Strawberry plant named ‘Driscoll Marin’

[0002] Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed:

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

[0004] The new variety originated as a result of a controlled cross between the strawberry plants ‘67C253’ (unpatented Driscoll variety) and ‘Lido’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. PP10,534, issued Aug. 4, 1998) in an ongoing breeding program, and was discovered in a controlled breeding plot, in Monterey County, Calif. in May 1998. The original seedling 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 it was identified and selected for further evaluation. ‘Driscoll Marin’ was subsequently asexually propagated and underwent further testing at various locations in Monterey county, Calif. for two 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.

[0005] The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry named ‘Driscoll Marin’. 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 and 2.

[0006] The varieties which we believe to be similar to ‘Driscoll Marin’ from those known to use are ‘Ana Maria’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. PP11,035, issued Aug. 17, 1999) and ‘San Juan’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. PP12,899, issued Sep. 3, 2002). There are several characteristics of the new variety that are different from, or not possessed by ‘Ana Maria’, and ‘San Juan’. The new variety has achene coloration that is greyed purple to yellow, weak interveinal blistering on leaves, and a revolute terminal leaflet margin.

[0007] ‘Driscoll Marin’ differs from its parent ‘67C253’ (unpatented Driscoll variety) in several characteristics, including, but not limited to, being adapted to Northern California climate, where ‘67C253’ is adapted to a Southern California climate. ‘Driscoll Marin’ also exhibits superior fruit firmness in comparison to ‘67C253’. ‘Driscoll Marin’ differs from its patent ‘Lido’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. PP10,534) in several characteristics, including, but not limited to, exhibiting intense red fruit flesh in comparison to the pale pink fruit flesh color of ‘Lido’. ‘Driscoll Marin’ also has superior late season production in comparison to ‘Lido’.

[0008] 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. The plants of ‘Driscoll Marin’ characterized in the botanical descriptions and depicted in the figures were grown outdoors in an annual production system. Measurements were taken during the late summer in the second half of the production season.

[0009] FIG. 1 shows leaves of the plants with three leaflets.

[0010] FIG. 2 shows the upper side and under side of the flowers.

[0011] FIG. 3 shows a close-up of the strawberry.

[0012] FIG. 4 shows the strawberry in longitudinal cross-section

[0013] 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. Observations of ‘Driscoll Marin’, ‘Ana Maria’ and ‘San Juan’ were taken in side by side comparison in 2002. This description is in accordance with UPOV terminology. Color designations, color descriptions, and other phenotypical descriptions may deviate from the stated values and description 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.

[0014] 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.

[0015] 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 fruit described in the secondary fruit on one year old plants. Fruit and flower measurements are an average of both primary and secondary fruit and flowers. In particular, the reproductive structures of ‘Driscoll Marin’ are fully self-fertile and typical of the species. Anther color is yellow, 13A, pistil color is yellow, 13A, and receptacle color is 150G, yellow green.

[0016] Table 1 provides information on the plant and fruit characteristics of the new variety ‘Driscoll Marin’ compared with characteristics of ‘Ana Maria’ and ‘San Juan’. Table 2 provides additional information of the plant and fruit characteristics of the new variety ‘Driscoll Marin’ compared with characteristics of the varieties ‘Ana Maria’ and ‘San Juan’. Table 3 provides reactions of the new variety to stresses, pests, and diseases as compared to the varieties ‘Ana Maria’ and ‘San Juan’. Table 4 provides isozyme characteristics of the new variety as compared to the varieties ‘Ana Maria’ and ‘San Juan’.

[0017] In addition to the morphological description above, the new cultivar ‘Driscoll Marin’ has been analyzed to obtain an indication of its genetic makeup to provide further means for identifying the new variety and distinguishing it from some other somewhat similar and/or related strawberry varieties. Specifically, leaf samples of ‘Driscoll Marin’, ‘Ana Maria’ and ‘San Juan’ 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.