DrisStrawNinetyFour

Strawberry

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'DrisStrawSixty' (Pomona) and 'DrisStrawSeventyEight' (Veronica)

Summary: 'DrisStrawNinetyFour' has absent or very few stolons whereas 'DrisStrawSixty' has a medium amount of stolons and 'DrisStrawSeventyEight' has medium to many stolons. The fruit of 'DrisStrawNinetyFour' is medium to large whereas the fruit of 'DrisStrawSixty' is very small to small. The fruit of 'DrisStrawNinetyFour' has medium glossiness whereas the fruit of 'DrisStrawSixty' has weak glossiness and 'DrisStrawSeventyEight' has strong glossiness. 'DrisStrawNinetyFour' has fruit with a narrow band without achenes whereas both reference varieties have fruit with an absent or very narrow band without achenes. The fruit of 'DrisStrawNinetyFour' is medium firm whereas the fruit of 'DrisStrawSeventyEight' is very firm. The fruit of 'DrisStrawNinetyFour' has a medium red core whereas both reference varieties have a white core.

Description:

PLANT: upright growth habit, medium dense foliage, medium vigour, day neutral bearing type
STOLON: absent or very few

PETIOLE: medium to long, horizontal attitude of hairs
STIPULE: weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration
LEAF: medium to large, dark green upper side, medium degree of blistering, absent or weak glossiness on upper side, no variegation
TERMINAL LEAFLET: equal length to width, acute base, serrate and crenate margin, concave in cross-section

FLOWERING: begins mid-season
INFLORESCENCE: positioned at same level as foliage, medium to many flowers
PEDICEL: slightly outwards attitude of hairs
FLOWER: calyx larger than corolla, overlapping petal arrangement, stamen present
PETAL: length equal to width, white upper side

CALYX: inserted attachment, slightly smaller and same size as fruit, outwards attitude of sepals, medium to strong adherence to fruit
FRUIT: begins ripening midseason, length equal to width, medium to large size, cordate shaped, absent to very slight to slight difference in shape between terminal fruit and other fruit, medium firmness, absent or small cavity
FRUIT SURFACE: dark red, even or slightly uneven colour distribution, medium glossiness, slightly uneven, narrow width of band without achenes, achenes positioned level with surface
FRUIT FLESH: orange red, medium red core

Origin & Breeding History: 'DrisStrawNinetyFour' (Lucille) originated from a controlled cross between the female parent 'DrisStrawSixtyNine' and the male proprietary parent '575AC159' conducted in Watsonville, California, USA in July 2014. The new variety 'DrisStrawNinetyFour' was selected in October 2015, in Ventura County, California, USA based on fruit size, vigour, truss length and fruit flavour. Asexual reproduction by stolons was initiated in Shasta County, California in 2015.

Tests & Trials: Trials for 'DrisStrawNinetyFour' were conducted in Chilliwack, British Columbia during the 2023 growing season. The plots were transplanted in April 2022 into plastic mulch with drip irrigation. The plots were arranged in a RCB design. Each variety consisted of 3 replicates per variety with 10 plants per replicate for a total of 30 plants of each variety. Plants were spaced approximately 20 centimetres apart across the row in a raised bed, and approximately 30 centimetres apart lengthwise along the row (roughly 10 inches between plants when measuring across the width of the row, and 1 foot between plants on the same side of the bed linearly).

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Strawberry: 'DrisStrawNinetyFour' (left) with reference varieties 'DrisStrawSixty' (right) and 'DrisStrawSeventyEight' (center)

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Strawberry: 'DrisStrawNinetyFour' (center) with reference varieties 'DrisStrawSixty' (right) and 'DrisStrawSeventyEight' (left)

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Strawberry: 'DrisStrawNinetyFour' (center) with reference varieties 'DrisStrawSixty' (right) and 'DrisStrawSeventyEight' (left)