Evie 2

Strawberry

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Seascape'

Summary: Plant growth habit for 'Evie 2' is flat globose while it is upright for 'Seascape'. The plants of 'Evie 2' are more vigorous than those of 'Seascape'. 'Evie 2' has weaker inter-veinal blistering of the leaves than 'Seascape'. The inflorescence of 'Evie 2' is positioned slightly above the foliage while those of 'Seascape' are positioned slightly below. 'Evie 2' has a larger inner calyx diameter relative to the outer calyx whereas for 'Seascape', both the inner and outer calyxes are the same diameter. The petals within a flower are overlapping for 'Evie 2' while they range from touching to not touching for 'Seascape'. 'Evie 2' has longer fruiting trusses than 'Seascape'. The predominant fruit shape of 'Evie 2' is ovoid while it is conical to bi-conical for 'Seascape'. 'Evie 2' has a narrower band without achenes at the proximal end of the fruit than 'Seascape'. The fruit of 'Evie 2' has lighter red skin and lighter red flesh than 'Seascape'. The calyx of 'Evie 2' is set level with the surface and has strong adherence to the fruit whereas that of 'Seascape' is set above the fruit and has weak to moderate adherence. 'Evie 2' has a later harvest maturity and greater resistance to Botrytis fruit rot and Powdery mildew than 'Seascape'.

Description:

PLANT: fully ever-bearing, flat globose growth habit, medium to dense, strong vigor

LEAF: medium to dark green, semi-upwards profile, very weak inter-veinal blistering, three leaflets per leaf
TERMINAL LEAFLET: flat to slightly convex in cross-section, flat tip, longer than broad, rounded base, rounded marginal teeth
PETIOLE: dense pubescence, hairs pointing outwards
STIPULE: absent to very weak anthocyanin colouration

STOLON: few, moderate intensity of anthocyanin colouration, medium thick, medium dense pubescence

INFLORESCENCE: positioned slightly above level of foliage
FLOWER: medium size, diameter of calyx and corolla are the same, diameter of inner calyx is larger than diameter of outer calyx
PETALS: not touching, as long as broad

TIME OF FLOWERING: mid-season
TIME OF HARVEST MATURITY: mid-season
FRUITING TRUSS: semi-erect attitude at first picking, medium to long
FRUIT: as long as broad, large, predominant shape is ovoid, slight difference in shape between primary and secondary fruit, absent to very narrow band without achenes at proximal end
FRUIT SKIN: smooth, red, even coloured, strong glossiness
ACHENES: level with surface of fruit
CALYX: level with surface, reflexed segments, slightly smaller than fruit diameter, strong adherence
FRUIT FLESH: firm, light red, slightly uneven coloured, medium sweetness, medium texture when tasted, medium acidity

REACTION TO DISEASE: moderately resistant to Botrytis fruit rot, moderately resistant to Powdery mildew, moderately susceptible to Common leaf spot

Origin & Breeding History: 'Evie 2' (breeder designation '98N105-98') was the result of a strawberry breeding program started in 1986 by Mr. Peter Vinson of Edward Vinson Limited based in Kent, United Kingdom. The purpose of the program was to develop improved day neutral varieties for the northern European climate. 'Evie 2' originated from a cross made in1997 between the female parent, variety 'Everglade'(a day neutral type), and the male parent designated 'J92D12' (a short day type), known for passing on the traits of good fruit size and fruit shape. 'Evie 2' was selected in 1998 from a family group comprising approximately 200 plants grown in a seedling field at Sandbanks Farm, Faversham, Kent. It was initially selected based on fruit shape and fruit size and after conducting commercial scale trials was found to be the best cultivar within its family.

Tests & Trials: The test and trial for 'Evie 2' was conducted in a field at Novafruit Inc. in Saint-Césaire, Québec during the summer of 2006. The trial consisted of 3 replicates per variety with 25 plants per replicate. Plug plants were planted in double rows on raised beds which were 20 cm high and 70 cm wide. The raised beds were covered with black plastic. The plants were spaced 20 cm from each other and the rows were 30 cm apart.

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Strawberry: 'Evie 2' (right) with reference variety 'Seascape' (left)