Strawberry Plant Named ‘USDA Lumina’

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: ‘USDA LUMINA’ is a new strawberry plant that is Fragaria x ananassa Duchesne ex Rozier.

Variety denomination: The new strawberry plant claimed is of the variety denominated ‘USDA Lumina’ Fragaria x ananassa Duchesne ex Rozier.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry cultivar designated ‘USDA Lumina’. This new strawberry cultivar was discovered in Beltsville, Maryland, in Spring 2019 and originated from a cross between the female parent B2475 (unpatented) and the male parent B2197 (unpatented). The original seedling of the new cultivar was asexually propagated in Beltsville since 2019 by rooting daughter plants from stolons of the mother plant. The present invention has been found to be stable and reproduce true to type through successive asexual propagations rooting daughter plants from stolons.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘USDA Lumina’ is an early-season strawberry cultivar resistant to anthracnose fruit rot. Fruit yields are higher than other early-season cultivars. It has sweet fruit which are very attractive, brightly colored, glossy, and with uniform symmetry.

DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

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 color reproductions.

FIG. 1 shows a six-plant plot of ‘USDA Lumina’ during fruiting.

FIG. 2 shows the uniform shape and variation in size of ‘USDA Lumina’ fruit from a single harvest of a six-plant plot.

FIG. 3 shows the glossiness of ‘USDA Lumina’ fruit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following description of ‘USDA Lumina’ is based on observations taken from 2020 through 2023 growing seasons in in evaluations in Beltsville, Maryland, 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 7b. 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 on variation in environmental, seasonal, climatic, and cultural conditions. ‘USDA Lumina’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The botanical description of ‘USDA Lumina’ was taken from plants nine months after establishment in the field. Color terminology follows The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, London (R.H.S.86).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Table 1 shows selected characteristics of the new cultivar compared with plant characteristics of ‘Earliglow’ (unpatented) and ‘Galletta’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,763). Characteristics include fruit diameter and length, and the length/width ratio, average fruit weight, sweetness (Brix), acidity (pH and TA), and yield (weight and berry number).

TABLE 1

‘USDA

Characteristic Lumina’ ‘Earliglow’ ‘Galletta’

Diameter fruit (cm) 5.0 3.8 4.8

Length fruit (cm) 3.9 3.6 3.6

Ratio fruit length/width 1.3 1.1 1.3

Weight fruit (g) 14.1 6.9 17.1

Brix (percent soluble solids) 9.13 10.87 8.07

pH 3.73 3.67 3.58

Titratable acidity (TA) 0.92 1.01 0.89

Yield (kg/plant) 1.00 0.55 0.86

Yield (non-decayed berries/plant) 53.9 73.7 43.6

Table 2 shows plant characteristics of the new cultivar compared with plant characteristics of ‘Earliglow’ and ‘Galletta’. Plant characteristics include plant height, diameter, number of crowns per plant, habit, density of individual plants and vigor.

TABLE 2

‘USDA

Characteristic Lumina’ ‘Earliglow’ ‘Galletta’

Plant height (cm) 23.5 20.8 18.5

Plant diameter (cm) 46.2 45.5 37.7

Number of crowns 5.3 4.2 2.5

plant

Habit Upright open Upright open Upright open

globose globose globose

Density of indi- Medium to Medium Not dense

vidual plant dense

Vigor Medium to Medium to Medium

strong strong

Table 3 shows leaf characteristics of the new cultivar compared with leaf characteristics of ‘Earliglow’ and ‘Galletta’. Leaf characteristics include leaf type, leaf shape, leaf length, leaf width, terminal leaflet length, terminal leaflet width, terminal leaflet length to width ratio, leaf margins, shape of teeth, leaf serrations per leaflet, upper and lower leaf surface color, number of leaflets, terminal leaflet apex shape, terminal leaflet base shape, glossiness upper side leaf surface, texture upper side leaf surface, texture underside leaf surface, and leaf arrangement.

TABLE 3

‘USDA

Characteristic Lumina’ ‘Earliglow’ ‘Galletta’

Leaf type Semi- Semi- Semi-

evergreen evergreen evergreen

Leaf shape Trifoliolate Trifoliolate Trifoliolate

with ovate with ovate with ovate

leaflets leaflets leaflets

touching touching touching

to over- to over- to over-

lapping lapping lapping

Leaf length (cm) 12.8 15.0 12.9

Leaf width (cm) 16.0 17.3 15.9

Terminal leaflet 8.7 8.8 8.3

length (cm)

Terminal leaflet 6.9 7.8 7.1

width (cm)

Terminal leaflet 1.3 1.1 1.2

length width ratio

Leaf margins Serrate Serrate Serrate

Shape of teeth Apiculate Apiculate Apiculate

Leaf serrations 27.7 26.8 26.3

per leaflet

Color mature Yellow-Green Green Green

leaves upper Group 146A Group 137A Group 137A

surface

Color mature Yellow-Green Green Green

leaves lower Group 147B Group 137C Group 137C

surface

Number of 3 3 3

leaflets

Terminal leaflet Obtuse Obtuse Obtuse

apex shape

Terminal leaflet Acute cuneate Acute cuneate Acute cuneate

base shape

Glossiness upper Semi-gloss Semi-gloss Semi-gloss

side leaf surface

Texture upper Very slightly Very slightly Very slightly

side leaf surface rugose rugose rugose

Texture under- Very slightly Very slightly Very slightly

side leaf surface reticulate reticulate reticulate

Leaf arrange- Individual tri- Individual tri- Individual tri-

ment foliate leaves foliate leaves foliate leaves

attached to attached to attached to

compressed compressed compressed

stem (crown) stem (crown) stem (crown)

at ground at ground at ground

level level level

Table 4 shows information about the petiole, the petiolule, the bract and the stipule of the new cultivar compared to ‘Farliglow’ and ‘Galletta’. This includes petiole length, petiole diameter, petiole pubescence, petiole color, petiolule color, petiolule length, petiole hair attitude, bract frequency and color, texture petiole, and stipule length, width and color.

TABLE 4

Charac- ‘USDA

teristic Lumina’ ‘Earliglow’ ‘Galletta’

Leaf petiole 15.0 16.9 12.6

length (cm)

Petiole dia- 0.36 0.32 0.41

meter (cm)

Petiole tex- Smooth Smooth Smooth

ture

Petiole Sparse Very sparse Moderately

pubescence dense

Petiole hair Upwards to Outwards Outwards

attitude outwards

Petiole Yellow Green Yellow Green Yellow Green

color Group 144A Group 144B Group 144B

Petiolule Yellow Green Yellow Green Yellow Green

color Group 144A Group 144B Group 144B

Petiolule 0.84 0.52 0.58

length (cm)

Bract 1 to 2 per 1 to 2 per 1 to 2 per

frequency florescence, florescence, florescence,

generally generally generally

unifoliate unifoliate unifoliate

Bract color Yellow Green Yellow Green Yellow Green

Group 144A Group 144B Group 144B

Stipule 3.6 3.1 2.8

length (cm)

Stipule 0.59 0.49 0.70

width (cm)

Stipule color Yellow Green Yellow Green Yellow Green

Group 144A, Group 144B, Group 144B,

Grayish Red Grayish Red Grayish Red

Group 182B Group 182B Group 182B

Table 5 shows stolon characteristics of the new cultivar compared to ‘Farliglow’ and ‘Galletta’. These characteristics include the number of stolons, the anthocyanin coloration of the stolons, the thickness of the stolons, and the pubescence of the stolons.

TABLE 5

‘USDA

Characteristic Lumina’ ‘Earliglow’ ‘Galletta’

Stolon pro- 9.3 2.3 7.7

duction per

plant

Stolon color Yellow Green Yellow Green Yellow Green

Group 144A, Group 144B, Group 144B,

Grayish Red Grayish Red Grayish Red

Group 182B Group 182B Group 182B

Stolon antho- Medium Strong Medium

cyanin

Stolon thick- 0.27 0.28 0.26

ness (cm)

Stolon Medium Medium Medium

pubescence

Table 6 shows inflorescence characteristics of the new cultivar compared to ‘Earliglow’ and ‘Galletta’. These characteristics include inflorescence position relative to foliage, flower type, flower size, petal shape, relative petal spacing, petal apex shape, petal margin, petal base shape, petal length, petal width, petal length/width ratio, number of petals, petal color, Stigma color, style color, anther color, filament color, and flower truss type.

TABLE 6

‘USDA

Characteristic Lumina’ ‘Earliglow’ ‘Galletta’

Inflorescence Slightly below Level to slightly Slightly below

position to level above to level

Flower type Complete Complete Complete

simple simple simple

Flower dia- 3.1 2.3 1.9

meter (cm)

Petal shape Circular to Circular to Circular to

obovate obovate obovate

Petal spacing Overlapping Separate to Overlapping

overlapping

Petal apex shape Circular Circular Circular

Petal margin Entire Entire Entire

Petal base shape Obovate Obovate Obovate

Petal length (cm) 1.16 0.91 0.82

Petal width (cm) 1.14 0.74 0.93

Petal length/ 1.02 1.25 0.88

width ratio

Petal count 5.0 5.0 5.2

Petal color White Group White Group White Group

155D 155D 155D

Stigma color Yellow-Orange Yellow-Green Yellow-Orange

Group 20C Group 150C Group 18B

Style color Yellow-Green Yellow-Green Yellow-Green

Group 150B Group 154B Group 151D

Anther color Yellow-Orange Yellow-Orange Yellow-Orange

Group 20A Group 21A Group 21B

Filament color Yellow-Green Yellow-Green Yellow-Green

Group 150C Group 154C Group 154D

Anther count 23.6 22.3 24.6

Blooming habit Cyme Cyme Cyme

Table 7 shows fruit characteristics of the new cultivar compared to ‘Earliglow’ and ‘Galletta’. These characteristics include number of berries per truss, fruiting truss attitude, fruit length, fruit diameter, fruit length/width ratio, fruit weight, relative fruit size, predominant fruit shape, difference in shape between primary and secondary fruit, band without achenes, evenness of fruit surface, top color, non-blush side color, blush side color, internal color, achene color, achene count per fruit, insertion of calyx, pose of calyx segments, size of calyx in relation to fruit, ease of calyx removal, firmness of flesh, evenness of flesh color, distribution of flesh color, sweetness, acidity, Brix, pH, titratable acidity, texture when tasted, time of flowering, harvest maturity (50% of plants with ripe fruit), type of bearing, and yield.

TABLE 7

‘USDA

Characteristic Lumina’ ‘Earliglow’ ‘Galletta’

Number of berries 5.0 7.7 5.7

per fruiting truss

Fruiting truss Prostrate Prostrate Prostrate

attitude

Diameter fruit 5.0 3.8 4.8

(cm)

Length fruit (cm) 3.9 3.6 3.6

Ratio fruit length/ 1.3 1.1 1.3

width

Weight fruit (g) 14.1 6.9 17.1

Relative fruit size Medium to Small Medium to

Large Large

Predominant fruit Ovate to Conic with Ovate to

shape conic neck conic

Difference in None, uni- None, uni- Moderate,

shape between form form primaries have

primary and some ridging

secondary fruits

Band without Slight Moderate None to

achenes slight

Evenness of fruit Even to Slightly Even to

surface slightly uneven slightly

uneven uneven

Color of top of Red Group Red Group Red Group

fruit 44A 46B 45A

Blush side color Red Group Red Group Red Group

45A 46A 46A

Non-blush side Red Group Red Group Red Group

color 44B 44A 45A

Internal flesh Orange-White White Group Orange-White

color Group 159D, 155D, Red Group 159D,

Red Group Group 44A Red Group 44A,

44A, Red Red Group 44C

Group 44C

Achene position At surface At surface At surface to

slightly raised

Achene color Red Group Red Group 46B, Yellow-Green

45A, Yellow Yellow-Green Group 153B,

Group 153A, Group 152C, Greyed-Orange

Yellow-Green Greyed-Orange Group 166B

Group 152C Group 166A

Achene count 305 252 304

Insertion of At surface Necked At surface

calyx to slightly to necked

necked

Pose of calyx Reflexed Reflexed Reflexed

segments

Size of calyx Smaller to Same to Same to

in relation to slightly larger slightly larger slightly larger

fruit

Ease of calyx Difficult Difficult Difficult

removal

Firmness of Medium to Medium Medium to

flesh firm firm

Evenness of Uneven Uneven Uneven

flesh color

Distribution Red Group 44C Red Group 44A Red Group 44C

of flesh color core, Orange- core, then White core, Orange-

White Group Group 155D halo White Group

159D halo, area and radiant lines, 159D area near

near calyx, and through Red calyx and radiant

radiant lines, Group 44A lines through Red

through Red outer ring Group 44A outer

Group 44A ring

outer ring

Sweetness Sweet Very sweet Mild

Acidity Mild Medium Tart

Brix (percent 9.13 10.87 8.07

soluble solids)

pH 3.73 3.67 3.58

Titratable 0.92 1.01 0.89

acidity (TA)

Texture when Smooth to Fine, some- Fine, some-

tasted Creamy what smooth what smooth,

slightly

gummy

Time of April to April to April to

flowering May May May

Harvest matur- Mid to late Mid to late Mid to late

ity (50% of May May May

plant with

ripe fruit)

Type of Short Day/ Short Day/ Short Day/

bearing June Bearing June Bearing June Bearing

Yield (non- 53.9 73.7 43.6

decayed berries/

plant)

Yield (kg/plant) 1.00 0.55 0.86

Table 8 shows the fruit quality of the new cultivar compared to ‘Earliglow’ and ‘Galletta’ after one week and two weeks in refrigerated storage. The postharvest fruit quality characteristics include the percentage of stored fruits that are marketable, degraded, or rotted after one week and two weeks in refrigerated storage.

TABLE 8

Percentage marketable Percentage degraded

Cultivar Week 1 Week 2 Week 1 Week 2

‘USDA 91 bcd 53 bc 45 bcd 94 bcd

Lumina’

‘Earliglow’ 98 a 51 bc 46 bcd 97 abc

‘Galletta’ 95 ab 42 cde 28 d 98 a

Percentage rotted

Cultivar Week 1 Week 2

‘USDA 2 cde 20 abc

Lumina’

‘Earliglow’ 1 e 2 ef

‘Galletta’ 1 e 1 f

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL GENOTYPES

When ‘USDA Lumina’ is compared to female parent, B2475 (unpatented), the fruits have better symmetry and are less susceptible to Botrytis fruit rot. When ‘USDA Lumina’ is compared to male parent, B2197 (unpatented), the fruits a more desirable, less mealy texture and are less susceptible to Botrytis fruit rot.