Strawberry plant named ‘Shannon M. Kent’

Abstract

The present invention provides a new and distinct strawberry variety designated as Shannon M. Kent (a.k.a. 110168). The Shannon M. Kent cultivar is primarily adapted to growing conditions of the central coast of California and produces strong vigorous plants that remain in fruit production from March through October.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of strawberry plant named Shannon M. Kent substantially as shown and described herein.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying color photographs depict various characteristics of the cultivar as nearly true as possible to make color reproductions. The age of the plants in FIGS. 1-3 is nine months old.

(2) FIG. 1 shows Shannon M. Kent plant.

(3) FIG. 2 shows Shannon M. Kent flowers.

(4) FIG. 3 shows Shannon M. Kent leaf.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

(5) This invention relates to a new and distinctive strawberry cultivar designated as Shannon M. Kent (a.k.a. 110168). This cultivar is primarily adapted to the climate and growing conditions of the central coast of California. This region provides the necessary temperatures required for it to produce a strong vigorous plant and to remain in fruit production from March through October. The nearby Pacific Ocean provides the needed humidity and moderate day temperatures and evening chilling to maintain fruit quality for the production months.

(6) The following traits and photographs in combination distinguish the strawberry variety Shannon M. Kent from known strawberry varieties. Plants for the botanical measurements in the present application were grown as annuals. Any color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The age of the plants in Table 1 is nine months old.

(7) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Characteristics of Shannon M. Kent Character- istic Type Characteristic Observation General Plant Habit annual Plant Growth Habit semi-upright Day length neutral Planting season Fall Height 30.5 cm Width 38.5 cm Density of foliage medium Plant vigor moderate Freezing Quality moderate Rain/weather tolerance moderate Harvest Ease moderate Leaf Number of leaflets per leaf 3 Leaflet texture soft Leaf average width, 142 mm Leaf average height 76 mm Leaf Shape concave Terminal leaflet width 76 mm Terminal leaflet length 69 mm Terminal leaflet length/width ratio 1.1 Teeth per terminal leaflet 24 to 27 Shape of the terminal leaflet base obtuse to rounded Shape of terminal leaflet in concave cross-section Shape of the terminal leaflet margin serrate to crenate Color of upper side of leaflet RHS 137A Color of lower side of leaflet RHS 137C Leaf blistering weak Leaf glossiness medium Leaf variegation absent Terminal Leaflet margin flat to revolute Terminal Leaflet shape orbicular Terminal Leaflet shape of apex rounded Limbs Petiole length 21.2 cm Petiole diameter 3.65 mm Petiole pubescence medium Petiole pose of hairs slightly outwards Petiole color RHS 145B Petiolule length 0.4 to 0.7 cm Petiolule diameter 2.00 to 3.33 mm Petiolule color RHS 139D Stipule length 3.8 cm Stipule width 1.0 cm Stipule pubescence medium Stipule anthocyanin present Stipule color RHS 145A Peduncle average length 15.2 cm Peduncle average diameter 4.88 mm Peduncle color RHS 145B Pedicel average length 8.12 cm Pedicel average diameter 3.1 mm Attitude of hairs on peduncle and upwards pedicel Inflore- Inflorescence position relative above scence to foliage Flower arrangement of petals touching to overlapping Flower size medium to large Flower diameter 3.5 to 3.9 cm Petal shape orbicular Petal apex rounded Petal margin entire Petal base shape concave Petal length 2.0 cm Petal width 2.0 cm Petal length/width ratio 1 Petal number per flower 6 Upper Petal color RHS 155C Lower Petal color RHS 155C Peduncle size medium Floral Calyx Diameter 5.0 to 5.6 cm Corolla diameter 3.5 to 3.9 cm Calyx diameter relative to corolla larger Inner calyx diameter relative equal to smaller to outer calyx Sepal shape elliptical Sepal apex convex Sepal margin entire Sepal length 2.6 cm Sepal width 1.1 cm Sepal number per flower 14 Fertility not tested Time of flowering (50% of May plants in bloom) Stigma shape capitate Stigma color RHS 15B Style length 1.5 mm Style color RHS 6A Ovary color RHS 145A Number of stamen 25 to 30 Stamen length 3.0 to 6.0 mm Anther shape dorsifixed Anther size 1.5 mm Anther color RHS 22A Filament color RHS 8C Filament length 2.5 to 5.5 mm Stolon Number of Stolon 3 Stolon length 45 cm Stolon widest diameter at leaf 3.6 mm attachment Stolon texture smooth Stolon pubescence sparse Stolon shape long cylindrical Stolon color RHS 142A Stolon anthocyanin intensity Absent Fruit Average number of fruits per truss 5 Fruit length 4.15 cm Fruit width 4.15 cm Fruit length/width ratio 1 Fruit weight 26.5 g Firmness of flesh firm Relative fruit size medium to large Predominant fruit shape globose conic Achenes position slightly indented Achenes color full ripe RHS 154D Achenes color near ripe RHS 43B Achenes number per fruit about 280 Fruit skin color RHS 44B Fruit flesh color RHS 44B Fruit core color RHS 43B Calyx color RHS 137A Pose of calyx segments reflexed Flesh firmness firm Sweetness 7.11 Brix Acidity 3.49 pH Time of flowering May Time of fruit ripening May Harvest maturity (50% of June plants with ripe fruit Type of bearing day neutral Surface Texture smooth Fruit Appearance 6 (1-7 scale; 7 = best) Storage longevity 10 days Percent marketable fruit 85% Horti- Average plant marketable fruit yield 1476 g cultural (weeks 17-37) Crop suitability Fresh market and freezer Temperature tolerance range 2 C. to 36 C. USDA Hardiness Zone adaptability 5a,5b,6a,6b,7a,7b, for annual transplanting of California 8a,8b,9a,9b, 10a grown commercial rootstock Cull rate (% Usable) 14.5%

(8) Seascape (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,614) is a commercial strawberry variety that is similar to, but distinguished from Shannon M. Kent. The fruit yield Shannon M. Kent is greater than the fruit yield of comparison variety Seascape and Shannon M. Kent has a greater percent of marketable fruit than Seascape. The fruit height to fruit width ratio of the fruit of Shannon M. Kent closer to unity compared to the fruit height to fruit width ratio of the fruit of Seascape. The petiole of Shannon M. Kent is thicker in diameter than the petiole of Seascape. The florescence of Shannon M. Kent extends beyond the leaf canopy and Shannon M. Kent is easier to harvest compared to Seascape with its habit of setting fruit beneath the canopy.

(9) The new strawberry variety Shannon M. Kent exceeds both its parents in fruit yield and the percent of marketable fruit of Shannon M. Kent is less than the percent marketable fruit of female parent 107987 and greater than that of male parent 107801. The full fruiting season fruit yield of Shannon M. Kent is greater than the yield of male parent 107801, however, the male parent produced more fruit during the early season when compared to Shannon M. Kent. The fruit of Shannon M. Kent is firmer than male parent 107801. The fruit colour of Shannon M. Kent is deeper red than the fruit colour of either of its two parents.