MNUS 138

Strawberry

Variety Description

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

Summary: 'MNUS 138' has stronger leaf blistering than 'Annapolis'. The cross section of the terminal leaflet of 'MNUS 138' is slightly concave to flat while it is concave in 'Annapolis'. 'MNUS 138' has an acute shaped leaf base while it is obtuse for the reference varieties. The petiole of 'MNUS 138' has stronger pubescence than 'Annapolis'. 'MNUS 138' has stronger anthocyanin colouration of the stipule than 'Annapolis' and 'Honeoye'. The spacing of the flower petals of 'MNUS 138' are not touching while they are touching to overlapping in 'Annapolis' and touching in 'Honeoye'. 'MNUS 138' appears to have larger fruit than 'Annapolis'. The fruit of 'MNUS 138' is ovoid shaped while it is conical in 'Annapolis' and conical to biconical in 'Honeoye'. 'MNUS 138' has the insertion of the calyx set above the fruit while it is level in 'Annapolis'. The adherence of the calyx of 'MNUS 138' is stronger than 'Annapolis' and 'Honeoye'.

Description:

PLANT: flat globose habit, medium density, strong vigour, high cold hardy tolerance, non everbearing

LEAF: dark green upper side, three leaflets
TERMINAL LEAFLET: horizontal to semi-downward position in relation to the petiole, medium blistering, slightly concave to flat in cross section, flat attitude of tip, longer than broad, acute base, obtuse to rounded serrations
PETIOLE: dense pubescence, medium anthocyanin colouration of stipule

STOLON: moderate to many, weak to medium anthocyanin colouration, medium thickness, medium pubescence

INFLORESCENCE: positioned beneath to level with the foliage
FLOWER: flowers early in season, medium size, diameter of calyx smaller than corolla, the inner calyx is the same size or larger than outer calyx, petal as long as it is broad

FRUITING TRUSS: semi-erect to prostrate at first picking, medium length
FRUIT: broader than long, large, ovoid, moderate difference in shape between primary and secondary fruit, medium width of band without achenes, dark uneven red skin colour, medium glossiness, achenes inserted below to level with surface, medium firmness when fully ripe, matures early
CALYX: inserted above surface, reflexed segments, smaller than diameter of fruit, strong adherence
FRUIT FLESH: orange red to medium red and slightly lighter towards middle of fruit, medium to strong sweetness, weak acidity

Origin & Breeding History: 'MNUS 138' arose from a controlled cross between 'Seneca x Allstar' made in 1983 in Beltsville, Maryland, USA. It was selected from a seedling population grown at the University of Minnesota North Central Research and Outreach Center, Grand Rapids, Minnesota, USA in 1985, based on early flowering and fruiting. 'MNUS 138' was evaluated in trials from 1987 to 1990 at the University of Minnesota Horticultural Research Center near Excelsior, Minnesota and the North Central Research and Outreach Center in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. It was later evaluated in yield trials from 1997 to 2003 at the Horticultural Research Center, the North Central Research and Outreach Center, the West Central Experiment Research and Outreach Center in Morris Minnesota, the Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan, the Pennsylvania State University, in State College, Pennsylvania and the Iowa State University, in Ames, Iowa. Additional selection criteria included plant vigour, reliable cutting propagation, and cold hardiness.

Tests & Trials: Trials were conducted during the summer of 2006 in Oxford Station, Ontario. Twenty (20) plants of each variety were field planted. Two rows of each variety were planted in a zig zag pattern with a row spacing of 1 metre and a plant spacing within the rows of 75 cm.

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Strawberry: 'MNUS 138' (left) with reference variety 'Annapolis' (right)

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Strawberry: 'MNUS 138' (left) with reference variety 'Honeoye' (right)