Strawberry plant named ‘HOB-391’

A new variety of strawberry plant named ‘HOB-391’ that has high hardness of fruit body, with the fruit having achenes positioned deep below the surface and a light red core.

Common name: Strawberry

CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATION

This application follows Japanese plant variety rights application No. 37439 filed May 24, 2024, the entire content of which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW VARIETY

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry, Fragaria x ananassa Duchesne ex Rozier, which has been given the variety denomination ‘HOB-391’.

The variety is distinguished by its high hardness of fruit body and its good balance of sweetness and acidity, with the fruit having achenes positioned deep below the surface and a light red core, that distinguish it notably from its female parent ‘Pechika Pure’ (fruit having achenes positioned shallow below the surface and a white core).

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

The parent varieties are ‘Akihime’ (male parent) (not patented in the U.S.) and ‘Pechika Pure’ (female parent) (not patented in the U.S.).

The variety was developed and propagated in Higashikagura-cho, Kamikawa-gun, Hokkaido, Japan.

The new variety was asexually reproduced by runners in Higashikagura-cho, Kamikawa-gun, Hokkaido, Japan.

In March 2017, the mother variety ‘Pechika Pure’ and father variety ‘Akihime’ were crossed in a greenhouse in Higashikagura-cho, Kamikawa-gun, Hokkaido, Japan.

In 2017, the resulting seedlings were sown and raised.

In 2018, the raised seedlings were planted in a test field located in Higashikagura-cho, Kamikawa-gun, Hokkaido, Japan, and two individuals with superior characteristics were selected.

In 2019, the test was carried out again and ‘HOB-391’ was selected for its high hardness of fruit body and its taste.

On May 24, 2024, an application for plant variety rights No. 37439 was filed for the present variety in the Japanese Plant Variety Protection Office of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), Japan.

Cultivation of the variety does not require special conditions or treatments.

Proper planting time is from the end of March to the beginning of April.

Flowering time is from the middle of May.

Harvesting time is from the end of June to the end of November.

The variety is currently mainly intended for fruit production.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

The variety is distinguished from its female parent ‘Pechika Pure’, which is its closest comparative cultivar, by its high hardness of fruit body and its good balance of sweetness and acidity, with the fruit having achenes positioned deep below the surface and a light red core, that distinguish it notably from its female parent ‘Pechika Pure’ (fruit having achenes positioned shallow below the surface and yellowish pink (RHS 33C) core). The variety is also distinguished from its male parent ‘Akihime’ by the position of achenes deep below the surface of the fruit and the moderate to large difference in shape of terminal and other fruits, that distinguish it notably from its male parent ‘Akihime’ (achenes below the surface of the fruit, slight difference in shape of terminal and other fruits).

A comparison table with the male parent ‘Akihime’ is as follows (evaluation based on averages).

Fruit: position of achenes
deep below
below surface

surface

Difference in shape of
moderate to large
slight

terminal and other fruits

Type of bearing
day neutral
not remontant

A comparison table with the female parent ‘Pechika Pure’ is as follows (evaluation based on averages).

Fruit: position of achenes
deep below
below surface

surface

Color of core
light red 
yellowish pink

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The botanical description and the photographs are of the ‘HOB-391’ plants evaluated in 2023, including for the comparison with the female parent ‘Pechika Pure’. Values as provided are averages.

The plants shown on the photographs were grown in Higashikagura-cho, Kamikawa-gun, Hokkaido, Japan. The plant is a 5-year grown plant.

Colors are given according to the RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) Colour Chart (Fourth Ed., 2001).

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

1.1
Plant growth habit
upright

1.2
Density of foliage
medium to sparse

1.3
Vigor
medium to strong

1.4
Number of axillary bud
few

1.5
Position of inflorescence in 
same level

relation to foliage

1.6
Number of stolons
medium to many

1.9
Stolon: color
strong yellowish green

2.2
Color of upper side
dark green (RHS 146A)

2.3
Color of lower side
light yellowish green

2.5
Blistering
absent or weak

2.14
Shape of base
acute

2.16
Shape in cross section
concave

3.3
Petiole: texture
hairy and rough

3.4
Petiole: color
strong yellowish green

3.5
Attitude of hairs
slightly outwards

3.10
Peduncle: texture
hairy and rough

3.11
Peduncle: strength
strong (not removed from

the crown at harvest)

3.12
Peduncle: color
strong yellowish green

3.13
Pedicel: attitude of hairs
slightly outwards

3.16
Pedicel: texture
hairy and rough

3.17
Pedicel: strength
strong and hard to break

4.1
Flower diameter
medium to large (4 cm)

4.3
Arrangement of petals
touching

4.12
Petal: texture of upper surface
smooth and moist

4.13
Petal: texture of lower surface
smooth and moist

4.14
Petal: color of upper side
white (RHS NN155D)

4.15
Petal: color of lower side
white (RHS NN155D)

5.1
Fruit weight
medium to small (29.8 g)

5.3
Shape at apex
acute or truncate

5.4
Shape at base
flattened

5.6
Shape of achenes
narrow drops

5.7
Number of achenes
150 per fruit

5.8
Number of berries
15-20 per fruiting truss

5.9
Evenness of color
even or very slightly

uneven

5.10
Evenness of surface
even or very slightly

uneven

5.12
Position of calyx attachment
level with fruit

5.13
Attitude of sepals
upwards

5.21
Sepal: texture of upper surface
glossy

5.22
Sepal: texture of lower surface
glossy

5.23
Sepal: color of upper surface
strong green (RHS N134C)

5.24
Sepal: color of lower surface
light yellowish green

5.26
Color of flesh
light red (RHS N30B)

5.27
Color of core
light red (RHS 43C)

5.28
Cavity
absent or small

6.1
Time of beginning of flowering
June 7

6.2
Time of beginning of fruit 
June 27

6/3
Time of beginning of harvest 
late June to late November

season

6.4
Type of bearing
day neutral

6.6
Acidity
medium to low (0.45%)

Other features of the plant are as follows: