
| |
|
|
gummy |
| Time of |
April to |
April to |
April to |
| flowering |
May |
May |
May |
| Harvest matur- |
Mid to late |
Mid to late |
Mid to late |
| ity (50% of |
May |
May |
May |
| plant with |
|
|
|
| ripe fruit) |
|
|
|
| Type of |
Short Day/ |
Short Day/ |
Short Day/ |
| bearing |
June Bearing |
June Bearing |
June Bearing |
| Yield (non- |
53.9 |
73.7 |
43.6 |
| decayed berries/ |
|
|
|
| plant) |
|
|
|
| Yield (kg/plant) |
1.00 |
0.55 |
0.86 |
| |
Table 8 shows the fruit quality of the new cultivar compared to ‘Earliglow’ and ‘Galletta’ after one week and two weeks in refrigerated storage. The postharvest fruit quality characteristics include the percentage of stored fruits that are marketable, degraded, or rotted after one week and two weeks in refrigerated storage.
| TABLE 8 |
| |
| |
Percentage marketable |
Percentage degraded |
| Cultivar |
Week 1 |
Week 2 |
Week 1 |
Week 2 |
| |
| ‘USDA |
91 |
bcd |
53 |
bc |
45 |
bcd |
94 |
bcd |
| Lumina’ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ‘Earliglow’ |
98 |
a |
51 |
bc |
46 |
bcd |
97 |
abc |
| ‘Galletta’ |
95 |
ab |
42 |
cde |
28 |
d |
98 |
a |
| |
| ‘USDA |
2 |
cde |
20 |
abc |
|
|
|
|
| Lumina’ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ‘Earliglow’ |
1 |
e |
2 |
ef |
|
|
|
|
| ‘Galletta’ |
1 |
e |
1 |
f |
| |
COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL GENOTYPES
When ‘USDA Lumina’ is compared to female parent, B2475 (unpatented), the fruits have better symmetry and are less susceptible to Botrytis fruit rot. When ‘USDA Lumina’ is compared to male parent, B2197 (unpatented), the fruits a more desirable, less mealy texture and are less susceptible to Botrytis fruit rot.