Sonata

Strawberry

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Jewel'

Summary: The leaf blistering is very strong for 'Sonata' whereas it is medium for 'Jewel'. 'Sonata' often has leaves with more than three leaflets compared to only three leaflets for 'Jewel'. The stolons of 'Sonata' are few in number and of medium thickness whereas they are medium in number and thick to very thick for 'Jewel'. The calyx diameter relative to corolla is almost the same size for 'Sonata' whereas it is larger for 'Jewel'. The flower petals are as long as they are broad for 'Sonata' whereas they are broader than they are long for 'Jewel'. 'Sonata' has orange red fruit, that are broader than longer whereas they are dark red and are longer than broader for 'Jewel'. The fruit flesh of 'Sonata' is light red of medium firmness whereas they are medium red firm flesh for 'Jewel'.

Description:

PLANT: globose growth habit, medium to dense density, strong vigour, not everbearing

STOLON: few, medium anthocyanin colouration, medium thickness, medium pubescence

LEAF: medium green on upper side, semi-downwards in profile, very strong interveinal blistering, often more than three leaflets per leaf
TERMINAL LEAFLET: slightly concave when viewed in cross section, flat tip, longer than broad length/width ratio, slightly oblique base, obtuse shape of teeth
PETIOLE: dense pubescence, hairs pointing outwards, medium anthocyanin colouration of stipules

FLOWERING: mid-season
INFLORESCENCE: position level with foliage
FLOWER: large in size, calyx diameter smaller to same size as corolla, inner calyx diameter same size as outer calyx
PETALS: touching to overlapping, as long as broad

FRUITING TRUSS: semi-erect attitude at first picking, medium length
FRUIT: broader than long, medium size, conical, moderate difference in shape between primary and secondary fruit, very narrow to narrow band without achenes
FRUIT SURFACE: very weak uneveness of surface, orange red, even colour, strong glossiness
ACHENES: insertion level to above surface of fruit
CALYX: insertion level with surface of fruit, reflexed pose of segments, smaller than fruit diameter, strong adherence to fruit
FRUIT FLESH: medium firmness, light red, slightly uneven to uneven colour, medium sweetness, fine texture when tasted, weak to medium acidity
FRUIT HARVEST: mid-season

Origin & Breeding History: The variety 'Sonata' was developed by cross-pollination in 1990 in Wageningen, the Netherlands. The female parent was 'Elsanta' and the male parent was 'Polka'. The new variety was selected from the progeny. The new variety was asexually reproduced by cuttings.

Tests & Trials: The trials were performed during the summer of 2008 in Trois-Rivières, Québec. The test was done on 15 metres of a raised bed covered with black plastic. Plants were planted on double rows, 30 cm between plants, and 30 cm between rows. There were three replications and 75 plants of each variety.

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Strawberry: 'Sonata' (left) with reference variety 'Jewel' (right)