Strawberry plant called "Carlsbad"

#This invention relates to a new and distinctive short-day type cultivar designated as `Carlsbad`, which resulted from a cross performed in 1988 between the cultivar `Irvine` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,172) and advanced selection Cal 85.218-605.

#`Carlsbad` 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 88.70-613, 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 extent 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.

#`Carlsbad` is typical of short-day types and products fruit over an extended period when treated appropriately in arid, subtropical climates. `Carlsbad` differs from `Irvine` in that `Irvine` is a day-neutral type with essentially no photoperiodic flowering response and as compared with `Carlsbad` is more difficult to grow. The production pattern for `Carlsbad` is similar to that for `Chandler`, although it produces substantially greater quantities of early-season fruit. `Carlsbad` will be of special interest for winter plantings, where `Chandler` has been successful, and in summer plantings where `Pajaro` has been successful.

#Plants and foliage: Fruiting plants of `Carlsbad` are larger, more erect, and more vigorous than plants of `Chandler` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,262), and are generally similar in form to plants of `Oso Grande` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,578). `Carlsbad` forms branch crowns in greater quantity than `Chandler` with similar branching to `Oso Grande`. When propagated in the nursery, `Carlsbad` 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 according to the Munsell color scale (Nickerson Color Fan) given in Table 5. Leaf color is distinctly lighter on the underside for `Carlsbad`; the differential is larger than for `Chandler` and similar to that for `Oso Grande`. Individual leaflets for `Carlsbad` are larger and somewhat more elongated than `Chandler`, and are less rounded than for `Oso Grande`. Leaves (including petioles) are longer and much broader than for `Chandler`. Petioles are thicker and stiffer 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 `Carlsbad` and the comparison cultivars. Stipule size varies greatly both within and among individual plants for `Carlsbad`, and one or both stipules may be absent or may be abscise as the leaf matures. Leaf and petiole pubescence characters for `Carlsbad` are similar to those for `Oso Grande`, except that tomentum on leaves are less dense. Also, leaves for `Carlsbad` are darker than leaves of `Chandler` and similar in color but slightly darker than those of `Oso Grande`. Visual comparisons of fruit color according to the Munsel color scale (Nickerson Color Fan) are given in Table 5. `Carlsbad` has flat (occasionally concave) leaves, which are easily distinguished from ` Chandler`, and are similar in convexity to `Oso Grande`.

#Isozymes in leaf extracts: `Carlsbad` 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. For electrophoretic procedures see: J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 106:684-687.