UCD Finn

Strawberry

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'UCD Mojo and 'Albion'

Summary: The plants of 'UCD Finn' have absent or very few stolons with absent or sparse pubescence on the stolons whereas those of 'Albion' have few stolons with dense pubescence on the stolons. The flower of 'UCD Finn' has a larger diameter than that of 'UCD Mojo'. The fruit of 'UCD Finn' is very large whereas the fruit of 'Albion' is medium to large. The shape of the fruit of 'UCD Finn' is rhomboid whereas the shape of the fruit of both reference varieties is conical.

Description:

PLANT: day neutral type, semi-upright growth habit, medium to dense foliage, medium to strong vigour
STOLONS: absent or very few, absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration, absent or sparse pubescence

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

FLOWERING: begins early
INFLORESCENCE: positioned beneath foliage, medium number of flowers
PEDICEL: horizontal attitude of hairs
FLOWER: calyx larger than corolla, touching petal arrangement, stamen present
PETAL: moderately shorter than wide, white inner side

CALYX: raised attachment, slightly larger than fruit, outwards attitude of sepals, medium to strong adherence to fruit
FRUIT: begins early, moderately longer than wide, very large, rhomboid shape, slight difference in shape between terminal fruit and other fruit, very firm, absent or small cavity
FRUIT SURFACE: dark red, even or very slightly uneven colour distribution, medium to strong glossiness, even or very slightly uneven, medium to broad band without achenes, achenes positioned at level with surface
FRUIT FLESH: medium red, light red core

Origin & Breeding History: 'UCD Finn' originated from a cross conducted in 2012 in Davis, Californiabetween the female parent 'Cabrillo' and the male proprietary parent '08C150P009'. 'UCD Finn' was selected for asexual propagation in 2013 based on intensity of flowering under longer day lengths and higher summer temperatures. Selection was made in Winters, California.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'UCD Finn' was conducted by Expert Agriculture Team Ltd., in Chilliwack, British Columbia during the 2023 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 double offset rows planted with approximately 30 cm between plants and 20 centimetres between the offset rows. 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.

Comparison table for 'UCD Finn' with reference varieties 'UCD Mojo and 'Albion'

Flower diameter (cm)

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Strawberry: 'UCD Finn' (centre) with reference varieties 'UCD Mojo' (left) and 'Albion' (right)

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Strawberry: 'UCD Finn' (centre) with reference varieties 'Albion' (left) and 'UCD Mojo' (right)

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Strawberry: 'UCD Finn' (centre) with reference varieties 'UCD Mojo' (left) and 'Albion' (right)