Strawberry plant named 'ps-3546'

#Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Fragaria ananassa

#Variety Denomination: Strawberry Plant Named ‘PS-3546’

#The present invention relates to a new and distinct overbearing strawberry variety designated as ‘PS-3546’. This new variety is a result of a controlled cross made in 1995 between ‘PS-592’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,903) and ‘PS-1150’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,780). The variety is botanically known as Fragaria ananassa. The new variety was discovered by the inventors, Stephen M. Ackerman, Steven D. Nelson, and Michael D. Nelson.

#The accompanying color photographs show typical specimens of the new variety at various stages of development as nearly true as it is possible to make in color reproductions the depicted plant and plant parts were approximately 7 to 9 months old.

#FIG. 1 shows typical fruiting field characteristics on Jun. 10, 2002.

#FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of a typical mature tri-foliate on Jul. 3, 2002.

#The following description of ‘PS-3546’ unless otherwise noted, is based on observations taken during the 2002 growing season in Salinas, Calif. These measurements and ratings were taken from plants dug from a high-elevation nursery located in Siskiyou County, California during the middle of October 2001 and planted approximately 3 weeks later in Salinas, Calif. The approximate age of the observed plants is 7 to 8 months. Yield observations and fruit quality characteristics are averaged from data collected during the 1999 through 2002 production seasons. The characteristics of the new variety may vary in detail, depending upon variations in environmental factors, including weather (temperature, humidity and light intensity), day length, soil type and location. ‘PS-3546’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Color terminology where noted follows the Munsell Book of Colors, Munsell Color, Baltimore, Md. (1976).

#‘PS-3546’ fruit, fruit production and fruit quality characteristics. Fruit characteristics are taken from secondary fruit on a first year planting. 1 TABLE 1 1999-2002 market fruit yield, fruit size and runner production characteristics of ‘PS-3546’ from Salinas, California. 1999-2002 1999-2002 1999-2002 Average Average Average April/May Total Fruit 1999-2002 Yield Yield Size Average Cultivar GM/PL GM/PL GRM Runners/PL ‘PS-3546’ 193 1,556 22.7 1.5 ‘PS-592’ 255 1,633 24.3 0.4 ‘PS-1150’ 138 1,327 18.8 0.5 ‘PS-1269’ 263 1,454 24.7 0.4 Fruit was harvested from April through October 1999-2002. The plants of ‘PS-3546’ were dug from a high elevation nursery (Macdoel, California) during the middle of October and planted approximately 3 weeks later in Salinas, California. ‘PS-3546’ is compared to the following standards dug and planted comparably to ‘PS-3546’.

#2 TABLE 2 Comparison of secondary fruit characteristics of ‘PS-3546’, with standards from Salinas, California, Jun. 13, 2002. Character ‘PS-3546’ ‘PS-592’ ‘PS-1150’ ‘PS-1269’ Munsell Color Range 7.5R 3/8 7.5R 3/12 7.5R 4/10 7.5R 3/10 Mature Fruit to 4/10 to 4/12 to 3/8 to 4/10 Fruit Length 4.11 3.95 3.79 4.13 mean (cm)* Fruit Width 4.05 4.02 3.86 3.95 mean (cm)* Fruit Length/Width Ratio 1.01 0.98 1.05 1.29 Calyx Diameter 5.6 5.4 5.1 5.2 mean (cm) No. Sepals/Berry 13.8 14.1 14.7 14.2 Seed Weight 0.58 0.6 0.5 0.6 mean (mgs) *Width is measured across the widest part of the berry, typically across the shoulders