Strawberry plant named ‘DrisStrawEleven’

Genus and species: Fragaria×ananassa.

Variety denomination: ‘DrisStrawEleven’.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry cultivar designated ‘DrisStrawEleven’ and botanically known as Fragaria×ananassa . This new strawberry cultivar was discovered in Monterey, Calif. in summer 2004 and originated from a cross between the proprietary female parent ‘122J81’ (unpatented) and the proprietary male parent ‘111H69’ (unpatented). The original seedling of the new cultivar was first asexually propagated at a nursery in Shasta County, Calif.

‘DrisStrawEleven’ was subsequently asexually propagated in Shasta County, Calif. and underwent further testing at nurseries in Monterey and San Luis Obispo, Calif. for five years. The present invention has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations.

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 in color reproductions. The photographs were taken from plants that were 7 months-old.

FIG. 1 shows overall plant habit including fruit at various stages of development.

FIG. 2 shows the upper and lower surfaces of several of the flowers.

FIG. 3 shows the whole fruit.

FIG. 4 shows the fruit in longitudinal cross-section.

FIG. 5 shows the upper and lower surfaces of the leaves at the three leaf stage.

The following description of ‘DrisStrawEleven’ is based on observations taken in Monterey and San Luis Obispo, Calif. from 2004–2008. 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 upon variation in environmental, seasonal, climatic and cultural conditions. ‘DrisStrawEleven’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The botanical description of ‘DrisStrawEleven’ was taken from 7 month-old plants and the botanical descriptions of ‘Driscoll Lanai’ and ‘San Juan’ were taken from 7 month-old plants. Color terminology follows The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, London (R.H.S.) (2001).

Table 1 shows selected plant characteristics of the new variety compared with plant characteristics of ‘Driscoll Lanai’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,145) and ‘San Juan’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,899). Plant characteristics include plant habit, terminal leaflet margin profile, insertion of achenes and fruit production.

Table 2 shows plant characteristics of the new variety compared with plant characteristics of the commercial varieties ‘Driscoll Lanai’ and ‘San Juan’. Plant characteristics include plant height, diameter, the number of crowns per plant, habit, the density of individual plants and the vigor.

Table 3 shows leaf characteristics of the new cultivar compared with leaf characteristics of ‘Driscoll Lanai’ and ‘San Juan’. Leaf characteristics include terminal leaflet length and width in centimeters, length to width ratio, number of teeth per terminal leaflet, shape of teeth, color of upperside and underside of leaf, leaf shape in cross section, leaf blistering, leaf glossiness, number of leaflets, terminal leaflet margin, terminal leaflet length to width ratio, overall leaf shape and shape of leaf apex and base.

Table 4 shows information about the petiole, the petiolule, the bract, and the stipule of the new cultivar compared to ‘Driscoll Lanai’ and ‘San Juan’. This includes petiole length in centimeters, petiole diameter in centimeters, petiole pubescence, pose of hairs on the petiole, color of the petiole, color of the petiolule, petiolule length in centimeters, petiolule diameter in centimeters, bract frequency per petiole, stipule length in centimeters, stipule width in centimeters, stipule pubescence and stipule anthocyanin coloration.

Table 5 shows stolon characteristics of the new cultivar compared to ‘Driscoll Lanai’ and ‘San Juan’. These characteristics include the number of stolons, average number of daughter plants, the anthocyanin coloration of the stolons, the thickness of the stolons, and the pubescence of the stolons.

Table 6 shows inflorescence characteristics of the new cultivar compared to ‘Driscoll Lanai’ and ‘San Juan’. These characteristics include inflorescence position relative to foliage, time of flowering, relative flower size, flower diameter in centimeters (measured from petal tip to petal tip), petal shape, relative spacing of petals, petal apex, base and margin, petal length in centimeters, petal width in centimeters, petal length to width ratio, number of petals, petal color, calyx diameter in centimeters (measured on back of flower from sepal tip to sepal tip), diameter of calyx relative to corolla, diameter of inner calyx relative to outer, sepal shape, apex and margin, sepal length in centimeters (measured from sepal tip to point of attachment to receptacle), sepal width in centimeters, number of sepals, receptacle color and anther color.

Table 7 shows fruit characteristics of the new cultivar compared to ‘Driscoll Lanai’ and ‘San Juan’. These characteristics include fruiting truss length in centimeters, fruiting truss diameter, number of berries per truss, fruiting truss attitude, fruiting truss color, fruit length in centimeters, fruit truss width in centimeters, fruit length to width ratio, fruit hollow length and width in centimeters, fruit hollow length to width ratio, fruit weight in grams, relative fruit size, predominant fruit shape, difference in shape between primary and secondary fruits, band without achenes, unevenness of fruit surface, fruit skin color, evenness of fruit color, fruit glossiness, insertion of achenes, achene coloration (sunward and shaded sides of berry) and the number of achenes per berry.

Table 8 shows fruit characteristics of the new cultivar compared to ‘Driscoll Lanai’ and ‘San Juan’. These characteristics include the harvest maturity, insertion of calyx, pose of calyx segments, size of calyx in relation to fruit, adherence of calyx, firmness of flesh, color of the fruit flesh, evenness of the flesh color, distribution of flesh color, hollow center, sweetness of fruit, acidity of fruit, texture of fruit when tasted, type of bearing, grams of fruit per plant.

Table 9 shows pest and disease characteristics of the new cultivar compared to ‘Driscoll Lanai’ and ‘San Juan’.

When ‘DrisStrawEleven’ is compared to the proprietary female parent ‘122J81’ (unpatented), ‘DrisStrawEleven’ has larger fruit than ‘122J81’. Additionally, ‘DrisStrawEleven’ is partially everbearing, while ‘122J81’ is everbearing.

When ‘DrisStrawEleven’ is compared to the proprietary male parent ‘111H69’ (unpatented), ‘DrisStrawEleven’ has smaller fruit and has a lower chilling requirement than ‘111H69’.