`CN210` is a new and distinct cultivar of strawberry plant of the day-neutral type which is more vigorous than `Selva` or `Seascape` and requires less chilling to maintain excellent fruit quality. When treated with appropriate planting regimes, `CN210` has much larger fruit and produces greater yields than the comparison cultivars.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a new and distinctive day-neutral type cultivar 
designated as `CN210` also known as `Diamante`, which resulted from a 
cross performed in 1991 between advanced selections Cal 87.112-6 and Cal 
88.270-1. The cultivar is botanically identified as F..times.ananassa 
Duch. 
`CN210` was first fruited at the University of California Wolfskill 
Experimental Orchard, near Winters, Calif. in 1992, where it was selected, 
originally designated Cal 91.248-6, and propagated asexually by runners. 
Following selection and during testing the plant of this disclosure was 
designated `CN210`. With the decision that this plant was to be released, 
it was given the name `Diamante` for the purposes of introduction into 
commerce and for international registration and recognition. Asexual 
propagules from this original source have been tested at the Watsonville 
Strawberry Research Facility, the South Coast Research and Extension 
Center, and to a limited extent in grower fields starting in 1994.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
`CN210` is moderate to weak in expressing the day-neutral character, being 
a stronger day-neutral than `Seascape` (U. S. Plant Pat. No. 7,614), 
comparable or slightly more day-neutral than `Selva` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 
5,266), and less so than `Fern` (U. S. Plant Pat. No. 5,267) or `Irvine` 
(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,172). The production pattern for `CN210` is similar 
to that for `Selva` or `Seascape`, and will be of special interest for 
winter plantings, where `Selva` and `Seascape` have been successful and 
summer plantings where `Seascape`, has been successful. 
Plants and Foliage 
Fruiting plants of `CN210` are more erect and usually more vigorous than 
plants of `Selva` or `Seascape`, but also are more open and compact. With 
appropriate treatment, plant size for `CN210` is similar to `Selva`, and 
slightly smaller than `Seascape`. Comparative statistics for foliar 
characters near mid-season are given for the three cultivars in Table 1. 
Leaflets are similar in size but substantially more rounded than leaves of 
`Selva` or `Seascape`. Leaves including petioles are somewhat shorter and 
broader than the comparison cultivars. Petioles are much thicker and more 
stiff than those of `Selva` and `Seascape`. `CN210` has variable leaf 
convexity, generally more concave than leaves of `Selva`, and has fewer 
and more rounded serrations than the comparison cultivars. The adaxial 
(upper) leaf surface for `CN210` is darker and more glossy than for 
`Selva` and similar to `Seascape`, whereas the abaxial surface is slightly 
lighter than either comparison cultivar (Table 2). 
Isozymes in Leaf Extracts 
`CN210` has been classified for three isozyme systems using starch gel 
electrophoresis (Table 3): Phosophoglucoisomerase (PGI), Leucine 
Aminopeptidase (LAP), and Phosphoglucomutase (PGM). It is distinguishable 
from `Selva` but not from `Seascape` using this methodology. For 
electrophoretic procedures see: J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 106:684-687. 
Disease and Pest Reaction 
`CN210` is moderately susceptible to common leaf spot (Ramularia tulasnei), 
Verticillium wilt (Verticillium dahliae), and Anthracnose crown rot 
(Colletotrichum acutatum), and is relatively resistant to powdery mildew 
(Sphaerotheca macularis). When treated properly, it has tolerance to 
two-spotted spidermites (Tetranychus urticae) greater than `Seascape` and 
`Selva`. `CN210` is tolerant to strawberry viruses encountered in 
California. 
Flowering, Fruiting, Fruit, and Production Characteristics 
`CN210` is similar to other California day-neutral cultivars (e. g. `Selva` 
and `Seascape`) in that it will flower independently of day length, given 
appropriate temperature and fertility conditions. Comparative statistics 
for flower and fruit characters near mid-season are given for the three 
cltivars in Table 4. The primary flowers for `CN210` are similar in size 
to `Selva` and `Seascape`; the sepals are somewhat smaller than for 
`Seascape` and substantially larger than for `Selva`. The calyx for 
`CN210` varies from slightly indented to even, and each primary flower has 
5-6 petals. The fruit shape for `CN210` can vary but is typically a long 
rounded conic, and is easily distinguished from other California 
day-neutral cultivars. External and internal fruit color for `CN210` are 
substantially lighter than for `Selva` and `Seascape`, and fruit is 
substantially more glossy than either comparison cultivar (Table 2). 
Achenes vary from yellow to red, and are slightly indented. 
`CN210` has been tested under a variety of cultural regimes, and optimal 
performance is obtained when nursery treatments and nutritional programs 
similar to those for `Selva` and `Seascape` are used. In general, `CN210` 
is more vigorous than the comparison cultivars and requires less chilling 
to maintain excellent fruit quality. `CN210` retains good fruit quality in 
summer planting systems, similar to `Seascape`. 
When treated with appropriate planting regimes, `CN210` has much larger 
fruit and produces greater yields than `Selva` or `Seascape` (Table 5). 
Production for `CN210` initiates at dates similar to the comparision 
cultivars and it produces slightly larger quantities of late-season fruit. 
Commercial appearance ratings have been superior to those for the 
comparison cultivars. Fruit firmness is similar to that for `Selva` and 
greater than that for `Seascape`. Subjectively, `CN210` has excellent 
flavor, substantially better than `Selva` or `Seascape`. The fruit will be 
outstanding for both fresh market and processing, and will be useful for 
home garden purposes. 
TABLE 1 
______________________________________ 
Foliar characteristics for `CN210`, `Selva` and 
`Seascape`. 
Foliar Cultivar 
Character `Selva` `Seascape` `CN210` 
______________________________________ 
Mid-tier leaflet 
Length (mm) 
mean 72.6 72.8 64.9 
range 65-88 65-82 57-72 
Width (mm) 
mean 68.2 64.5 68.4 
range 51-84 48-78 63-76 
Mid-tier leaf 
Length (mm) 
mean 119.2 123.8 117.9 
range 94-139 80-155 89-145 
Width (mm) 
mean 130.1 127.1 124.7 
range 111-170 108-150 115-139 
# 3 3, rarely 4 
3 
leaflets/leaf 
Leaf convexity 
mostly flat to 
concave to concave to 
convex convex, mostly 
convex, mostly 
flat to convex 
flat 
Serrations 
number few-moderate 
moderate moderate 
shape round to semiround to 
rounded to 
semipointed 
semipointed 
semipointed 
Leaf moderate moderate moderate 
pubescence 
Petiole pubescence 
density heavy mod. to heavy 
heavy 
direction perpendicular 
perp to slight 
perpendicular 
acropetal 
______________________________________ 
TABLE 2 
______________________________________ 
Foliar and fruit color characteristics for 
`CN210`, `Selva`, and `Seascape` 
Color Cultivar 
Character `Selva` `Seascape` 
`CN210` 
______________________________________ 
Leaf color (CIELAB) 
Adaxial 
L* 
mean 31.9 29.1 30.4 
range 30.2-33.7 26.9-32.3 28.4-32.1 
a* 
mean -6.5 -5.1 -6.5 
range -5.8--7.2 -2.4--6.6 -6.3--6.7 
b* 
mean 12.7 11.3 11.1 
range 9.8-15.8 9.5-16.5 9.7-14.0 
Munsell 2.5G 3/3 2.5GY 4/3 2.5GY 5/5 
Abaxial 
L* 
mean 48.3 48.3 50.3 
range 47.2-50.4 47.0-49.6 48.8-51.7 
a* 
mean -7.7 -7.2 -8.0 
range -7.3--8.3 -6.3--8.0 -7.7--8.3 
b* 
mean -17.9 18.1 18.2 
range 16.7-19.4 16.7-19.0 16.0-19.6 
Munsell 7.5GY 4/4 10GY 4/5 7GY 4/4 
Fruit color (CIELAB) 
External 
L* 
mean 28.5 25.4 29.4 
range 23.7-33.1 22.7-31.5 25.9-31.7 
a* 
mean 29.7 28.7 36.2 
range 26.9-31.5 25.4-33.1 32.8-39.2 
b* 
mean 16.9 13.7 20.7 
range 14.4-22.1 9.3-19.8 16.7-27.0 
Munsell 5R 4/12 5R 3/7 7.5R 5/13 
5R 4/12 
Internal 
L* 
mean 48.8 45.5 61.2 
range 44.4-53.1 38.3-55.0 52.6-66.2 
a* 
mean 35.2 37.8 18.7 
range 31.5-39.5 30.8-42.7 13.5-31.3 
b* 
mean 29.4 26.9 16.4 
range 26.9-33.9 21.9-34.2 13.4-24.6 
Munsell 5R 5/13 7R 5/13 7.5R 8/6 
______________________________________ 
*CIELAB is the abbreviation of the international color system known as 
"Commission Internationale De L'Eclairage" 1978. Recommendations on 
uniform color spaces - color difference equations, psychometric color 
terms, Supplement No. 2 to CIE Publication No. 15. IS. 
TABLE 3 
______________________________________ 
Isozyme phenotypes for `CN210`, `Selva`, and 
`Seascape`. 
Cultivar 
locus `Selva` `Seascape` 
`CN210` 
______________________________________ 
PGI A2 A4 A4 
LAP B3 B3 B3 
PGM C2 C2 C2 
______________________________________ 
TABLE 4 
______________________________________ 
Flower and fruit characters for `CN210`, `Selva`, 
and `Seascape` 
Cultivar 
Character `Selva` `Seascape` `CN210` 
______________________________________ 
# petals 
mean 5.8 6.1 5.1 
range 5-8 5-7 5-6 
Flower even most even mostly exposed 
position or interior 
some interior 
(relative to or exposed 
foliage) 
Calyx diam. (mm) 
mean 29.0 35.7 34.3 
range 22-35 30-40 31-39 
Corolla diam. (mm) 
mean 37.5 35.7 33.0 
range 31-43 32-40 30-38 
Fruit shape 
length/width 
ratio 1.16 1.15 1.18 
range 1.02-1.25 1.00-1.31 1.11-1.32 
subjective conic to flat 
mostly sharp 
mostly rounded 
conic conic conic 
Calyx position 
even with even/slight 
slight indent 
shoulder neck 
Seed position 
even/slight 
slight indent 
slight indent 
extrude to slight 
extrude 
______________________________________ 
TABLE 5 
______________________________________ 
Performance of `CN210`, `Selva`, and `Seascape` 
evaluated at the Watsonville Research Facility in 1995 and 1996. 
All plants for these materials were harvested from Macdoel on 
October 16 or 17, and planted with three weeks supplemental 
storage prior to planting. Harvest was initiated in early April 
and continued through the first week of October. 
(52" 2-row beds, 17,300 plants/acre, 
100 grams/plant = 316.3 crates/acre) 
Late 
Yield Yield Appearance 
Size 
Item (g/plant) 
(g/plant) 
Score (g/fruit) 
Firmness 
______________________________________ 
`Seava` 
1,764 389 3.2 24.4 7.3 
`Seascape` 
1,832 375 3.3 24.0 6.9 
`CN210` 
2,035 440 4.1 30.7 8.1 
______________________________________ 
Late yield includes harvest from August 20 through October 10. 
When `Diamante` is compared to `Aromas` (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. 
No. 08/747,506, filed Nov. 12, 1996), it is found that `Diamante` forms 
larger fruit that is lighter in coloration especially on interior fruit, 
and tends to be somewhat less productive.