Dr Duncan

Strawberry

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Albion'

Summary: The plants of 'Dr Duncan' have an upright growth habit and medium vigour whereas the plants of 'Albion' have a spreading growth habit and weak vigour. The plants of 'Dr Duncan' have many stolons whereas the plants of 'Albion' have few stolons. The petiole of 'Dr Duncan' is long whereas the petiole of 'Albion' is short. The inflorescence of 'Dr Duncan' is positioned above the foliage whereas the inflorescence of 'Albion' is positioned beneath the foliage. The inflorescence of 'Dr Duncan' has many flowers whereas the inflorescence of 'Albion' has few flowers. The petals of 'Dr Duncan' are overlapping whereas the petals of 'Albion' are not touching. The fruit of 'Dr Duncan' is globose while the fruit of 'Albion' is long conic. The fruit of 'Dr Duncan' has a medium width band without achenes whereas the fruit of 'Albion' has an absent or very narrow band without achenes.

Description:

PLANT: upright growth habit, sparse foliage, medium vigour, fully everbearing

STOLONS: many, very strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration, medium density pubescence

LEAF: medium to large, medium green on upper side, absent or weak blistering, medium glossiness, no variegation
TERMINAL LEAFLET: much longer than wide, acute base, serrate to crenate margin, straight shape in cross-section
PETIOLE: long, hairs pointing upwards
STIPULE: absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration

TIME OF BEGINNING OF FLOWERING: late
INFLORESCENCE: positioned above foliage, many flowers, horizontal attitude of hairs on pedicel
FLOWER: calyx diameter larger than corolla, stamens present
PETALS: overlapping, length equal to width, greenish white on upper side

TIME OF BEGINNING OF FRUIT RIPENING: mid-season
FRUIT: length equal to width, very large, globose, large difference in shape between terminal and other fruits, medium width band without achenes
FRUIT SKIN: medium orange, weak glossiness, even or very slightly uneven colour, even or very slightly uneven surface
ACHENES: positioned above fruit surface
CALYX: insertion set above surface of fruit, outwards attitude of sepals, diameter slightly larger than fruit, strong adherence to fruit
FRUIT FLESH: firm, light pink, white core, medium sized cavity

Origin & Breeding History: 'Dr Duncan' (experimental designation '108637') originated from a cross made in 2010 at Sweet Darling Sales, Inc. in Watsonville, California, USA. The cross was conducted between the proprietary, unreleased varieties 'Akira' (female parent) and '103857' (male parent). 'Dr Duncan' was selected in 2011 based on the quality and quantity of both the inflorescence and fruit. Asexually reproduced stolons have since been tested in California at low and high elevations.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Dr Duncan' was conducted during the summer of 2018 in Lavaltrie, Quebec. A minimum of twenty bareroot plants per variety were planted in double row raised beds in late April 2018. The raised beds were approximately 25 cm high by 32 cm wide and covered with white plastic. The plants were spaced 30 cm from each other in a staggered pattern and the rows were spaced 1.5 metres apart. There were 2 replicates. Measured characteristics were taken from 15 plants, or parts of plants.

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Strawberry: 'Dr Duncan' (left) with reference variety 'Albion' (right)