Fronteras

Strawberry

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Ventana', 'Benicia' and 'Camarosa'

Summary: The plants of 'Fronteras' have few to medium number of stolons whereas those of 'Camarosa' have many stolons. The stolons of 'Fronteras' have weak anthocyanin colouration whereas those of 'Benicia' have strong anthocyanin colouration and those of 'Camarosa' have medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration. The leaf of 'Fronteras' is medium to large and dark green on the upper side whereas that of 'Benicia' is very small to small and light green on the upper side. The leaf 'Fronteras' has strong glossiness whereas the leaves of all the reference varieties have absent or weak glossiness. The fruit of 'Fronteras' is medium to large whereas that of both 'Ventana' and 'Benicia' are small. The fruit of 'Fronteras' ranges from medium to medium to firm whereas the fruit of 'Ventana' is soft. The flesh of the fruit of 'Fronteras' is orange red whereas that of 'Ventana' is medium red and that of 'Benicia' is dark red. The core of the fruit of 'Fronteras' is white whereas that of both 'Ventana' and 'Benicia' are medium red. The fruit of 'Fronteras' ripens mid-season whereas that of all the reference varieties ripens early season.

Description:

PLANT: partially remontant bearing type, upright growth habit, medium foliage density, medium to strong vigour

STOLONS: medium number, weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration

PETIOLE: long, horizontal attitude of hairs
LEAF: medium to large, dark green on upper side, medium degree of blistering, strong glossiness, no variegation
TERMINAL LEAFLET: moderately longer than wide, acute base, crenate margin, straight in cross-section

TIME OF BEGINNING OF FLOWERING: very early to early season
INFLORESCENCE: positioned beneath foliage, few to medium number of flowers
PEDICEL: horizontal attitude of hairs
FLOWER: calyx same size as corolla, stamens present
PETALS: touching arrangement, length is equal to width, pink on inner side

CALYX: attachment is level with surface of fruit, outwards to downwards attitude of sepals, slightly larger diameter than the fruit, medium strength adherence to fruit
FRUIT: moderately longer than wide, medium to large, conical, slight to moderate difference in shape of fruit from first crop compared to second crop, absent or very narrow band without achenes
FRUIT SURFACE: medium red, even or very slightly uneven colour distribution, degree of glossiness ranging from weak to weak to medium, slightly uneven
ACHENES: positioned from below to level with fruit surface
FRUIT FLESH: firmness ranging from medium to medium to firm, orange red with white core, cavity size ranging from absent or small to large
TIME OF BEGINNING OF FRUIT RIPENING: mid-season

Origin & Breeding History: 'Fronteras' originated from a controlled cross between two unreleased germplasm accessions, Cal 4.18-4 and Cal 5.165-1 conducted in 2008 at the University of California in Davis, California, USA. The progeny initially designated as Cal 8.132-608 was asexually propagated by stolons in 2009 near Irvine, California. The variety tested under the designation 'C235' was selected based on productivity, fruit size, commercial appearance, flowering type (short day vs. day-neutral), plant architecture and its reaction to diseases, such as powdery mildew. Further testing was done at facilities in Watsonville, California and to a limited extent in grower fields starting in 2010.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Fronteras' was grown by the Expert Agriculture Team Ltd., in Chilliwack, British Columbia during the 2018 growing seasons. The trial was planted in the spring of 2017 in a randomized complete block design. Each variety consisted of 3 replicates with 10 plants per replicate for a total of 30 plants of each variety. Plants were spaced approximately 30 centimeters apart in two offset rows approximately 60 meters long. Measurements were taken from 10 plants or parts of plants of each variety.

Click on image for larger view

Strawberry: 'Fronteras' (top) with reference varieties 'Ventana' (centre top), 'Benicia' (centre bottom) and 'Camarosa' (bottom)

Click on image for larger view

Strawberry: 'Fronteras' (left) with reference varieties 'Ventana' (centre left), 'Benicia' (centre right) and 'Camarosa' (right)

Click on image for larger view

Strawberry: 'Fronteras' (top left) with reference varieties 'Ventana' (top right), 'Benicia' (bottom left) and 'Camarosa' (bottom right)