USPP30426P2

USPP30426P2 - Strawberry plant named ‘Sangria’

Info

Publication number: USPP30426P2
Application number: US15/732,842
Authority: US
Inventors: Jimmy Haig Bagdasarian
Original assignee: Lassen Canyon Nursery Inc
Current assignee: Lassen Canyon Nursery Inc
Priority date: 2018-01-03
Filing date: 2018-01-03
Publication date: 2019-04-23
Anticipated expiration: 2038-01-03

Abstract

A new and distinct variety of strawberry plant (Fragaria x ananassa) named ‘Sangria’ is presented here. This new short-day strawberry variety is characterized by a medium vigor plant which produces large, attractive, semi-glossy, long conical to occasionally wedge-shaped berries with a sweet strawberry flavor and a desirable lighter red color in the interior and exterior. ‘Sangria’ is firmer than its parents, allowing for better transport. While still rare, this variety does tend to have a higher than usual propensity to have leaves with four leaflets as compared with other varieties. The variety, while short-day, is partially remontant in cool coastal environments of California.

Description

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed:

Botanical classification: Fragaria x ananassa.

Variety denomination: The new strawberry variety denomination is ‘Sangria.’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry variety named ‘Sangria.’ This new short-day variety is the result of a controlled cross in an ongoing breeding program by the inventor, Jimmy Bagdasarian, in 2009. The variety is botanically known as Fragaria x ananassa. The primary market of this variety is for the fresh market sales of the fruit. ‘Sangria’ produces large, conical to occasionally wedge-shaped berries, which are medium firm, have good flavor and a light red color.

Comparison with Parent Varieties

The controlled cross which produced ‘Sangria’ was the result of a cross in 2009 between a strawberry variety used as a female parent designated ‘3F64’ (an unreleased proprietary variety), and a strawberry variety used as the male pollen parent designated ‘Sweet Ann’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,472).

The characteristics of the female parent ‘3F64’ are: A short-day plant with partial remontant tendencies in coastal regions. It has dark green glossy leaves with little blistering and an open architecture. The plant has high vigor, more than ‘Sangria.’ The fruit of ‘3F64’ are medium firm, medium sized with a slightly dull appearance. ‘3F64’ fruit are medium red colored with a slightly lighter center in the interior of the fruit. Fruit shape is mostly conical with few creases and with a few wedge-shaped fruits.

The male pollen parent ‘Sweet Ann’ has the following characteristics: A day neutral plant with an open plant density and a high vigor plant, substantially higher in vigor than that of ‘Sangria.’ The leaves are medium glossy with little to no blistering. Fruit of ‘Sweet Ann’ are very large (larger than that of ‘Sangria’), conical, and sweet, with a glossy medium red color on the interior and exterior, often with a white shoulder near the calyx.

‘Sangria’ is a short-day plant, unlike its male parent ‘Sweet Ann,’ but similar to its female parent ‘3F64.’ Both parents of ‘Sangria’ have high vigor, while ‘Sangria’ has medium vigor. The fruit size of ‘Sangria’ falls between both parents, larger than the fruit of ‘3F64,’ but smaller than that of ‘Sweet Ann.’ The firmness of ‘Sangria’ fruit, however, are slightly firmer than that of both parents. Fruit shape of ‘Sangria’ are more attractive than that of its female parent ‘3F64,’ but similar in attractiveness to ‘Sweet Ann’ fruit.

The cross done to create ‘Sangria’ was carried out in Santa Cruz, Calif., USA. Pollen taken from ‘Sweet Ann’ was placed onto a flower with male parts removed on ‘3F64’ and then covered so that no other pollen could contaminate the procedure. Once the berry began to develop, the covering was removed. Ripe strawberries were then harvested, and the seed was extracted and germinated in a greenhouse in Redding, Calif., USA. The resulting seedlings were transplanted to Shastina, Calif. in 2010, grown out for an additional period, allowing them to propagate asexually through runners. Clones were then harvested and planted in breeding plots in fruiting fields in late September in: Oxnard, Calif. (Ventura County), and mid-October in Watsonville, Calif. (Monterey County). The selection of the new variety was first made in Watsonville, Calif., and given the designation ‘10K52’ in 2011. This selection was later named ‘Sangria.’

The variety was further propagated asexually by runners (stolens) in breeding plots in: Macdoel, Calif. (Siskiyou County), and Manteca, Calif. (San Joaquin County). The new variety has also been “meristemed.” Small pieces of plant material of approximately 0.5 mm in diameter and consisting of the undifferentiated meristem tissue and one or two leaf primordia were removed from the buds on crowns of young daughter plants, then placed on nutrient medium, and new plants were grown from them. Planting stock from the “meristemed” plants are growing in a screenhouse located in Redding, Calif. These propagules of ‘Sangria’ are identical to the original plant in all distinguishing characteristics. The propagation has been monitored throughout the process, and all traits disclosed herein remain fixed and true to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘Sangria’ is a short-day variety exhibiting the following combination of characteristics, which have been observed repeatedly, and which distinguish this strawberry plant as a new and distinct variety:

- 1. The variety produces large sized fruit;
- 2. The fruit is well shaped, long-conical to occasionally wedge shaped;
- 3. The fruit is attractive, having a semi-glossy, medium red exterior and interior;
- 4. The fruit is sweet tasting, with good flavor;
- 5. The variety produces a high volume of fruit;
- 6. The plants of the variety maintain a semi-open architecture; and,
- 7. The variety is partially remontant in a cool, coastal environment.

‘Sangria’ fruit demonstrates characteristics and qualities that are desired by fresh market strawberry sales companies. The lighter, medium red color is preferred by many shippers of fresh strawberries, as darker berries are more likely to be viewed as overripe by buyers than the lighter colored fruit. ‘Sangria’ fruit is larger than that of its female parent ‘3F64,’ but smaller than that of its paternal parent ‘Sweet Ann.’ The ripening pattern of ‘Sangria’ is an improvement on that of ‘Sweet Ann,’ as it ripens more fully to the top of the berry, unlike ‘Sweet Ann’ which often has a shoulder that does not ripen. In addition, ‘Sangria’ fruit is firmer than its parents ‘Sweet Ann’ and ‘3F64,’ allowing it to hold up better in transit. While still mostly a long-conical shape, fruit of ‘Sangria’ is not as long as ‘Sweet Ann’ making it easier to pack. The plant vigor of ‘Sangria’ is medium which provides an advantage over higher vigor varieties in that berries are easier to see and therefore pick. This lower vigor also allows for better spray coverage when controlling for pests.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color photographs, identified as FIGS. 1 through 7, show the appearance of typical specimens of the new strawberry variety, initially designated ‘10K52,’ and now named ‘Sangria.’ These figures depict the colors, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible given differences in color illustrations of this character. Accordingly, color in the photographs may differ slightly from the colors discussed in the botanical description. The photographs of the depicted plant, plant parts, and fruit of ‘Sangria’ were taken in October/November of 2017.

FIG. 1 shows the top and bottom of a typical leaf and petiole structure;

FIG. 2 shows the top and bottom of typical, and rarer, leaf structure with more leaflets;

FIG. 3 shows a selection of typical late-season fruit;

FIG. 4 shows typical fruit shape and calyx position over the berry of ‘Sangria’;

FIG. 5 shows a transverse cross-section of typical fruit internal coloration and core size;

FIG. 6 shows typical inflorescences; and,

FIG. 7 shows typical late-season plants in a field.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

‘Sangria’ is a new and distinct variety of strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa). It is the result of a cross between its female parent, ‘3F64,’ and unreleased proprietary variety, and ‘Sweet Ann,’ it's male parent. ‘3F64’ is a short-day variety, while ‘Sweet Ann’ is a day-neutral variety. ‘Sangria’ is a short-day variety that has partial remontant tendencies in temperate coastal environments. Plants have been observed blooming in production fields, but bloom only once in a high elevation nursery, consistent with a short-day variety. The plants of this new variety are of medium vigor, but produce multiple crowns early after planting. ‘Sangria’ exhibits several characteristics which are improvements over one or both of its parent varieties, and other known cultivars. The characteristics of ‘Sangria’ were observed in plants in late season.

The fruit size of ‘Sangria’ is large, larger than its ‘3F64’ parent, but smaller than the fruit of ‘Sweet Ann,’ it's pollen parent. This smaller size of fruit relative to ‘Sweet Ann’ provides an advantage in packaging fruit where the sometimes overly large fruit of ‘Sweet Ann’ can be damaged when put into packaging to accommodate the fruit. The size, however, is still large enough where it can be seen, picked, and packaged quickly and efficiently.

‘Sweet Ann’ produces long conic fruit, while the fruit of ‘Sangria’ are long conic and sometimes wedge shaped. The fruit of ‘Sangria’ generally ripens more evenly from the tip to the shoulders of the berry, resulting in a more uniform red color over the whole fruit. In contrast, the shoulders of the fruit of ‘Sweet Ann’ are the last portion to ripen, and in certain conditions don't color at all. The fruit of ‘Sangria’ is mostly absent of creases and is generally smoother than the fruit of its parents, and is also firmer than its parents as well.

The data set forth for ‘Sangria’ in Table 1 was collected in October/November in 2017 from plants grown in a test plot in Moss Landing, Monterey County, Calif. Color terminology where noted is in accordance with the Pantone Color Formula Guide GP 1201.

TABLE 1

Detailed Description of Characteristics of ‘Sangria’

SPECIFICATION:
Genus/Species	Fragaria x ananassa
Market Name	Strawberry
PARENTS:
Female	Proprietary variety ‘3F64’ (Unpatented)
Male	‘Sweet Ann’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,472).
PLANT:
Type	Short Day.
Growth Habit	Semi-upright.
Foliage density	Medium.
Vigor	Medium.
Height	Average: 29.4 cm;
	range: 24 cm to 35 cm.
Width	Average: 47.1 cm;
	range: 43 cm to 51 cm.
Crowns	Multiple crowns produced
	early after planting.
Disease tolerance	Test plots showed moderate tolerance to
	Macrophomina phaseolina (Crown rot) and
	a moderate tolerance to Verticillium dahliae.
LEAF:
Width	Average: 134 mm;
	range: 120 mm to 170 mm.
Color	Adaxial surface: green 350 C.
	Abaxial surface: green 370 U.
Pubescens	Light density.
Inter-vein blistering	Low-moderate.
Glossiness	Medium.
Variegation	None.
TERMINAL
LEAFLET:
Length	Average: 84.8 mm;
	range: 60 mm to 100 mm.
Width	Average: 74.3 mm;
	range: 58 mm to 91 mm.
Ratio length to	1.14.
width
Margins	Serrate to crenate.
Leaf shape	Orbicular.
Base shape	Rounded to obtuse.
Cross-section shape	Slightly concave, to slightly convex.
PETIOLE:
Pubescens	Medium density;
	direction: perpendicular.
Petiole color	Green 382 U.
Petiole length	Average: 19.8 cm;
	Range: 16 cm to 25.5 cm.
Pctiole diameter	Average: 3.38 mm;
	Range: 2.82 mm to 4.05 mm.
STIPULE:
Anthocyanin	Absent.
coloration
Length	Average: 36.6 mm;
	Range: 24 mm to 44 mm.
Width	Average: 9.4 mm;
	Range: 7 mm to 12 mm.
STOLEN:
Anthocyanin	Present.
coloration
Pubescens	Medium; upward
	to perpendicular direction.
Diameter	Average: 2.85 mm;
	Range: 2.11 mm to 3.35 mm.
INFLORESCENCE:
Flowering time	Fairly early.
Position	Slightly below the canopy, but visible.
Number of blooms	Average: 5.2; Range: 3 to 7.
Length	Average: 24.4 cm;
	Range: 16 cm to 33.5 cm,
Flower	Average diameter: 29.2 mm;
	Range: 24 mm to 34 mm.
Petal arrangement	Mostly overlapping.
Petal number	Average: 5.7; Range: 5 to 7.
Petal length	Average: 15.3 mm;
	Range: 13 mm to 17 mm.
Petal width	Average: 13.6 mm;
	Range: 12 mm to 15 mm.
Ratio length to	1.125.
width
Petal color	Bright white 11-0601 TPX.
Calyx	Larger than the corolla.
Calyx color	Adaxial surface: green 364 C.
	Abaxial Surface: green 377 U.
Stamens	Average number: 33;
	Range: 30 to 37.
Pedicel	Attitude of hairs is upward.
FRUIT
Bearing	Short-day, but partially remontant in
	cool coastal environments.
Shape	Long conical to occasionally wedge.
Length	Average: 48.5 mm;
	Range: 45 mm to 55 mm.
Width	Average: 39.2 mm;
	Range: 35 mm to 48 mm.
Ratio length to	1.24.
width
Size	Seasonal average: 24 g per berry.
Achenes	Sunken, approximately level with
	the fruit surface.
Glossiness	Semi-glossy.
External color	Red 200 C.
Internal color	Flesh (excluding core): Red 032 U.
Evenness of external	Even, slight band of no
color	color near calyx.
Width of band at top	Small.
devoid of achenes
Fruit center	Some hollowness.
Yield	Average grams per plant: 1507 g.
Firmness	Medium-firm, firmer than parent and
	cultivar ‘Sweet Ann’
% Brix	Average: 9.5; Range: 8.6-10.6.

The comparison statistics set forth in the following tables are with respect to characteristics observed in late season of ‘Sangria.’ All measurements of ‘Sangria’ were taken in Moss Landing, Calif. in 2017. In Table 2 and 3, the characteristics of ‘Sangria’ are compared with the varieties ‘Sweet Ann’ and ‘Lucia’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,974) historical data. Color identifications where noted are in accordance with the Pantone Color Formula Guide.

Plants and Foliage

The form and structure of the plants of ‘Sangria’ are similar to that of ‘Sweet Ann’ plants: erect and open. However, the plants of ‘Sangria’ are much smaller than those of ‘Sweet Ann.’ The plants of ‘Sangria,’ unlike those of ‘Sweet Ann,’ are more moderately vigorous in growth habit. They are more closely related in vigor to many other commercial cultivars grown in fresh strawberry production fields in California. The leaves of ‘Sangria’ also have a higher proportion of having four leaflets, as opposed to the common number of three. While it is still a rare occurrence, it is still noticeable that they occur more frequently than in other common cultivars.

TABLE 2

Foliar Characteristics of ‘Sangria’ Compared to ‘Sweet Ann’ and ‘Lucia’

Foliar

Cultivar

Characteristics		‘Sangria’	‘Lucia’	‘Sweet Ann’

Plant height (mm)	Average	294	391	380
	Range	240-350	292-490	290-480
Plant spread (mm)	Average	471	4/2	420
	Range	430-510	430-550	330-510
Leaf width (mm)	Average	134	195	165
	Range	120-170	165-220	130-195
Mid-tier leaflet	Average	85	103	88
length (mm)	Range	60-100	82-116	72-105
Mid-tier leaflet	Average	74	91	67
width (mm)	Range	58-91	73-102	52-88
Petiole length	Average	198	268	220
(mm)	Range	160-255	230-335	150-280
Petiole diameter	Average	3.38	4.48	3.74
(mm)	Range	3.09-4.05	3.70-5.80	3.01-429
Number of leaflets		Mostly 3,	3	3
per leaf		few 4
Leaflet convexity		Concave to	Slight	Slight
		convex	concave	concave
Shape of leaflet		Round to	Rounded	Obtuse
base		obtuse	to obtuse
Leaflet pubescence		Light	Medium	Medium
Petiole pubescence		Medium	Medium	Medium
Direction		Perpen-	Perpen-	Perpen-
		dicular	dicular	dicular
Stipule length	Average	36.6	35.7	Not available
(mm)	Range	24-44	1040
Stipule		No	Yes	Yes-weak
anthocyanin
coloration
Leaflet margins		Serrate to	Serrate to	Commonly
		crenate	crenate	crenate
Leaflet color		350 C	364U	364 U
adaxial surface
Leaflet color		370 U	363U	370 U
abaxial surface
Petiole color		382 U	366U	383 U
Leaflet surface		Slight-	Medium	Very weak
blistering		medium
Leaflet surface		Medium	High	Medium
glossiness

Flowers and Fruit

‘Sangria’ is a short-day variety that has partial remontant tendencies under certain temperature and horticultural conditions; mainly cooler coastal environments. While ‘Lucia’ and ‘Sweet Ann’ have longer inflorescences as compared to ‘Sangria,’ when compared to the plant size, all three varieties produce flowers that are visible within or above the canopy level, leaving flowers exposed to pollinators. The petals of ‘Sangria’ are also bigger than those of ‘Sweet Ann’ or ‘Lucia.’ The light red exterior color of the fruit of ‘Sangria’ is slightly darker than that of ‘Lucia,’ but of similar color to that of ‘Sweet Ann.’ The culinary qualities of all three varieties are good, including: good shape and size, light red color, and a good strawberry flavor.

In Table 3, comparative data for flower and fruit characteristics for ‘Sangria,’ ‘Lucia,’ and ‘Sweet Ann’ are set forth.

TABLE 3

Flower and Fruit Characteristics of ‘Sangria’ Compared
to ‘Lucia’ and ‘Sweet Ann’

Cultivar

Chararteristic		‘Sangria’	‘Lucia’	‘Sweet Ann’

Petal number	Average	5.7	5	5.4
	Range	5-7	5	5-6
Petal length (mm)	Average	15.3	12.44	11.21
	Range	13-17	10.6-14.3	9.2-13
Petal width (mm)	Average	13.6	11.86	11.1
	Range	12-15	10-13	9-13
Position of flower		Most exposed,	mostly	most exposed,
(relative to canopy)		some below	exposed	some even
Pedicel length	Average	244	430	330
(mm)	Range	160-335	380-540	240-420
Sepal color	Adaxial	364 C	364 U	364 U
	Abaxial	377 U	371 U	370 U
Corolla	Average	29.2	28.2	30.3
diameter (mm)	Range	24-34	23.5-34	27-33
Fruit color	External	200 C	1788 C	185 C
	Internal	032 IJ	179 C	1788 C

Leaf samples from ‘Sangria,’ along with three other patented selections from the breeding program including ‘Lucia,’ ‘Scarlet,’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,034) and ‘Ruby June’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,190) were submitted to a lab for allelic fingerprint comparison to over two hundred other varieties of strawberry in its database. The allelic fingerprint analysis establishes that ‘Sangria’ is distinct and unique compared to the lab's large database of allelic fingerprints. Table 4 sets forth test results of three markers which differentiate ‘Sangria.’

TABLE 4

Allelic Fingerprint Analysis

Cultivar	Marker 1	Marker 2	Marker 3

‘Sangria’	204, 206, 229	190, 216	279, 289
‘Lucia’	202, 204, 206, 229	188, 216, 232	279, 281, 289
‘Scarlet’	204, 206, 214, 229	173, 190, 232	279, 281, 289
‘Ruby June’	206, 224, 229	188, 190, 216, 232	279, 289

Performance

Performance with respect to fruit size, yield and appearance for ‘Sangria’ was assessed by making comparisons with several other varieties in the breeding program, including ‘Sweet Ann,’ ‘Lucia,’ ‘Ruby June,’ and ‘Scarlet.’ All the plants for this trial were initially grown at a high elevation nursery in Macdoel, Siskiyou County, Calif. Plants of ‘Sangria’ and the comparison varieties were then planted and evaluated in a test plot in Moss Landing, Monterey County, Calif. in the end of 2016 through 2017.

Of the varieties tested, ‘Sangria’ performed similarly to three of the four varieties tested, with an average seasonal yield of 1,507 grams per plant, beating out ‘Scarlet’ slightly (1,460 grams/plant) and closely behind ‘Ruby June’ (1,597 grams/plant) and ‘Lucia’ (1,584 grams/plant). Only the day-neutral ‘Sweet Ann’ out performed ‘Sangria’ in seasonal yield per plant with an average of 2,003 grams per plant. The average fruit weight of ‘Sangria’ fell between ‘Ruby June’ (23 grams) and ‘Lucia’ (25 grams).

The fruit of ‘Sangria’ was also rated based upon commercial appeal on a scale of 1 (worst) to 5 (best) along with several other varieties. ‘Sangria’ had a high score of 4.0, which tied it with ‘Sweet Ann,’ which was better than both ‘Ruby June’ (3.75) and ‘Scarlet’ (3.5). Only ‘Lucia’ outperformed ‘Sangria’ in this comparison with a rating of 4.5, due mainly to its near uniform berries with very few creases.

Table 5 shows the fruit performance of ‘Sangria’ as compared to ‘Sweet Ann,’ ‘Lucia,’ ‘Ruby June,’ and ‘Scarlet.’

TABLE 5

Comparison of Performance of ‘Sangria’ to Other Varieties

		Seasonal Average	Appearance
	Seasonal Yield	berry weight	Score
Cultivar	grams/plant	grams/berry	Rating	5 = Best

‘Sangria’	1,507	24	4.0
‘Sweet Ann’	2,003	31	4.0
‘Ruby June’	1,597	23	3.75
‘Lucia’	1,584	25	4.5
‘Scarlet’	1,460	27	3.5

Claims

I claim:

1. A new and distinct strawberry plant named ‘Sangria’ as described and illustrated.