<i>Fragaria </i>plant named ‘Falco’

Abstract

A new and distinct Fragaria x ananassa plant named Falco which is characterized by the combination of mid-season short-day fruiting, a high yield of fruit, very large bright red and glossy fruit, firm fruit, and the stability of these characteristics from generation to generation.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Fragaria x ananassa plant named Falco, substantially as described and illustrated herein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary 3 month old Falco plant, grown at a commercial greenhouse in Ens, Netherlands.

(2) FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the typical foliage of Falco.

(3) FIG. 3 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the typical fruit of Falco.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

(4) The following is a detailed botanical description of a new and distinct variety of Fragaria known as Falco, based upon observations of 3 month old greenhouse-grown plants in 250 cc nursery containers, produced in Ens, Netherlands. Plants were grown using conventional greenhouse production protocols for Fragaria plants which consisted of drip irrigation, as well as fertigation applications. Biological insect control measures were utilized in production. Plants were produced with full sun exposure and no photoperiodic treatments or artificial light was given to the plants. Observation data was recorded in April of 2018.

(5) Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. Falco has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may differ from the descriptions set forth herein with variations in environmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 2015 edition.

(6) A botanical description of Falco and a comparison with the parent plants and the most similar commercial Fragaria cultivar known to the inventor, is provided below. Plant description: Growth habit.Acaulescent, stoloniferous perennial; flattened globular shape with leaves and inflorescence developing from basal crowns with approximately 5 crowns per pot; no lateral branching is present. Plant form.Globular. Average height.40.0 cm. Average width.74.0 cm. Plant vigor.Moderately to highly vigorous. Rate of growth.Moderately fast growing to fast growing. Propagation details.Asexual propagation is accomplished by rooting stolon cuttings. Time to initiate roots.Rooting is initiated in approximately 7 days when grown with an ambient average temperature of 17 degrees Celsius. Time to produce a marketable rooted cutting.Approximately 30 days to produce a rooted cutting. Pest resistance and susceptibility.Not any more or less tolerant or susceptible to pests or diseases known to effect Fragaria x ananassa. Environmental tolerances.Adapt to USDA Zones 4 through 9 and temperatures ranging from at least minus 32 degrees Celsius to 40 degrees Celsius; low to moderate tolerance to rain; moderate to high tolerance to wind. Root system: Type.Moderately fibrous root system. Branching.Moderately branched. Density.Moderately dense. Distribution.Roots distributed evenly throughout the soil profile, from shallow to deep. Diameter.Largest roots measuring 0.5 mm in diameter. Texture.Smooth; lacking root hairs. Color.Greyed-brown, nearest to in between RHS N199C and N199D. Stolons: Length.82.0 cm. Diameter.0.275 cm. Texture.Moderately covered with adpressed to strigose hairs; average length of hairs is 0.2 cm; colored translucent white, nearest to RHS NN155D. Color.Yellow-green, nearest to a mixture of RHS 144A and 144B. Foliage: Arrangement.Alternate. Attachment.Petiolate. Attitude.Upward and outward. Division.Trifoliate. Shape.Cordate to reniform. Length.17.0 cm, excluding the petiole. Width.20.9 cm. Quantity.8 leaves per crown. Leaflets.Quantity 3. Shape Broad ovate to near orbicular. Length 10.8 cm. Width 9.7 cm. Aspect Slightly to moderately carinate. Apex Abruptly acute. Base Attenuate. Margin Coarsely crenate to serrate. Texture, adaxial surface Slightly rugose and sparely covered with very thin, soft hairs with an average length of 0.15 cm; hairs are a translucent white, nearest to RHS NN155D. Texture, abaxial surface Slightly rugose and moderately covered with very thin, soft hairs with an average length of 0.15 cm; hairs are a translucent white, nearest to RHS NN155D. Luster, adaxial surface Slightly to moderately glossy. Luster, abaxial surface Matte. Color Juvenile foliage color, adaxial surface Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144B, and margined slightly darker, nearest to RHS 143A. Juvenile foliage color, abaxial surface Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144B. Mature leaf color, adaxial surface Green nearest to RHS NN137A. Mature leaf color, abaxial surface Nearest to in between yellow-green, RHS 147B, and greyed-green, RHS 191A. Venation Type Pinnate. Vein color, adaxial surface Yellow-green, nearest to a mixture of RHS 144B and 144C. Vein color, abaxial surface Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 145B. Petiole.Length 29.6 cm. Diameter 0.42 cm. Strength Strong. Color, adaxial surface Yellow-green, nearest to in between RHS 144A and 144B. Color, abaxial surface Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144B. Texture, adaxial and abaxial surfaces Moderately covered with thin, soft strigose hairs with an average length of 0.2 cm; hairs are a translucent greyed-white, nearest to RHS 156D. Luster, adaxial and abaxial surfaces Moderately glossy. Stipules.General Two leafy stipules present at the base of each leaf. Shape Narrow deltoid. Length Average of 3.6 cm. Width Average of 0.4 cm. Apex Narrowly acute. Base Broad cuneate. Aspect Folded. Color, adaxial surface Greyed-purple, nearest to RHS 185D. Color, abaxial surface Greyed-purple, nearest to a mixture of RHS 184C and 184D, and veined yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144B. Texture, adaxial surface Glabrous. Texture, abaxial surface Glabrous. Inflorescence: Type.Compound cymose panicle, generally referred to as a truss. Natural flowering season.From spring into summer in Ens, Belgium. Time to flower.9 months. Quantity of open flowers per inflorescence.3. Quantity of buds per inflorescence.15. Length.22.5 cm, including the peduncle. Diameter.15.9 cm. Peduncle.Length 9.0 cm. Diameter 0.4 cm. Aspect At an average angle of 65 degrees to horizontal. Strength Moderately strong. Texture Densely covered with thin, soft strigose hairs with an average length of 0.2 cm; hairs are a translucent white, nearest to RHS NN155D. Luster Slightly glossy. Color Yellow-green, nearest to a mixture of RHS 144A and 144B. Flower buds: Shape.Broad ovate. Length.Average of 1.5 cm. Diameter.Average of 1.2 cm. Texture.Moderately covered with thin, soft hairs with an average length of 0.02 cm; hairs are a translucent white, nearest to RHS NN155D. Luster.Matte. Color.Green, nearest to a mixture of RHS 138D and 143C, and becoming yellow- green at the base, nearest to RHS 145B. Flower: Form.Rotate; single. Aspect.Upright and outward. Flower diameter.3.5 cm. Flower length.1.4 cm. Fragrance.Slight sweet fragrance. Lastingness.Approximately 7 days. Persistent.Self-cleaning. Pedicels.Length Varying from 2.6 cm to 15.5 cm. Diameter 0.15 cm. Aspect Upward; approximately 45 degrees to the peduncle axis. Strength Moderately strong. Texture Densely covered with thin, soft strigose hairs with an average length of 0.15 cm; hairs are a translucent white, nearest to RHS NN155D. Luster Slightly glossy. Color Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144C. Petals.Arrangement Rotate with a single whorl of free petals. Quantity of Petals 6. Shape Near orbicular to reniform. Length 1.05 cm. Width 1.2 cm. Apex Obtuse. Base Cuneate. Margin Entire; lightly undulated. Aspect Concave. Texture and luster of upper surface Moderately velvety; matte. Texture and luster of lower surface Moderately velvety; matte. Petal color when opening, upper surface White, nearest to RHS NN155C, and slightly darker towards the base, nearest to RHS NN155B. Petal color when opening, lower surface White, nearest to RHS NN155C. Petal color when fully opened, upper surface White, nearest to RHS NN155C, and slightly darker towards the base, nearest to RHS NN155B. Petal color when fully opened, lower surface White, nearest to RHS NN155C. Petal venation color, fully opened, upper surface Veins are not visible. Petal venation color, fully opened, lower surface Veins are not visible. Calyx.Shape Rotate. Length 0.7 cm. Diameter 3.5 cm. Sepals Arrangement Rotate with sepals in a single whorl and fused at the base. Quantity 12. Length 1.5 cm. Width 0.6 cm. Shape Ovate to narrow elliptic. Apex Acute. Base Fused. Sepal lobe margin Entire; not undulated. Texture, upper surface Sparsely covered with thin, soft strigose hairs with an average length of 0.1 cm; hairs are a translucent white, nearest to RHS NN155D. Texture, lower surface Sparsely covered with thin, soft strigose hairs with an average length of 0.1 cm; hairs are a translucent white, nearest to RHS NN155D. Luster, adaxial surface Very slightly glossy. Luster, abaxial surface Matte. Color when opening, upper surface Green, RHS 141A. Color when opening, lower surface Green, nearest to in between RHS 138B and 143C, and becoming yellow-green at the base, nearest to RHS 145B. Color when fully opened, upper surface Green, RHS 141A. Color when fully opened, lower surface Green, nearest to RHS 138B, and becoming yellow-green at the base, nearest to in between RHS 145B and 150B. Bracts.Position A single bract is present at the base of each pedicel. Shape Narrow elliptic to narrow ovate. Length 1.7 cm. Width 0.5 cm. Apex Aristate. Base Broad cuneate. Aspect Folded. Color, adaxial and abaxial surfaces Green, nearest to RHS 143B. Texture, adaxial surface Glabrous. Texture, abaxial surface Moderately covered with soft adpressed hairs with an average length of 0.1 cm; hairs are a translucent white, nearest to RHS NN155D. Reproductive organs: Stamens.Quantity Approximately 30. Anthers Attachment Basifixed. Shape Ovate. Length 0.15 cm. Width 0.1 cm. Color Orange, nearest to RHS 11A. Filaments Length Approximately 0.3 cm. Color Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 145D. Pollen, amount None detected. Pistil.Quantity 250. Length 0.1 cm. Style Length 0.9 cm. Color Green-yellow, nearest to RHS 1B. Stigma Shape Club-shaped. Length 0.05 cm. Diameter 0.05 cm. Color Green-yellow, nearest to RHS 1A. Ovary Color Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144C. Seed and fruit: FruitHarvest Season Spring in the Netherlands. Fruit Yield An average of 750 grams of total fruit are produced by each plant in a season. Quantity An average of 20 per plant. Dimensions 4.7 cm long and 4.3 cm in diameter. Weight 22.0 grams. Shape Globose conic to conical. Texture Moderately to densely covered with thin, soft hairs with an average length of 0.1 cm; hairs are a translucent white, nearest to RHS NN155D. Luster Glossy. Color Immature fruit White, RHS 157C. Immature flesh White, RHS 155C. Mature fruit Red, nearest to a mixture of RHS 45A and N45A. Mature flesh Orange-red, RHS N34C. Fruit flavor Moderately sweet and slightly acidic. Achenes.Position Below the fruit surface. Quantity of achenes per fruit Approximately 200. Shape Flattened; outline is ovate. Length 0.15 cm. Diameter 0.08 cm. Texture Smooth; glabrous. Color Greyed-orange, nearest to RHS 164B.

COMPARISON WITH THE PARENTS

(7) Plants of the new cultivar Falco may be distinguished from its seed parent, Fragaria x ananassa 00-102-99 (unpatented), by the characteristics described in Table 1.

(8) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Characteristic Falco 00-102-99 Firmness of fruit. Firmer than 00-102-99. Softer than Falco. Fruit size. Larger than 00-102-99. Smaller than Falco.

(9) Plants of the new cultivar Falco may be distinguished from its pollen parent, Fragaria x ananassa 07-110-07 (not patented), by the characteristics described in Table 2.

(10) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Characteristic Falco 07-110-07 Fruit yield. Higher yield than Lower yield than 07-110-07. Falco. Fruit set of Fruit set is good. Fruit set is poor. primary flower.

COMPARISON WITH THE CLOSEST KNOWN COMMERCIAL COMPARATOR

(11) Plants of the new cultivar Falco may be distinguished from the most similar known commercial comparator, Fragaria x ananassa Elsantra (not patented), by the characteristics described in Table 3.

(12) TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Characteristic Falco Elsantra Fruit size. Larger than Elsantra'. Smaller than Falco. Smoothness of fruit Smooth. Rough. surface.