FL1678-109

Strawberry

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Florida Brilliance' and 'Florida 127' (Sweet Sensation)

Summary: The plants of ‘FL1678-109' begin flowering early to mid-season while those of ‘Florida Brilliance' begin flowering very early to early and those of ‘Florida 127' begin flowering very early. The stipule of ‘FL1678-109' has a medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration while that of ‘Florida Brilliance' and ‘Florida 127' have absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration. The fruit of ‘FL1678-109' ripen late to very late while that of ‘Florida Brilliance' and ‘Florida 127' ripen mid to late season. The calyx of ‘FL1678-109' has a raised position of attachment while that of ‘Florida Brilliance' has an inserted position of attachment and that of ‘Florida 127' is level with the fruit.

Description:

PLANT: upright to semi-upright growth habit, dense foliage, medium vigour
STOLON: very few to few, weak intensity anthocyanin colouration

LEAF: medium to large, dark green upper side, weak rugosity, absent or weak glossiness
TERMINAL LEAFLET: slightly longer than wide, acute base, serrate to crenate margin, shallow depth margin, concave in cross-section
STIPULE: medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration
PETIOLE: outward attitude of hairs

FLOWERING: begins early to mid-season, runners absent
INFLORESCENCE: positioned strongly below foliage
FLOWER: petal arrangement is touching, calyx same size as corolla, stamen present
PETAL: circular, low length to width ratio, white upper side
CALYX: raised attachment with fruit, outwards attitude of sepals, diameter same size as fruit

FRUIT: medium length in relation to width, medium to large, conical shape, position of maximum width strongly towards calyx, rounded at apex, rounded at calyx end, begins ripening late to very late
FRUIT SURFACE: light red, narrow band without achenes, achenes positioned slightly below surface, yellow achenes, medium density of achenes
FRUIT FLESH: light red, white and light red core

Origin & Breeding History: ‘FL1678-109' originated from a cross pollination between the female parent variety ‘FL 12.90-53' and the male parent variety ‘FL 14.29-62'. The cross was conducted at a breeding plot in Balm, Florida, United States over a period of weeks from December 2016 to February 2017. The new variety ‘FL1678-109' was selected in late 2016 to early 2017 based on fruit shape, fruit colour, and taste. Multiple generations of asexual reproduction have been conducted since the selection was made.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for ‘FL1678-109' was conducted by Expert Agriculture Team Ltd., in Chilliwack, British Columbia during the 2024 growing season. The plots were arranged in a RBC design with 3 replicates. Each replicate consisted of 10 plants for a total of 30 plants of each variety. Plants were in double offset rows planted with approximately 30 cm between plants and 20 cm between rows. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants or parts of 10 plants of each variety. Mean differences were significant at the 5% confidence probability level based on a paired Student's t-test.

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Strawberry: ‘Florida Brilliance' (left) with reference varieties ‘FL1678-109' (centre) and ‘Florida 127' (right)

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Strawberry: ‘Florida Brilliance' (left) with reference varieties ‘FL1678-109' (centre) and ‘Florida 127' (right)

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Strawberry: ‘Florida Brilliance' (left) with reference varieties ‘FL1678-109' (centre) and ‘Florida 127' (right)