San Andreas

Strawberry

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Albion', 'Diamante', 'Monterey' and 'Portola'

Summary: 'San Andreas' differs from the reference varieties, 'Albion', 'Diamante', 'Monterey' and 'Portola', mainly in green colour of the upper side of the leaf, leaf blistering, petiole pubescence, stipule anthocyanin colouration, flower size, diameter of inner calyx relative to the outer calyx, petal spacing, attitude of the fruiting truss at first picking and insertion of the achenes. The green colour of the upper side of the leaf of 'San Andreas' is light to medium green whereas it is medium to dark green in 'Albion' and 'Diamante'. Leaf blistering of 'San Andreas' is medium to strong whereas it is weak to medium on 'Diamante' and very strong in 'Portola'. Pubescence on the petiole of 'San Andreas' is very dense whereas it is dense on 'Monterey' and meduim on 'Portola'. The intensity of anthocyanin colouration on the stipules of 'San Andreas' is medium to strong whereas it is absent on 'Albion', weak on 'Diamante' and 'Portola' and very weak on 'Monterey'. The flowers of 'San Andreas' are large whereas they are small to medium on 'Portola'. The diameter of the inner calyx of 'San Andreas' is the same size to larger than the diameter of the outer calyx whereas it is smaller than the outer calyx on 'Albion' and 'Monterey' and smaller to the same size as the outer calyx on 'Diamante' and 'Portola'. The petals of 'San Andreas' are touching to overlapping whereas they are free on 'Albion' and free to touching on 'Monterey'. The attitude of the fruiting truss at first picking of 'San Andreas' is semi-erect to prostrate whereas it is erect on 'Albion' and 'Portola'. The achenes of 'San Andreas' are inserted below the level of the fruit surface whereas they are level with the surface on 'Diamante' and 'Portola'.

Description:

PLANT: globose growth habit, medium to dense, medium to strong vigour, fully everbearing

LEAF: light to medium green on upper side, slightly convex in profile, medium to strong interveinal blistering, only three leaflets per leaf
TERMINAL LEAFLET: cupped profile, as long as broad to longer than broad length/width ratio, moderately oblique base, acute shape of teeth
PETIOLE: very dense pubescence, hairs pointing downwards, medium to strong anthocyanin colouration of stipules

STOLON: few to medium in number, medium anthocyanin colouration, thick, medium density of pubescence

FLOWERING: mid-season
INFLORESCENCE: positioned above foliage
FLOWER: large, calyx diameter larger than corolla, inner calyx diameter slightly larger than outer calyx
PETALS: touching to overlapping, as long as they are broad

FRUITING TRUSS: semi-erect to prostrate attitude at first picking, long
FRUIT: longer than they are broad, large to very large, bi-conical, very slight difference in shape between primary and secondary fruit, medium width band without achenes
FRUIT SURFACE: weak to medium uneveness of surface, red, strong evenness of colour, strong glossiness
ACHENES: insertion below surface of fruit
CALYX: insertion set above surface of fruit, reflexed pose of segments, larger than fruit diameter, strong adherence to fruit
FRUIT FLESH: firm to extremely firm, orange red, slightly uneven colour, weak sweetness, coarse texture when tasted, weak acidity
FRUIT HARVEST: early

REACTION TO PESTS: susceptible to highly susceptible to Aphis spp., susceptible to Lygus lineolaris (Tarnished plant bug)
REACTION TO DISEASES: moderately susceptible to Botrytis fruit rot, moderately resistant to powdery mildew, resistant to moderately resistant to leaf blight and moderately susceptible to viral diseases

Origin & Breeding History: 'San Andreas' arose as the result of a cross between the varieties, 'Albion' and the advance selection 'Cal 97.86-1' conducted in 2001. 'San Andreas' first fruited in 2002 at the University of California Wolfskill Experimental Orchard, near Winters, California. It was selected, originally designated Cal 1.139-2 and was asexually propagated by runners. Following selection and throughout testing, the variety was designated 'CN223'.

Tests & Trials: The tests and trials for 'San Andreas' were conducted at Krause Berry Farms, Aldergrove, British Columbia during the summer of 2008. The trials consisted of two replications of 40 plants per variety, with a plant spacing of 30 cm and a row spacing of approximately 1.07 metres.

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Strawberry: 'San Andreas' (right) with reference varieties 'Albion' (left), 'Diamante' (centre, left), 'Monterey' (centre) and 'Portola' (centre right)

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Strawberry: 'San Andreas' (top right) with reference varieties 'Monterey' (top left), 'Portola' (top centre), 'Albion' (bottom left) and 'Diamante' (bottom right)