Strawberry Plant Named ‘drisstrawonehundredeight’

Latin name: Botanical classification: Fragaria x ananassa.

Varietal denomination: The varietal denomination of the claimed variety of strawberry plant is ‘DrisStrawOneHundredEight’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cultivated strawberry is a hybrid species of the genus Fragaria that is grown worldwide for its fruit. Modern strawberry was first bred in Brittany, France, in the 18 th century by crossing Fragaria virginiana with Fragaria chiloensis . Strawberry fruit is an aggregate accessory fruit, with the fleshy part of the fruit being derived from the receptacle that holds the ovaries.

Strawberry varieties vary widely in color, size, shape, flavor, season of ripening, degree of fertility, and susceptibility to disease. Certain varieties vary in foliage, and some vary in the relative development of their reproductive organs. Typically, strawberry flowers appear hermaphroditic in structure, but function as either male or female. Generally, commercial production of strawberry plants involves propagation from runners and distribution as either plugs or bare root plants. Cultivation is either perennial or annual plasticulture. During the off season, strawberries can also be produced in greenhouses.

Strawberry fruit is widely appreciated for its characteristic bright red color, aroma, juicy texture, and sweetness. Strawberry fruit is a popular fruit that is generally consumed either fresh or in prepared foods, such as preserves and baked goods.

Strawberry is an important and valuable fruit crop. Accordingly, there is a need for new varieties of strawberry plants. In particular, there is a need for improved varieties of strawberry plant that are stable, high yielding, and agronomically sound.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to meet these needs, the present invention is directed to an improved variety of strawberry plant. In particular, the invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry plant ( Fragaria x ananassa ), which has been denominated as ‘DrisStrawOneHundredEight’.

Strawberry plant variety ‘DrisStrawOneHundredEight’ was selected in Huelva, Spain in February 2020 and originated from a controlled cross between the female parent proprietary strawberry plant ‘FS201.027’ (unpatented) and the male parent ‘DrisStrawSeventyThree’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 32,305). The original seedling of ‘DrisStrawOneHundredEight’ was first asexually propagated via cuttings in Valladolid, Spain in May 2020.

‘DrisStrawOneHundredEight’ was subsequently asexually propagated via cuttings, and has undergone testing at test plots in Moulay Bousselham, Morocco for three years (2021 to 2024). The present variety has been found to be stable and reproduce true to type through successive asexual propagations via cuttings and tissue culture.

‘DrisStrawOneHundredEight’ was particularly selected for the yield potential and vigor of the plant, as well as the fruit flavor and quality.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This new strawberry plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. Unless otherwise indicated, the photographs are of plants that are 5 months old.

FIG. 1 illustrates whole fruit of variety ‘DrisStrawOneHundredEight’.

FIG. 2 illustrates longitudinal sections of fruit of variety ‘DrisStrawOneHundredEight’.

FIG. 3 illustrates the upper surface (top row) and lower surface (bottom row) of flowers of variety ‘DrisStrawOneHundredEight’.

FIG. 4 illustrates the upper surface (top) and lower surface (bottom) of leaves of variety ‘DrisStrawOneHundredEight’.

FIG. 5 illustrates whole plants of variety ‘DrisStrawOneHundredEight’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘DrisStrawOneHundredEight’. The data which define these characteristics is based on observations taken in Moulay Bousselham, Morocco from 2021 to 2024. 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.

‘DrisStrawOneHundredEight’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The botanical description of ‘DrisStrawOneHundredEight’ was taken from plants that were five months old. The indicated values represent averages calculated from measurements of several plants. Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (2015 edition). Descriptive terminology follows the Plant Identification Terminology, An Illustrated Glossary, 2 nd edition by James G. Harris and Melinda Woolf Harris, unless where otherwise defined.

• Classification:

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• Species.—Fragaria x ananassa. • Common name .—Strawberry. • Denomination .—‘DrisStrawOneHundredEight’. • Parentage:

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• Female parent .—Proprietary strawberry plant ‘FS201.027’ (unpatented). • Male parent .—‘DrisStrawSeventyThree’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 32,305). • Plant:

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• Height.— 24.3 cm. • Width.— 37 cm. • Height/width ratio.— 0.65. • Number of crowns per plant.— 5.9. • Growth habit .—Semi-upright. • Density of foliage .—Medium. • Vigor .—Weak. • Stolon:

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• Average number of daughter plants per square foot.— 12. • Diameter ( at bract ).—3.48 mm. • Overall color .—RHS 145A (Yellow green). • Anthocyanin coloration .—Absent or very weak. • Density of pubescence .—Medium. • Fruiting truss:

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• Length ( from crown to base of terminal flower or fruit ).—16.25 cm. • Diameter ( at base of truss ).—0.66 cm. • Number of berries per truss.— 6.7. • Attitude at first picking .—Erect. • Color ( at base of truss ).—RHS N144D (Light yellow green). • Leaf:

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• Number of leaflets .—Three only. • Color of leaf upper surface .—RHS N137 (Moderate olive green). • Color of leaf lower surface .—RHS N138D (Light yellow green). • Blistering .—Strong. • Glossiness .—Medium. • Variegation .—Absent. • Terminal leaflet .—Length: 6.3 cm. Width: 5.5 cm. Length/width ratio: 1.14. Number of teeth per terminal leaflet: 17. Overall shape: Orbicular. Shape of base: Obtuse. Shape of apex: Rounded. Margin: Serrate to crenate. Margin profile: Cupped. Shape in cross section: Concave. • Petiole .—Length: 15 cm. Diameter: 4 mm. Overall color: RHS 144D (Light yellow green). Pubescence: Medium. Attitude of hairs: Horizontal. Bract frequency (number present on each petiole): 0. • Petiolule .—Length: 9 mm. Diameter: 2 mm. Color: RHS N145B to N145C (Light yellow green). • Stipule .—Length: 15.3 mm. Width: 7.8 mm. Stipule color: RHS N145D (Light yellow green). Anthocyanin coloration: Weak. Pubescence: Medium. • Inflorescence:

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• Number of flowers per plant.— 12.6. • Position of inflorescence in relation to foliage .—Same level. • Flowering interval .—November to March. • Pedicel .—Attitude of hairs: Upwards. • Flower .—Flower diameter (petal tip to petal tip on non-flattened flower): 21 mm. Arrangement of petals: Free. Size of calyx in relation to corolla: Larger. Receptacle color: RHS N151C (Strong greenish yellow). Stamen: Present. Anther color: RHS N17C (Vivid yellow). • Petal .—Length: 7.2 mm. Width: 8.7 mm. Length/width ratio: 0.8. Number of petals per flower: 5.2. Color of upper surface: RHS NN155C (White). Color of lower surface: RHS NN155C (White). Overall shape: Orbicular. Shape of apex: Rounded. Margin: Entire. Shape of base: Concavo-convex. • Calyx .—Diameter (sepal tip to sepal tip, measured on back of flower): 31.4 mm. • Sepal .—Length: 10.5 mm. Width: 6.5 mm. Number of sepals per flower: 9.7. Overall shape: Oval. Margin: Entire. • Fruit:

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• Fruit size .—Length: 43.7 mm. Width: 32.6 mm. Length/width ratio: 1.3. • Fruit hollow .—Length: 18.6 mm. Width: 3.1 mm. Length/width ratio: 6. • Shape .—Conical. • Difference in shape of terminal and other fruits .—None or very slight. • Fruit color .—RHS N43A to N43B (Vivid reddish orange). • Evenness of color .—Slightly uneven. • Glossiness .—Medium. • Evenness of surface .—Even or very slightly uneven. • Width of band without achenes .—Narrow. • Position of achenes .—Level with surface. • Position of calyx attachment .—Raised. • Attitude of sepals .—Downwards. • Diameter of calyx in relation to diameter of fruit .—Same size. • Adherence of calyx .—Medium. • Firmness .—Firm. • Color of flesh ( excluding core ).—RHS N33 (Vivid reddish orange). • Evenness of flesh color .—Slightly uneven. • Distribution of flesh color .—Marginal and central. • Color of core .—RHS 35A (Moderate reddish orange). • Sweetness/soluble solids ( in ° brix ).—7.8. • Individual fruit weight.— 19 g/fruit. • Achenes .—Number of achenes per fruit: 243. Weight: 0.000603 g/achene. Color of upper (sunward) side: RHS 34A (Vivid reddish orange). Color of lower (shaded) side: RHS 1B (Brilliant greenish yellow). • Fruiting .—Harvest interval: December to April. Type of bearing: Partially remontant. Productivity: 0.71 to 0.85 kg of fruit per plant per season from 6-month-old plants when grown in Moulay Bousselham, Morocco. • Resistance to abiotic stress, pests, and diseases:

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• Powdery mildew ( podosphaera macularis ).—Moderately resistant. • Anthracnose crown rot ( colletotrichum acutatum ).—Moderately susceptible.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND REFERENCE VARIETIES

‘DrisStrawOneHundredEight’ differs from the female parent proprietary strawberry plant ‘FS201.027’ (unpatented) in that ‘DrisStrawOneHundredEight’ has higher yield potential and improved fruit flavor and quality compared to female parent ‘FS201.027’.

‘DrisStrawOneHundredEight’ differs from the male parent ‘DrisStrawSeventyThree’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 32,305) in that ‘DrisStrawOneHundredEight’ has strong leaf blistering, medium number of stolons, free arrangement of petals, and partially remontant type of bearing, whereas ‘DrisStrawSeventyThree’ has medium leaf blistering, the number of stolons is few, overlapping arrangement of petals, and not remontant type of bearing.

‘DrisStrawOneHundredEight’ differs from the reference variety ‘DrisStrawTwentySeven’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,400) in that ‘DrisStrawOneHundredEight’ has an inflorescence position at the same level as foliage, strong leaf blistering, free arrangement of petals, and the width of band without achenes on fruit is narrow, whereas ‘DrisStrawTwentySeven’ has an inflorescence position above foliage, medium leaf blistering, overlapping arrangement of petals, and the width of band without achenes on fruit is very broad.

‘DrisStrawOneHundredEight’ differs from the reference variety ‘DrisStrawSixtyFive’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 30,818) in that ‘DrisStrawOneHundredEight’ has absent or very weak stolon anthocyanin coloration, strong leaf blistering, free arrangement of petals, achenes level with fruit surface, and partially remontant type of bearing, whereas ‘DrisStrawSixtyFive’ has weak stolon anthocyanin coloration, absent or weak leaf blistering, overlapping arrangement of petals, achenes below fruit surface, and not remontant type of bearing.