Preakness

Strawberry

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Albion'

Summary: The plants of 'Preakness' have dense foliage, medium vigour and a medium number of stolons whereas the plants of 'Albion' have sparse foliage, weak vigour and few stolons. The stolons of 'Preakness' have a weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration whereas the stolons of 'Albion' have a strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration. The leaves of 'Preakness' are small whereas the leaves of 'Albion' are medium sized. The plants of 'Preakness' begin flowering mid-season whereas the plants of 'Albion' begin flowering late in the season. The fruit of 'Preakness' begin ripening mid-season whereas the fruit of 'Albion' begin ripening late in the season.

Description:

PLANT: spreading growth habit, dense foliage, medium vigour, fully everbearing

STOLONS: medium number, weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, dense pubescence

LEAF: small, blue green on upper side, strong blistering, medium glossiness, no variegation
TERMINAL LEAFLET: length equal to width, acute base, crenate margin, concave shape in cross-section
PETIOLE: short, hairs pointing upwards
STIPULE: absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration

TIME OF BEGINNING OF FLOWERING: mid-season
INFLORESCENCE: positioned below foliage, medium number of flowers, horizontal attitude of hairs on pedicel
FLOWER: calyx diameter smaller than corolla, stamens present
PETALS: touching, length equal to width, white on upper side

TIME OF BEGINNING OF FRUIT RIPENING: mid-season
FRUIT: length equal to width, large, cordate, moderate difference in shape between terminal and other fruits, narrow band without achenes
FRUIT SKIN: medium red, very weak to weak glossiness, even or very slightly uneven colour, even or very slightly uneven surface
ACHENES: positioned below fruit surface
CALYX: insertion set below surface of fruit, downwards attitude of sepals, diameter slightly smaller than fruit, strong adherence to fruit
FRUIT FLESH: firm, medium red, medium red core, absent or small cavity

Origin & Breeding History: 'Preakness' (experimental designation '108965') originated from a cross made in 2012 at Sweet Darling Sales, Inc. in Watsonville, California, USA. The cross was conducted between the proprietary varieties 'Aida' (female parent) and 'Frisco' (male parent). 'Preakness' was selected in 2013 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 'Preakness' 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: 'Preakness' (left) with reference variety 'Albion' (right)