Strawberry plant called `Camarosa`

#This invention relates to a new and distinctive short-day type cultivar designated as `Camarosa`, which resulted from a cross performed in 1988 between the cultivar `Douglas` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,487) and advanced selection Cal 85.218-605.

#`Camarosa` 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 88.24-603, 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.

#In the Drawings:

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

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

#`Camarosa` is typical of short-day types and produces fruit over an extended period when treated appropriately in arid, subtropical climates. `Camarosa` has a substantially greater yield than `Douglas` and greater fruit firmness. The production pattern for `Camarosa` is similar to that for `Chandler` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,262), although it produces substantially greater quantities of early-season fruit. `Camarosa` 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.

#Fruiting plants of `Camarosa` 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). `Camarosa` forms branch crowns in greater quantity than `Chandler` with similar branching to `Oso Grande`. When propagated in the nursery, `Camarosa` 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 `Camarosa`; the differential is similar to that for `Chandler` and not as large as for `Oso Grande`. Individual leaflets for `Camarosa` are larger, somewhat longer and more narrow than for `Chandler`, and are less rounded than for `Oso Grande`. Leaves (including petioles) are similar in length to `Chandler`, but are much broader. 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 some leaves for `Camarosa` and on most leaves for the comparison cultivars. Stipule size varies greatly both within and among individual plants for `Camarosa`, and one or both stipules are frequently absent or may abscise as the leaf matures. Leaf and petiole pubescence characters for `Camarosa` are similar to those for `Oso Grande`, except that tomentum on leaves are less dense. Also, leaves for `Camarosa` are similar in reflectance to `Chandler` but darker green (less yellow), and similar in color intensity to `Oso Grande`. Visual comparisons of fruit color according to the Munsell color scale (Nickerson Color Fan) are given in Table 5. `Camarosa` has concave leaves; less concave than leaves of `Chandler`, and similar to those of `Oso Grande` .

#`Camarosa` 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.