Camino Real

Strawberry

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Rainier' and 'Ventana'

Summary: 'Camino Real' has leaves that are significantly darker green in colour than those of the reference variety 'Rainier'. There is more interveinal blistering on the leaves of 'Camino Real' than 'Rainier'. The petiole of 'Camino Real' has dense pubescence whereas the petiole of the other candidate variety 'Ventana' has sparse pubescence. The varieties also differ in fruit shape. 'Camino Real' has cordate fruit, while 'Ventana' has conical fruit. The calyx of 'Rainier' is reflexed and larger than the fruit diameter, compared with 'Camino Real' where the calyx is clasping and the same size as the fruit. There are significant differences in fruit firmness and sweetness. Both 'Camino Real' and 'Ventana' have firm fruit with weak to moderate sweetness whereas 'Rainier has soft, very sweet fruit. 'Camino Real' matures earlier than 'Rainier' and 'Ventana'.

Description:

'Camino Real' is a strawberry variety which has a globose plant habit. The plants are medium in density and vigour, with medium to high tolerance of low temperatures. The leaves have three leaflets and are medium to dark green and semi-upwards in profile, with medium interveinal blistering. In cross section the terminal leaflet is concave to slightly concave, with a flat tip. The terminal leaflet is as long as it is broad, and has a rounded base. The teeth on the leaflet margins are obtuse in shape. 'Camino Real' has a densely pubescent petiole, with the hairs in an upwards position. The stipules have medium to strong anthocyanin colouration.

'Camino Real' has a medium number of stolons which are thin with sparse pubescence and medium anthocyanin colouration. The inflorescences are positioned beneath and level with the foliage. The flowers are medium in size and the calyx is the same size as the corolla. The inner calyx is larger than the outer. 'Camino Real' has overlapping flower petals which are as long as they are wide.

At first picking the fruiting truss is semi-erect and medium in length. The fruit is nearly as long as it is broad, although there is a tendency for some fruit to be broader than long. The fruit of 'Camino Real' are large to very large, cordate in shape, with a medium to broad band without achenes. There is a slight to moderate difference in shape between primary and secondary fruits. The surface of the fruit is weakly to moderately uneven. The skin colour is red, moderately even and medium to strong in glossiness. The achenes of 'Camino Real' are inserted below the surface and the calyx is inserted at the same level. The calyx is the same size as the fruit diameter. It is clasping and strongly adheres to the fruit. 'Camino Real' has firm, pale rose fruit flesh which is slightly uneven in colour. The fruit is weak to medium in sweetness, coarse in texture and medium in acidity.

'Camino Real' flowers and matures very early to early. It is not an everbearing variety.

Origin & Breeding History: 'Camino Real' originated from a cross, performed in 1994, between advanced selection Cal 89.230-7 and Cal 90.253-3. 'Camino Real' was first fruited at the University of California, Wolfskill Experimental Orchard, near Winters, California, in 1995, where it was selected. Its original designation was Cal 94.3-11 and the clone was propagated asexually by runners. Following selection and during testing the variety was designated 'C213' and was subsequently named 'Camino Real'.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Camino Real' were conducted in Langley, B.C. during 2003 and 2004. The trials consisted of 12 metre duplicated plots of each variety, with plants spaced 30cm apart in the rows and 1.2 metres between rows. All observations and measurements were made on a minimum of 10 plants per variety.