Ventana

Strawberry

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Rainier' and 'Camino Real'

Summary: 'Ventana' is a strawberry variety which has leaves that are lighter green in colour than those of the other candidate variety 'Camino Real'. There is less interveinal blistering on the leaves of 'Ventana' than 'Camino Real'. The petiole of 'Camino Real' has dense pubescence whereas the petiole of 'Ventana' has sparse pubescence. The varieties also differ in fruit shape. 'Ventana' has conical fruit, whereas 'Camino Real' and 'Rainier' both have cordate fruit. The calyx of 'Rainier' is reflexed and larger than the fruit diameter, compared with 'Ventana' 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. 'Ventana' flowers and matures earlier than 'Rainier' but later than 'Camino Real'.

Description:

'Ventana' is a strawberry variety which has a globose plant habit. The plants are open to medium in density and weak to medium in vigour, with medium to high tolerance of low temperatures. The leaves have three leaflets and are light to medium green and upwards to semi-upwards in profile, with weak interveinal blistering. In cross section the terminal leaflet is slightly concave, with a flat tip. The terminal leaflet is longer than it is broad, and has an obtuse base. The teeth on the leaflet margins are obtuse in shape. 'Ventana' has sparse pubescence on the petiole, with hairs in an outwards position. The stipules have medium anthocyanin colouration.

'Ventana' has few stolons which are medium in thickness with medium to dense pubescence and medium anthocyanin colouration. The inflorescences are positioned level with the foliage. The flowers are medium in size and calyx is smaller than the corolla. The inner calyx is the same size as the outer. 'Ventana' has overlapping flower petals which are as long as they are broad.

At first picking the fruiting truss is semi-erect to prostrate and medium in length. The fruit is longer than it is broad. The fruit of 'Ventana' are large to very large, conical in shape, with a narrow to medium band without achenes. There is a moderate to marked 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 'Ventana' are inserted below the surface and the calyx is inserted slightly above. The calyx is the same size as the fruit diameter. It is clasping and adheres moderately strongly to the fruit. 'Ventana' has very firm, light red fruit flesh which is slightly uneven in color. The fruit is weak to medium in sweetness, coarse in texture and medium in acidity.

'Ventana' flowers and matures early to mid-season. It is not an everbearing variety.

Origin & Breeding History: 'Ventana' originated from a cross, performed in 1996, between advanced selections Cal 93.170-606 and Cal 92.35-601. 'Ventana' was first fruited at the University of California, South Coast Research and Extension Centre near Irvine, California, in 1997, where it was selected. Its original designation was Cal 96.42-601 and the clone was propagated asexually by runners. Following selection and during testing, the variety was designated 'C216' and was subsequently named 'Ventana'.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'Ventana' 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.