Strawberry plant named ‘Driscoll Jubilee’

[0002] Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: The variety is botanically identified as Fragaria×ananassa.

[0003] Variety denomination: The strawberry variety denomination is ‘Driscoll Jubilee’.

[0004] The new variety originated as a result of a controlled cross between the strawberry plants ‘50C130’ (unpatented variety) and ‘19A331’ (unpatented variety) in an ongoing breeding program, and was discovered as a seedling in Kent, England in 1999. The original seedling of the new cultivar was asexually propagated by stolons in a Nursery in Kent, England. Propagules were transplanted to a controlled breeding plot in Monterey, Calif., where the variety was identified and selected for further evaluation. ‘Driscoll Jubilee’ was subsequently asexually propagated and underwent further testing in Monterey, Calif. for one year. 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 Jubilee.’ 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.

[0006] The varieties which we believe to be similar to ‘Driscoll Jubilee’ from those known to us are ‘Driscoll Camarillo’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,771) and ‘Driscoll Coronation’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 10/619,692). These are several characteristics of the new variety that are different from, or not possessed by ‘Driscoll Camarillo’ and ‘Driscoll Coronation’. The new variety has a smaller spread of plant, conic shaped fruit of greater length than width, thinner stolons, red and white internal fruit color, the shape of the base of the terminal leaflets is acute, and the inflorescence is beneath the foliage. The internal fruit color of ‘Driscoll Jubilee’ and ‘Driscoll Camarillo’ comprises a white color interspersed in a striped manner among the orange-red or red color described for each variety. Each color described for the internal fruit color of ‘Driscoll Camarillo’ and ‘Driscoll Jubilee’ is individually present in the internal fruit tissues. In contrast, the internal fruit color of ‘Driscoll Coronation’ is whitish.

[0007] ‘Driscoll Jubilee’ is distinguished from its maternal parent ‘50C130’ by its smaller fruit size, firmer flesh, and its fully everbearing habit. ‘Driscoll Jubilee’ is distinguished from its paternal parent ‘19A331’ by its redder external fruit color, firmer flesh, and sweeter taste.

[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.

[0009] FIG. 1 shows the whole the plant.

[0010] FIG. 2 shows the upper side of the leaves of the plant.

[0011] FIG. 3 shows the upper side and underside of the flowers.

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

[0013] FIG. 5 shows a close-up of the fruit.

[0014] 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 Jubilee’, ‘Driscoll Camarillo’ and ‘Driscoll Coronation’ were taken in side by side comparison in the year 2002. Plants for observation were harvested from a low elevation nursery in Tehama County, Calif. in December 2001, and held in refrigerated storage until planting in Monterey County, Calif. in March 2002. Plants were grown in raised beds of soil under conditions typical of commercial strawberry production along the central coast of California. Fruits were harvested twice weekly for yield determination from May to October 2002. Measurements of plant, flower, and fruit characteristics were made in August 2002, approximately five months after planting. 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.

[0015] 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.

[0016] 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 is the secondary fruit on five month old plants. Fruit and flower measurements are an average of both primary and secondary fruit and flowers.

[0017] Table 1 provides information on the plant and fruit characteristics of the new variety ‘Driscoll Jubilee’ compared with characteristics of ‘Driscoll Camarillo’ and ‘Driscoll Coronation.’ Table 2 provides additional information of the plant and fruit characteristics of the new variety ‘Driscoll Jubilee’ compared with characteristics of the varieties ‘Driscoll Camarillo’ and ‘Driscoll Coronation.’ Table 3 provides reactions of the new variety to stresses, pests and diseases compared with reactions of the varieties ‘Driscoll Camarillo’ and ‘Driscoll Coronation.’ Table 4 provides isozyme characteristics of the new variety as compared to that of the varieties ‘Driscoll Camarillo’ and ‘Driscoll Coronation.’

[0018] In addition to the morphological description above, the new cultivar ‘Driscoll Jubilee’ 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 Jubilee’, ‘Driscoll Camarillo’ and ‘Driscoll Coronation’ 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.