Petaluma

Strawberry

Variety Description

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

Summary: The plants of 'Petaluma' have medium to many stolons whereas the plants of 'Ventana' have few to medium number of stolons and the plants of 'Benicia' have few stolons. The stolons for 'Petaluma' have weak anthocyanin colouration whereas those of 'Ventana' have strong anthocyanin colouration and those of both 'Benicia' and 'Camarosa' have very strong anthocyanin colouration. The leaf of 'Petaluma' is medium to large and dark green on the upper side whereas the leaf of 'Benicia' is very small to small and light green on the upper side. The arrangement of the petals of 'Petaluma' are touching whereas those of 'Ventana' are overlapping, those of 'Benicia' are mostly overlapping with some free and those of 'Camarosa' are free. The fruit of 'Petaluma' is medium to large whereas that of both 'Ventana' and 'Benicia' are small. The difference in shape of fruits between the first crop and the second crop for 'Petaluma' is very slight whereas for 'Benicia' it is slight to moderately different and for 'Camarosa' it is moderately different. The calyx attachment for 'Petaluma' is inserted whereas it is raised for 'Ventana'. The fruit of 'Petaluma' is medium to firm whereas that of 'Ventana' is soft. The flesh of the fruit of 'Petaluma' is light pink to orange red whereas that of 'Benicia' is dark red.

Description:

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

STOLONS: medium to many, weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration

PETIOLE: medium length, slightly outwards attitude of hairs
LEAF: medium to large, dark green on upper side, strong degree of blistering, medium degree of glossiness, no variegation
TERMINAL LEAFLET: moderately longer than wide, obtuse base, serrate and crenate margin, straight in cross-section

TIME OF BEGINNING OF FLOWERING: very early to early season
INFLORESCENCE: positioned at same level as 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, white on inner side

CALYX: inserted attachment with surface of fruit, upward to outwards attitude of sepals, same diameter as fruit, medium to strong adherence to fruit
FRUIT: moderately shorter than width, medium to large, conical to cordate, very slight to slight difference in shape of fruit from first crop compared to second crop, absent or very narrow band without achenes
FRUIT SURFACE: medium red, slightly uneven colour distribution, weak to medium degree of glossiness, even or very slightly uneven
ACHENES: positioned below fruit surface
FRUIT FLESH: medium to firm, light pink to orange red with a light red core, medium sized cavity
TIME OF BEGINNING OF FRUIT RIPENING: very early to early season

Origin & Breeding History: 'Petaluma' originated from a controlled cross between two unreleased germplasm accessions, Cal 5.97-7 and Cal 5.165-1 conducted in 2008 at the South Coast Research and Extension Center, Irvine, California, USA. The progeny initially designated as Cal 8.20-602 was asexually propagated by stolons in 2009 near Irvine, California. The variety tested under the designation 'C231' 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 'Petaluma' 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: 'Petaluma' (left) with reference varieties 'Ventana' (centre left), 'Benicia' (centre right) and 'Camerosa' (right)

Click on image for larger view

Strawberry: 'Petaluma' (left) with reference varieties 'Ventana' (centre left), 'Benicia' (centre right) and 'Camerosa' (right)

Click on image for larger view

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