Saint-Pierre

Strawberry

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Chambly'

Summary: 'Saint-Pierre' is a June-bearing strawberry variety with dense, upright growth habit while 'Chambly' has open, globose growth habit. Plant vigour for 'Saint-Pierre' is moderate while it is weak for 'Chambly'. Length/width ratio of the terminal leaflet is as long as broad for 'Saint-Pierre' while it is longer than broad for 'Chambly'. 'Saint-Pierre' produces more stolons with stronger intensity of anthocyanin colouration than those of 'Chambly'. The flowers produced by 'Saint-Pierre' are larger with the diameter of the calyx being larger in relation to the corolla while for 'Chambly' the calyx is smaller than the corolla. The smaller fruit of 'Saint-Pierre' is lighter red and sweeter with stronger acidity than the fruit of 'Chambly'. The achenes are inserted below the surface of the fruit for 'Saint-Pierre' and above the surface of the fruit for 'Chambly'.

Description:

'Saint-Pierre' is a June bearing strawberry variety with mid-season flowering and harvest maturity. Plants are upright in growth habit with dense plant density and moderate vigour. The leaves are medium green in colour on the upper side with weak to medium blistering between the veins. There are three leaflets per leaf with a cupped terminal leaflet which is as long as it is broad. The terminal leaflet is slightly concave in profile where it subtends to the petiole. The base of the terminal leaflet is obtuse to round in shape and the margin teeth are obtuse. The pubescence on the petiole is sparse with the hairs positioned outwards. 'Saint-Pierre' produces many, thin to medium thick stolons which have strong anthocyanin colouration and moderate pubescence.

'Saint-Pierre' has large flowers which are positioned beneath the foliage. The calyx is larger in diameter than the corolla and the inner calyx is slightly larger than the outer calyx. The flower petals are touching. The petal length/width ratio is broader than long.

The fruiting truss is semi-erect and medium in length. The medium-sized fruit is longer than it is broad. The fruit is bi-conical in shape with a marked difference between the shape of the primary and secondary fruits. The band without achenes on the fruit is broad and the fruit surface is smooth. The light red fruit of 'Saint-Pierre' is slightly uneven in colour with moderate glossiness. The achenes are inserted below the fruit surface. The calyx is above the fruit and the calyx segments are reflexed or very clasping. In relation to fruit diameter, the calyx is the same size and adheres strongly to the fruit. The fruit flesh is firm and an even, orange red colour. The fruit has strong sweetness and fine texture with medium acidity when tasted.

Origin & Breeding History: 'Saint-Pierre' originated from a controlled cross between varieties 'Chandler' and 'Jewel'. The cross took place in 1989 at the Horticultural Research and Development Centre of the Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada Research Station in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec. Selection criteria included firmness of fruit, pale fruit colour, sweetness and uniformity of fruit size throughout the season. 'Saint-Pierre' has been tested under the experimental designation 'SJ89264-6' at L'Acadie, Quebec since 1990.

Tests & Trials: Tests and trials for 'Saint-Pierre' were conducted in matted rows at the Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada experimental farm in L'Acadie, Quebec from 1994 - 1998. A completely randomized design of four replicates (4 plots) was used to evaluate the selections. Each experimental unit was a 2-meter long plot, 50 cm wide. A representative 1meter section of the plot was used for data collection.