Strawberry plant named ‘Omaha’

Abstract

The present invention provides new and distinct strawberry plant designated as Omaha (a.k.a. 109393).

Claims

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

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying color photographs depict various characteristics of the cultivars as nearly true as possible to make color reproductions.

(2) FIG. 1A shows Omaha plant about 6-month old.

(3) FIG. 1B shows ripe and near-ripe fruits of Omaha about 8-month old.

(4) FIG. 1C shows flowers of Omaha.

(5) FIG. 1D shows fruits of Omaha.

(6) FIG. 1E shows cut fruits of Omaha.

(7) FIG. 1F shows upper leaf of Omaha.

(8) FIG. 1G shows lower leaf of Omaha.

(9) FIG. 1H shows petiole of Omaha.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Omaha (a.k.a. 109393)

(10) The following traits and photographs in combination distinguish strawberry variety Omaha from the known strawberry varieties. Plants for the botanical measurements in the present application were grown as annuals. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

(11) Omaha has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions, and the phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment. The following observations, measurements, and comparisons describe this plant as grown under normal conditions in Watsonville, Calif. unless otherwise noted. The age of plants when described in Table 1 below is eight months.

(12) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Omaha Characteristics CharType Characteristic Omaha General Plant Habit annual Plant Growth Habit semi-upright Day length Day Neutral Plant Height (cm) 28 Plant Width (cm) 33 Density of foliage medium Plant vigor moderate to high Crown diameter (cm) 3.0 to 4.0 Leaf Leaflets per Leaf 3 Terminal leaflet width (mm) 8.9 Terminal leaflet length (mm) 7.4 Teeth per terminal leaflet: 23 Shape of the terminal leaflet base acute to obtuse Shape of terminal leaflet in cross- straight to section concave Shape of the terminal leaflet margin serrate to crenate Color of upper side of leaflet 137A Color of lower side of leaflet 137C Leaf blistering weak Leaf glossiness medium Petiole length (cm) 20 to 25 Petiole diameter (mm) 3.28 Limbs Petiole color 145A Petiolule length (cm) 1 Petiolule diameter (mm) 2.28 Petiolule Color 145A Stipule length (cm) 2.8 Stipule width (cm) 1.1 Stipule anthocyanin color 53A Stipule color (color code) 145A Pedicel length (cm) 9.5 to 16.5 Pedicel diameter (mm) 1.34 Pedicel color (color code) 145A attitude of hairs on outwards petiole and pedicel Inflorescence position relative to above foliage Flower arrangement of petals touching Peduncle length (cm) 16.0 to 29.5 Peduncle diameter (mm) 2.67 Peduncle color (RHS color code) 145A Peduncle pubescence medium Inflorescence Petal length (cm) 1.4 Petal width (cm) 1.4 Petal number per flower 5 to 6 Upper Petal color 155C Lower Petal color 155C Calyx diameter (cm) 4 Corolla diameter (cm) 2.75 Sepal length (cm) 1.1 to 2.1 Sepal width (cm) 0.8 to 1.1 Time of flowering March (50% of plants in bloom) Shape of stigma capitate Color of stigma 6A Length of style (mm) 2 Color of style 6A Color of the ovary 145A Length of the stamens (mm) 3 to 5.5 Number of stamen 24 to 33 Shape of anther dorsifixed Size of anther small Anther length (mm) 0.75 Shape of anther dorsifixed Color of anther 12A Amount of pollen medium Color of pollen 4A Color of filament 149D Length of filament (mm) 2.5 to 5 Number of flowers per truss 3 to 6 Stolon number 2 to 5 Stolon anthocyanin 181A Stolon Widest diameter of stolon 3.83 At leaf attachment (mm) Stolon color 145A Stolon length (cm) 51 Stolon number 2 to 5 Stolon anthocyanin 181A Widest diameter of stolon at leaf 3.83 attachment (mm) Fruit length (cm) 40.4 Fruit Number of fruit per truss 3 to 4 Shape difference between No shape primary and secondary fruits difference Fruit width (cm) 30.7 Fruit skin color 45A Fruit flesh color excluding core 44A Fruit core color 41A Fruit weight (g) 23.6 Predominant fruit shape long conic Shape difference between primary No shape & secondary fruits difference Width of band without of achenes narrow Fruit glossiness medium to strong Position of achenes below surface Achene color 145A Achenes per fruit 273 Achene weight (g) 0.19 Position of calyx inserted level of adherence of calyx medium Color of calyx 137A Firmness of flesh medium to firm Evenness of flesh color even Sweetness (brix) 6 to 7 pH 3.51 Yield (g per plant per season) 2758

(13) Albion (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,228) owned by University of California is a commercial strawberry variety that is similar to, but distinguished from Omaha. The fruit yield of Omaha exceeds the yield of Albion in multiple annual testing cycles performed at the breeders test location in Watsonville Calif. Omaha produces abundant quantities of stolon that must be cut by hand labor in the fruiting field. Omaha does not produce large quantities of stolon (runners) during the fruiting period after propagation in California nurseries and Watsonville fruiting field, which saves labor of about $1,500 per acre because stolon must be removed in order to effect efficient harvest and continued flowering.

(14) Both of the parents of Omaha produce fruit that is lighter in redness coloration than Omaha. One of the parents of Omaha, a strawberry plant variety named Ginza (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,934) has been observed to have foliage of a lighter green coloration than Omaha. The foliage and plant structure of Ginza is more dense than that of Omaha. The other parent of Omaha is a strawberry plant variety named Taia (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 28,724). The foliage and plant structure of Taia is somewhat more dense than that of Omaha. The foliage and plant structure of Omaha allows better fruit harvest visibility and the canopy can be described as more open than the canopy observed for of each of it's parents. Omaha demonstrated better shelf life, less susceptibility to bruising discoloration and the skin of the fruit of Omaha was observed to better resist abrasion compared to each of it's parents in testing done over multiple weeks of annual fruiting seasons. When Omaha is compared to the male parent, Omaha is a smaller plant. Additionally, Omaha presents fruit with a stronger red color and with a longer fruit shape than the male parent. When Omaha is compared to the female parent, Omaha presents a higher strawberry pH than the strawberries of the female parent. Additionally, Omaha is less dense with foliage and presents fruit with a longer fruit shape than the female parent.