Strawberry plant named ‘Driscoll El Capitan’

[0002] The new variety originated as a result of a controlled cross between the strawberry plants ‘San Miguel’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,642) and ‘12A71’ (unpatented variety) in an ongoing breeding program, and was discovered as a seedling in Ventura County, Calif. in February, 1996. The original seedling of the new cultivar was asexually propagated by stolons in a nursery in Shasta County, Calif. Propagules were transplanted to a controlled breeding plot in Ventura County, Calif., where the variety was identified and selected for further evaluation. ‘Driscoll El Capitan’ was subsequently asexually propagated and underwent further testing at in Ventura County, Calif. for six years. This propagation and testing has demonstrated that the combination of traits disclosed herein which characterize the new variety are fixed and retained true to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

[0003] The variety is botanically identified as Fragaria×ananassa.

[0004] The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry named ‘Driscoll El Capitan’. The variety is botanically identified as Fragaria×ananassa.The new variety is distinguished from other varieties by a number of characteristics as set forth in Tables 1-4.

[0005] The varieties which we believe to be similar to ‘Driscoll El Capitan’ from those known to us are ‘Coronado’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,221) and ‘San Miguel’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,642). There are several characteristics of the new variety that are different from, or not possessed by ‘Coronado’ and ‘San Miguel’. The new variety has an obtuse terminal leaflet teeth shape, medium to dense petiole pubescence, medium to strong anthocyanin coloration, cordate fruit shape, marked difference in shape between primary and secondary fruits, large hollow center size, and time of flowering is mid-December.

[0006] The accompanying photographs show typical specimens of the new variety, including fruit, foliage and flowers, in color as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make in color illustrations of these characteristics.

[0007] FIG. 1 shows the leaves of the plant.

[0008] FIG. 2 shows the upper side and the under side of the flowers.

[0009] FIG. 3 shows a close-up of the fruit.

[0010] FIG. 4 shows the fruit in longitudinal cross-section.

[0011] The following detailed description of the new variety is based upon observations taken of plants and fruit grown in Monterey County, Calif., U.S.A. This description is in accordance with UPOV terminology. Observations of ‘Driscoll El Capitan’, ‘Coronado’ and ‘San Miguel’ were taken in side by side comparison in the year 2001. Color designations, color descriptions, and other phenotypical descriptions may deviate from the stated values and descriptions depending upon variation in environmental, seasonal, climatic and cultural conditions. Colors are described and the most similar color designations are provided from The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.) Colour Chart.

[0012] The new variety is principally propagated by way of stolons. Although propagation by stolons is presently preferred, other known methods of propagating strawberry plants may be employed.

[0013] Information on the new variety is presented in Tables 1, 2, 3 and 4. In the tables, the flowers described are secondary flowers except where indicated. The petal color of ‘Driscoll El Capitan’ is white (155C in The R.H.S. Colour Chart). The fruit described is the secondary fruit on one-year-old plants. Fruit and flower measurements are an average of both primary and secondary fruit and flowers. The average stolon diameter at bract subtending the daughter plant is 2.40 mm. The number of propagules/nursery plant in 2002 was61.8. The anthocyanin coloration of the stipules in the Fall of the year in nursery is light green with a faint blush of pink anthocyanin (149D in The R.H.S. Colour Chart). The petiolule length is 9.47 mm and the petiolule color is 149A. The leaf texture is blistered, the leaf margin is crenate, the leaf vein color is 149A (in The R.H.S. Colour Chart), and the leaf venation is pinnate. The petal shape is ovate to rounded, the petal margin is entire, the petal number is 6, and the petal color of upper and lower surface is 155C (in The R.H.S. Colour Chart). The sepal color is 137B (in The R.H.S. Colour Chart) on the upper surface and 137D (in The R.H.S. Colour Chart) on the lower surface, the average sepal number is 11.7, average sepal length is 13.98 mm, and average sepal width as 6.90 mm. The color of fruit vascular tissue is 155C (in The R.H.S. Colour Chart). The average weight of achenes is 0.00064 g and the average number of achenes/berry is 252.5. The anthocyanin color of stolon is purple red 58A (in The R.H.S. Colour Chart). The color of anthers is yellow 13A (in the R.H.S. Colour Chart) and the color of pistils and receptical is yellow 7A (in The R.H.S. Colour Chart).

[0014] Table 1 provides information on the plant and fruit characteristics of the new variety ‘Driscoll El Capitan’ compared with characteristics of ‘Coronado’ and ‘San Miguel’. Table 2 provides additional information of the plant and fruit characteristics of the new variety ‘Driscoll El Capitan’ compared with characteristics of the varieties ‘Coronado’ and ‘San Miguel’. Table 3 provides reactions of the new variety to stresses, pests and diseases compared with reactions of the varieties ‘Coronado’ and ‘San Miguel’. Table 4 provides isozyme characteristics of the new variety as compared to that of the varieties ‘Coronado’ and ‘San Miguel’.

[0015] In addition to the morphological description above, the new cultivar ‘Driscoll El Capitan’ has been analyzed to obtain an indication of its genetic makeup to provide further means for identifying the new variety and distinguishing it from other somewhat similar and/or related strawberry varieties. Specifically, leaf samples of ‘Driscoll El Capitan’, ‘Coronado’ and ‘San Miguel’ were analyzed by electrophoresis for isozyme patterns of the enzymes phosphoglucoisomerase (“PGI”), leucine aminopeptidase (“LAP”) and phosphoglucomutase (“PGM”). See J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci.106:684-687. Isozyme characterization of the three varieties is presented in Table 4, with the letters representing the banding patterns for each enzyme as designated in the above-identified article.