Macarena

Strawberry

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Camarosa'

Summary: 'Macarena' differs from 'Camarosa' mainly in plant density, leaf colour, anthocyanin colouration of stipule and fruit size and shape. 'Macarena' has an open plant density while it is dense for 'Camarosa'. The leaf colour is medium green for 'Macarena' while it is dark green for 'Camarosa'. 'Macarena' has weak interveinal blisters on the leaves while they are medium for 'Camarosa'. The anthocyanin colouration is strong on the stipule of 'Macarena' while it is weak for 'Camarosa'. 'Macarena' has large, conical shaped fruit while they are very large, almost cylindrical for 'Camarosa'.

Description:

PLANT: flat globose growth habit, open density, medium vigour, low temperature tolerance, not everbearing

LEAF: medium green on upper side, semi-upwards profile, weak interveinal blistering, only three leaflets per leaf
TERMINAL LEAFLET: slightly concave in profile, flat attitude of leaf tip, longer than broad length/width ratio, obtuse base, obtuse shape of teeth
PETIOLE: medium dense pubescence, hairs pointing outwards
STIPULE: strong anthocyanin colouration

STOLON: medium in number, medium anthocyanin colouration, medium thickness, medium dense pubescence

FLOWERING: very early
INFLORESCENCE: position level with foliage
FLOWER: medium size, calyx diameter larger in size to corolla, inner calyx diameter larger in size than outer calyx
PETALS: overlapping, as long as broad

FRUITING TRUSS: semi-erect attitude at first picking, long
FRUIT: longer than broad, large, predominant shape is conical, moderate difference in shape between primary and secondary fruit, narrow band without achenes
FRUIT SKIN: weak uneveness of surface, red, slightly uneven colour, strong glossiness
ACHENES: insertion level with surface of fruit
CALYX: insertion level fruit, reflexed pose of segments, same size as fruit diameter, strong adherence
FRUIT FLESH: firm, medium red, even colour, medium sweetness, medium texture when tasted, medium acidity
FRUIT HARVEST: early

Origin & Breeding History: 'Macarena' was created in a breeding program by crossing the seed parent, an undistributed variety designated 88-033 and the pollen parent, an undistributed variety designated 9150. The female parent is a component of a parent collection, from a selection made between plants issued from seeds in a free pollination in a population of different origin. The male parent is a selection from breeders' program of Planasa. The resulting seedling was grown and asexually propagated by runners in Soria, Spain.

Tests & Trials: The trials were performed during the summer of 2007 in Lavaltrie, Quebec. There were 11 plants of the candidate variety, each spaced 40cm apart within the row with rows spaced 120cm apart.

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Strawberry: Candidate variety 'Macarena'

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Strawberry: Reference variety 'Camarosa'