Lucia

Strawberry

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Ventana' and 'Driscoll El Dorado'

Summary: The inflorescence of the plants of 'Lucia' is positioned above the foliage while the inflorescence of 'Ventana' is at the same level as the foliage.The plants of 'Lucia' have foliage of medium density while the plants of 'Ventana' and 'Driscoll El Dorado' have dense foliage. The plants of 'Lucia' have few stolons while those of 'Ventana' have a medium number of stolons. The fruit of 'Lucia' is much longer than it is wide while for 'Driscoll El Dorado' the fruit is moderately shorter than it is wide. The fruit of 'Lucia' is large in size while it is very large for 'Ventana'. The sepals of 'Lucia' have an upwards attitude while those of 'Driscoll El Dorado' have a downwards attitude.

Description:

PLANT: fruit bearing type is partially remontant, semi-upright growth habit, medium density foliage, strong vigour

STOLONS: few, absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, medium density pubescence

PETIOLE: medium length, slightly outwards attitude of hairs
STIPULE: weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration
LEAF: medium sized, medium green on upper side, absent or weak degree of blistering, medium glossiness on upper side, no variegation
TERMINAL LEAFLET: moderately longer than wide, acute base, serrate to crenate margin, straight in cross-section

TIME OF BEGINNING OF FLOWERING: early in season
INFLORESCENCE: positioned above foliage, many flowers
PEDICEL: slightly outwards attitude of hairs
FLOWER: calyx larger in relation to corolla, medium sized diameter, stamens present
PETALS: overlapping, length is equal to width, white on inner side

CALYX: attachment is level with surface of fruit, upwards attitude of sepals, slightly larger diameter in relation to the fruit, strong adherence to fruit
FRUIT: much longer than wide, large, conical shape, none or very slight difference in shape between terminal fruit and other fruit, absent or very narrow width of band without achenes
FRUIT SURFACE: orange red, slightly uneven colour distribution, medium glossiness, slightly uneven
ACHENES: positioned below fruit surface
FRUIT FLESH: firm, medium red, light red core, absent or small cavity
TIME OF BEGINNING OF FRUIT RIPENING: early in season

Origin & Breeding History: 'Lucia' originated from a controlled cross conducted in Santa Cruz, California. The cross was made in 2008 between '5E10', as the female parent, and 'Sweet Ann', as the male parent. Resulting progeny were increased by asexual propagation in 2009 in Shastina, California, harvested and planted in plots in Oxnard, California and Watsonville, California. '42J4' was initially selected in Watsonville, California in 2010 and was later named 'Lucia'. Selection criteria included plant vigor; fruit shape, colour and flavour. 'Lucia' was further propagated asexually by stolons in Macdoel, California and Manteca, California as well as meristemmed and maintained in greenhouses in Redding, California.

Tests & Trials: The detailed description of 'Lucia' is based on the UPOV report of Technical Examination, reference number 20150370, purchased from the Community Plant Variety Office, Angers, France. The trials were conducted at the Escaroupim Studies Center - Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development, in Portugal from 2016 to 2017.

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Strawberry: 'Lucia'

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Strawberry: 'Lucia'