Strawberry Plant Named ‘HOB-391’

Common name: Strawberry

Botanical classification: Fragaria x ananassa Duchesne ex Rozier.

Variety denomination: ‘HOB-391’.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATION

This application follows Japanese plant variety rights application No. 37439 filed May 24, 2024, the entire content of which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW VARIETY

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry, Fragaria x ananassa Duchesne ex Rozier, which has been given the variety denomination ‘HOB-391’.

The variety is distinguished by its high hardness of fruit body and its good balance of sweetness and acidity, with the fruit having achenes positioned deep below the surface and a light red core, that distinguish it notably from its female parent ‘Pechika Pure’ (fruit having achenes positioned shallow below the surface and a white core).

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

The parent varieties are ‘Akihime’ (male parent) (not patented in the U.S.) and ‘Pechika Pure’ (female parent) (not patented in the U.S.).

The variety was developed and propagated in Higashikagura-cho, Kamikawa-gun, Hokkaido, Japan.

The new variety was asexually reproduced by runners in Higashikagura-cho, Kamikawa-gun, Hokkaido, Japan.

In March 2017, the mother variety ‘Pechika Pure’ and father variety ‘Akihime’ were crossed in a greenhouse in Higashikagura-cho, Kamikawa-gun, Hokkaido, Japan.

In 2017, the resulting seedlings were sown and raised.

In 2018, the raised seedlings were planted in a test field located in Higashikagura-cho, Kamikawa-gun, Hokkaido, Japan, and two individuals with superior characteristics were selected.

In 2019, the test was carried out again and ‘HOB-391’ was selected for its high hardness of fruit body and its taste.

On May 24, 2024, an application for plant variety rights No. 37439 was filed for the present variety in the Japanese Plant Variety Protection Office of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), Japan.

Cultivation of the variety does not require special conditions or treatments.

Proper planting time is from the end of March to the beginning of April.

Flowering time is from the middle of May.

Harvesting time is from the end of June to the end of November.

The variety is currently mainly intended for fruit production.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

The variety is distinguished from its female parent ‘Pechika Pure’, which is its closest comparative cultivar, by its high hardness of fruit body and its good balance of sweetness and acidity, with the fruit having achenes positioned deep below the surface and a light red core, that distinguish it notably from its female parent ‘Pechika Pure’ (fruit having achenes positioned shallow below the surface and yellowish pink (RHS 33C) core). The variety is also distinguished from its male parent ‘Akihime’ by the position of achenes deep below the surface of the fruit and the moderate to large difference in shape of terminal and other fruits, that distinguish it notably from its male parent ‘Akihime’ (achenes below the surface of the fruit, slight difference in shape of terminal and other fruits).

A comparison table with the male parent ‘Akihime’ is as follows (evaluation based on averages).

TABLE 1

‘HOB-391’ ‘Akihime’

Fruit: position of achenes deep below below surface

surface

Difference in shape of moderate to large slight

terminal and other fruits

Type of bearing day neutral not remontant

A comparison table with the female parent ‘Pechika Pure’ is as follows (evaluation based on averages).

TABLE 2

‘HOB-391’ ‘Pechika Pure’

Fruit: position of achenes deep below below surface

surface

Color of core light red yellowish pink

(RHS 43C) (RHS 33C)

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings, which are as nearly true as is reasonable possible to make in a color illustration of this type:

FIG. 1 is a color photograph showing fruit of ‘HOB-391’;

FIG. 2 is a color photograph showing fruit of ‘Pechika Pure’ for comparison purposes;

FIG. 3 is a color photograph showing the plant, leaves, and fruit of ‘HOB-391’;

FIG. 4 is a color photograph showing the plant, leaves, flowers, and fruit of ‘HOB-391’;

FIG. 5 is a color photograph showing the flowers of ‘HOB-391’;

FIG. 6 is a color photograph showing the leaf of ‘HOB-391’.

Due to chemical and/or digital development, processing and printing, the plants or portions of plants depicted in the photographs may or may not be precisely accurate, when compared to the actual botanical specimens.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The botanical description and the photographs are of the ‘HOB-391’ plants evaluated in 2023, including for the comparison with the female parent ‘Pechika Pure’. Values as provided are averages.

The plants shown on the photographs were grown in Higashikagura-cho, Kamikawa-gun, Hokkaido, Japan. The plant is a 5-year grown plant.

Colors are given according to the RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) Colour Chart (Fourth Ed., 2001).

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

TABLE 3

Characteristics States/Values

1 Plant

1.1 Plant growth habit upright

1.2 Density of foliage medium to sparse

1.3 Vigor medium to strong

1.4 Number of axillary bud few

1.5 Position of inflorescence in same level

relation to foliage

1.6 Number of stolons medium to many

1.7 Stolon: average length 30 cm

1.8 Stolon: surface texture rough

1.9 Stolon: color strong yellowish green

(RHS 134B)

2 Leaf

2.1 Leaf size medium (31cm 2 ) (length 24

cm, width 31 cm)

2.2 Color of upper side dark green (RHS 146A)

2.3 Color of lower side light yellowish green

(RHS 135D)

2.4 Glossiness medium

2.5 Blistering absent or weak

2.6 Variegation absent

2.7 Leaflet: number 3 per leaf

2.8 Leaflet: length 18 cm

2.9 Leaflet: width 12 cm

2.10 Leaflet: apex retuse

2.11 Leaflet: texture (upper side) glossy

2.12 Leaflet: texture (lower side) rough

2.13 Terminal leaflet: size large (223.3 cm 2 )

2.14 Shape of base acute

2.15 Margin serrate to crenate

2.16 Shape in cross section concave

3 Stem

3.1 Petiole: length long (29.5 cm)

3.2 Petiole: diameter 0.5 cm

3.3 Petiole: texture hairy and rough

3.4 Petiole: color strong yellowish green

(RHS 134B)

3.5 Attitude of hairs slightly outwards

3.6 Anthocyanin coloration absent

3.7 Anthocyanin color absent

3.8 Peduncle: length medium (17.2 cm)

3.9 Peduncle: diameter 0.3 cm

3.10 Peduncle: texture hairy and rough

3.11 Peduncle: strength strong (not removed from

the crown at harvest)

3.12 Peduncle: color strong yellowish green

(RHS 134B)

3.13 Pedicel: attitude of hairs slightly outwards

3.14 Pedicel: length 2.5 cm

3.15 Pedicel: diameter 0.2 cm

3.16 Pedicel: texture hairy and rough

3.17 Pedicel: strength strong and hard to break

3.18 Pedicel: color greenish-blue (RHS 140C)

4 Flower

4.1 Flower diameter medium to large (4 cm)

4.2 Flower depth 1.5 cm

4.3 Arrangement of petals touching

4.4 Stamen present

4.5 Petal: number 8 per flower

4.6 Petal: shape rounded equilateral triangle

4.7 Petal: length 1.7 cm

4.8 Petal: width 1.7 cm

4.9 Petal: apex round

4.10 Petal: margin retuse

4.11 Petal: base flattened

4.12 Petal: texture of upper surface smooth and moist

4.13 Petal: texture of lower surface smooth and moist

4.14 Petal: color of upper side white (RHS NN155D)

4.15 Petal: color of lower side white (RHS NN155D)

5 Fruit

5.1 Fruit weight medium to small (29.8 g)

(height 5.0 cm, width 4.0

cm)

5.2 Shape conical

5.3 Shape at apex acute or truncate

5.4 Shape at base flattened

5.5 Color red (RHS 50A)

5.6 Shape of achenes narrow drops

5.7 Number of achenes 150 per fruit

5.8 Number of berries 15-20 per fruiting truss

5.9 Evenness of color even or very slightly

uneven

5.10 Evenness of surface even or very slightly

uneven

5.11 Neck absent

5.12 Position of calyx attachment level with fruit

5.13 Attitude of sepals upwards

5.14 Sepal: number 16

5.15 Sepal: shape narrow lenticular

5.16 Sepal: length 1.5 cm

5.17 Sepal: width 0.6 cm

5.18 Sepal: apex acute

5.19 Sepal: margin flattened

5.20 Sepal: base retuse

5.21 Sepal: texture of upper surface glossy

5.22 Sepal: texture of lower surface glossy

5.23 Sepal: color of upper surface strong green (RHS N134C)

5.24 Sepal: color of lower surface light yellowish green

(RHS 134D)

5.25 Firmness medium

5.26 Color of flesh light red (RHS N30B)

5.27 Color of core light red (RHS 43C)

5.28 Cavity absent or small

6 Fruit ripening

6.1 Time of beginning of flowering June 7

6.2 Time of beginning of fruit June 27

ripening

6/3 Time of beginning of harvest late June to late November

season

6.4 Type of bearing day neutral

6.5 Soluble solids content high (Brix = 10)

6.6 Acidity medium to low (0.45%)

Other features of the plant are as follows:

• Plant hardiness zone of the plant: adapted to summer in cooler areas of Japan; has excellent heat resistance but poor cold resistance. In cold weather, the plants are dwarfed and the progress of fruit coloration is slow. • Disease and pest resistance: Normal resistance was observed for pests and diseases in Higashikagura-cho, Kamikawa-gun, Hokkaido, Japan.