Strawberry plant called Anaheim

#This invention relates to a new and distinctive short-day type cultivar designated as `Anaheim`, which resulted from a cross performed in 1988 between the cultivar `Irvine`(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,172) and advanced selection Cal 85.92-602.

#`Anaheim` was first fruited at the University of California South coast Research and Extension Center, near Irvine, Calif. in 1989, where it was selected, originally designated Cal 88.66-610, and propagated asexually by runners. Asexual propagules from this original source have been tested at the South Coast Research and Extension Center, the Watsonville Strawberry Research Facility, and to a limited extend in grower fields starting in 1990.

#FIG. 1 shows the general flowering and fruiting characteristics of the plant;

#FIG. 2 shows a typical mature leaf during late spring; and

#FIG. 3 shows representative mid-season fruit.

#`Anaheim` is typical of short-day types and produces fruit over an extended period when treated appropriately in arid, subtropical climates. `Anaheim` differs from `Irvine` primarily in that `Irvine` is a day-neutral type and not a short-day type. Also `Irvine` has essentially no photoperiodic flowering response and is more difficult to grow by comparison with `Anaheim.` The production pattern for `Anaheim`, is similar to that for `Chandler` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,262), although its production initiates earlier and persists somewhat later in the season in cool mediterranean climates. `Anaheim` will be of special interest for winter plantings, where `Chandler` has been successful, and in summer plantings where `Pajaro` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,538) has been successful. Because of its late-season production, `Anaheim`, is likely to be adapted to production objectives in central California.

#Plants and foliage: Fruiting plants of `Anaheim` are larger, more erect, and more vigorous than plants of `Chandler`, and are generally similar in form to plants of `Oso Grande` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,578). `Anaheim` forms branch crowns in greater quantity than `Chandler` with similar or greater branching than `Oso Grande`. When propagated in the nursery, `Anaheim` has similar or greater runner production capacity compared with `Chandler`. Comparative statistics for foliar characters, including leaf color, near mid-season are given for the three cultivars in Table 1, with visual comparisons of leaf color to the Munsell color scale (Nickerson Color Fan) given in Table 5. Leaf color is distinctly lighter on the underside for `Anaheim`; the differential is larger than for `Chandler` and similar to that for `Oso Grande`. Individual leaflets for `Anaheim` are larger and somewhat more elongated than for `Chandler`, and are less rounded than for `Oso Grande`. Leaves (including petioles) are longer and much broader than for `Chandler`. Petioles are thicker and more stiff than those of `Chandler` and are similar to those of `Oso Grande`. Paired stipules, borne in a median position on the petiole, appear as small, stalked, ovate to heart-shaped structures on most leaves for `Anaheim` and the comparison cultivars. Stipule size varies greatly both within and among individual plants for `Anaheim`, and one or both stipules may be absent or may abscise as the leaf matures. Leaf and petiole pubescence characters for `Anaheim` are similar to those for `Oso Grande`, except that tomentum on leaves are substantially less dense. Also, leaves for `Anaheim` are darker than `Chandler` and similar in color to, but slightly darker than, those of `Oso Grande`. Visual comparisons of fruit color according to the Munsell color scale (Nickerson Color Fan) are given in Table 5. `Anaheim` has flat (occasionally concave) leaves, which are easily distinguished from those of `Chandler`, and are similar in convexity to leaves of `Oso Grande`.

#Isozymes in leaf extracts: `Anaheim` has been classified for three isozyme systems using starch gel electrophoresis (Table 2): Phosophoglucoisomerase (PGI), Leucine Aminopeptidase (LAP), and Phosphoglucomutase (PGM). It is distinguishable from all other short-day cultivars released to date except `Oso Grande`. For electrophoretic procedures see: J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 106:684-687.