Sweet Charlie

Strawberry

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Camarosa' and 'Annapolis'

Summary: 'Sweet Charlie' has more leaf blistering than 'Annapolis'. 'Sweet Charlie' has more cupping of the terminal leaflet than 'Camarosa' and less cupping than 'Annapolis'. The base of the terminal leaflet is rounded for 'Sweet Charlie' while it is acute for the reference varieties. 'Sweet Charlie' has larger flowers than 'Annapolis'. The fruit of 'Sweet Charlie' is longer than broad while the fruit of 'Annapolis' is broader than long. 'Sweet Charlie' has larger fruit than 'Annapolis'. 'Sweet Charlie' has a very narrow band without achenes while 'Annapolis' has a medium band. The skin is orange-red in colour for 'Sweet Charlie' while it is dark red for the reference varieties. 'Annapolis' has glossier fruit than 'Sweet Charlie'. The fruit flesh is pale rose in colour for 'Sweet Charlie' while it is medium red for 'Camarosa' and dark red for 'Annapolis'. 'Sweet Charlie' flowers and ripens earlier than 'Camarosa'.

Description:

'Sweet Charlie' is a June bearing strawberry variety with early flowering and maturity. Plants are dense and have strong vigour. The leaves are light to medium green in colour and there are three leaflets present. Leaf blistering is medium and the terminal leaflet is positioned horizontal to semi-downwards relative to the petiole. The terminal leaflet is concave is cross-section and has a slightly incurving tip producing a cupped leaflet. The terminal leaflet is as long as broad, has a rounded base and margin teeth that are obtuse in shape. The petiole has medium pubescence with the hairs positioned outwards. The stipules have absent to very weak anthocyanin colouration. 'Sweet Charlie' produces a medium number of stolons with medium anthocyanin colouration. The stolons are medium in thickness and have medium pubescence.

The flowers are positioned level with the foliage and are medium in size. The calyx and corolla have a similar diameter and the inner calyx is the same size as the outer calyx. The flower petals are slightly overlapping and the petal length/width ratio is broader than long to as long as broad.

The fruit is longer than broad and large in size. The fruit is conical in shape and there are no differences between the shape of the primary and secondary fruits. The achene band is very narrow and the unevenness of the fruit surface is weak. 'Sweet Charlie' has orange-red skin that is uniform in colour and has medium glossiness. The achenes are inserted below the fruit surface. The calyx is level with the fruit and clasping to reflexed. The calyx is the same size in relation to the fruit diameter and adheres strongly to the fruit. The fruit flesh is soft to medium in firmness and a uniform pale rose colour. The fruit has medium sweetness, fine texture and medium acidity.

Origin & Breeding History: 'Sweet Charlie' originated from the controlled cross between FL 80-456 and 'Pajaro' made in Dover, Florida, USA in 1985/86. The variety was selected for its attractive, flavourful fruit and high yield. 'Sweet Charlie' was originally tested under the experimental designation FL 85-4925.

Tests & Trials: Trials were conducted in Vineland, Ontario in 1999 and 2000. The trials consisted of single replicates of 25 plants per variety, with 0.6 metres between plants and 1.2 metres between rows. Plants were planted in 1998 and 1999 and allowed to runner to form matted rows. Observations were made on one and two year old plants.