Strawberry plant named `Baeza`

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry plant named `Baeza`, botanically identified as Fragaria.times.ananassa Duch. The closest known variety is `Key Largo`. The new variety is fully everbearing. The new variety is distinguished from `Key Largo` by its flat plant habit, medium to strong interveinal leaf-blistering, as long as broad length-to-width ratio of the terminal leaflet, rounded basal shape of the terminal leaflet, rounded teeth on the terminal leaflets, medium to dense petiole pubescence, outward pose of petiole hairs, medium flower size, medium length of the fruiting trusses, light red fruit flesh color and very early to early season of initial harvest.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The new variety of strawberry plant was selected as a seedling in a 
controlled breeding plot at a ranch in Monterey County, Calif., U.S.A., on 
or about May 1991. The new variety originated as a result of a controlled 
cross between the Driscoll Strawberry Associates, Inc. varieties named 
`M1` and `Z2` (both unpatented varieties of Driscoll Strawberry 
Associates, Inc.) in an on-going breeding program. The original seedling 
of the new variety was grown and asexually propagated by stolons at the 
nursery of Driscoll Strawberry Associates, Inc., in Shasta County, Calif. 
The new variety was further asexually propagated and extensively tested. 
This propagation and testing has demonstrated that the combination of 
traits disclosed herein which characterize the new variety are fixed and 
retained true to type through successive generations of asexual 
reproduction. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry variety. The 
varietal denomination of the new variety is `Baeza` (formerly known as 
`DX-3`). The variety is botanically identified at Fragaria.times.ananassa 
Duch. Among the characteristics which distinguish the new variety from 
other varieties of which we are aware are a combination of traits which 
include plant habit, interveinal leaf-blistering, the length-to-width 
ratio of the terminal leaflet, the basal shape of the terminal leaflet, 
the shape of the teeth on the terminal leaflet, petiole pubescence, pose 
of petiole hairs, flower size, length of the fruiting trusses, fruit flesh 
color, season of initial harvest and type of fruit bearing. 
COMISON TO CLOSEST VARIETIES 
The variety which we believe to be closest to `Baeza` from those known to 
us is `Key Largo` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,649). There are several 
characteristics of the new variety that are different from, or not 
possessed by `Key Largo`. For example, the plant habit of `Baeza` is flat, 
while that of `Key Largo` is flat globose. The interveinal blistering of 
the leaves of `Baeza` is medium to strong, while that of `Key Largo` is 
weak to medium. The length-to-width ratio of the terminal leaflet is as 
long as broad for `Baeza`, while that of `Key Largo` is broader than long. 
The basal shape of the terminal leaflet of `Baeza` is rounded, while it is 
obtuse on `Key Largo`. The teeth on the terminal leaflet of `Baeza` are 
rounded, while those of `Key Largo` are obtuse. The petiole pubescence of 
`Baeza` is medium to dense, while that of `Key Largo` is sparse. The pose 
of the petiole hairs of `Baeza` is outward, while that of `Key Largo` is 
upward. The flower size of `Baeza` is medium, while the flower size of 
`Key Largo` is large. The fruiting truss of `Baeza` is medium in length, 
while that of `Key Largo` is long. The fruit flesh color of `Baeza` is 
light red, while that of `Key Largo` is medium red. The season of initial 
harvest for `Baeza` is very early to early, while that of `Key Largo` is 
early to mid-season. Lastly, `Baeza` is fully everbearing, while `Key 
Largo` is partially everbearing. 
Regarding isozyme analysis, the phosphoglucoisomerase (PGI) isozyme banding 
pattern for `Baeza` and `Key Largo` is A1. The leucine aminopeptidase 
(LAP) isozyme banding pattern for `Baeza` and `Key Largo` is B3. The 
phosphoglucomutase (PGM) isozyme banding pattern for `Baeza` is C3, while 
that for `Key Largo` is C4. All isozyme analyses were conducted using leaf 
tissue. See J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 106:684 (1981). 
TABLE 1 
______________________________________ 
Isozyme Analysis for `Baeza` and `Key Largo` 
Cultivar 
Locus `Baeza` `Key Largo` 
______________________________________ 
PGI A1 A1 
LAP B3 B3 
PGM C3 C4 
______________________________________ 
The `Key Largo` isozyme data is from U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,649.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY 
The following detailed description of the new variety is based upon 
observations taken of plants and fruit grown in experimental test plots in 
1997 at Garrison Farm in Hillsborough County, Fla., U.S.A. The strawberry 
varieties `Baeza` and `Key Largo` were planted on Oct. 9, 1996 and grown 
in similar conditions in a forcing system during the winter and were 
evaluated in a side-by-side comparison in January 1997. The measurements 
for grams/plant and fruit weight were taken at the Dolan Ranch, Ventura 
County, Calif. in the Fall of 1998; and additional measurements were taken 
at the Eiskamp Ranch, Monterey County, Calif. on Jul. 30, 1999. This 
description is in accordance with UPOV terminology. Color designations, 
color descriptions, and other phenotypical descriptions may deviate from 
the stated values and descriptions depending upon variation in 
environmental, seasonal, climatic and cultural conditions. Colors are 
described using standard Munsell Notation. 
Propagation 
The new variety is principally propagated by way of stolons. Although 
propagation by stolons is presently preferred, other known methods of 
propagating strawberry plants may be employed. 
Characteristics of the New Variety 
The following information is provided to describe the new variety. 
Plant: The plants are medium in density with a flat habit and medium vigor. 
Specifically, at fruiting the average height and average width of `Baeza` 
plants are 29.1 cm and 43.6 cm, respectively. 
Leaves: The upperside of the leaves are medium to dark green with a Munsell 
color rating of 8.2GY 3.2/6.1. The underside of the leaves are gray-green 
which is not included on the Munsell Color Cascade. 
The leaf profile is strongly concave to slightly concave with medium to 
strong interveinal blistering. The plants have three leaflets only. The 
terminal leaflet margin profile is revolute and the length-to-width ratio 
is as long as broad. The shape of the base of the terminal leaflet is 
rounded and the shape of the teeth on the terminal leaflet are rounded. 
The shape of the terminal leaflet is ovate to rounded. The terminal 
leaflet apex shape is rounded. The average terminal leaflet width is 8.8 
cm. The average terminal leaflet length is 8.9 cm. The venation of the 
leaves is pinnate. The leaves have weak glossiness. 
The petiole has medium to dense pubescence and the pose of the hairs is 
outwards. The average petiole length is 18.4 cm. The average petiole 
diameter is 0.5 cm. The Munsell color rating for petiole color is 5.3GY 
5.2/9.7. The bracts occur on 58% of petioles, and the bracts typically 
occur in pairs. The average stipule length is 4.1 cm. The average stipule 
width is 1.4 cm. 
Stolons: `Baeza` has few to a medium number of thick stolons with strong 
anthocyanin coloration and medium pubescence. 
Inflorescence: The positioning of the inflorescence is from beneath to 
level with the foliage. The flowers are of medium size. The average 
diameter of the primary and secondary flowers is 3.4 cm. The anther color 
is yellow with a Munsell color rating of 5.4Y 8.2/14.2. The average petal 
length is 1.2 cm. The average petal width is 1.3 cm. The petal color is 
white which is not included on the Munsell Color Cascade. 
The average calyx diameter is 3.4 cm. On secondary flowers with 5 to 6 
petals, the petals are overlapping. The petal length-to-width ratio on 
secondary flowers is as long as broad. 
The fruiting trusses are medium in length and the attitude at first picking 
is semi-erect to prostrate. The average number of berries per fruiting 
truss is 8.5. The average yield is 379 g/plant as measured in the 1998 
fruiting season which is an average yield for a strawberry variety grown 
in this season. The fruiting trusses branch at the middle of the 
inflorescence. The frequency of branching is moderate to high. 
Fruit: Observations of the fruit were taken of secondary fruits on one year 
old plants. Strawberry plants possess a branching inflorescence, or 
peduncle, having a primary (first) flower which is the largest and 
secondary flowers which are on the lateral branches. "Secondary fruit" are 
those that develop from secondary flowers which develop from lateral buds 
on the peduncle. One year old plants are those which are in their first 
year in the fruiting field. The fruits are predominantly conical in shape. 
The fruit have a ratio of length to maximum width which ranges from longer 
than broad to much longer than broad. The fruit are large in size. The 
average length and diameter of the primary and secondary fruit are 3.8 cm 
and 3.4 cm, respectively. The average weight of the fruit is 21.2 g/berry 
as measured in the 1998 fruiting season. There is a slight difference in 
fruit shape between the primary and secondary fruits. The band without 
achenes is narrow. The fruit surface has a weak unevenness. 
Fruit color: `Baeza` skin color is red with a Munsell color rating of 6.8R 
2.6/9.4 and has medium to strong glossiness. The fruit skin color is 
slightly uneven to even. 
The insertion of the achenes is from level with the surface to above the 
surface of the fruit. 
The calyx is inserted level with the fruit and the pose of the calyx 
segments is reflexed. The adherence of the calyx to the fruit is strong. 
The fruit flesh is firm when fully ripe. The color of the fruit flesh is 
light red with a Munsell color rating of 7.1R 5.3/16.7. The flesh color is 
uneven to slightly uneven. 
The fruit has a strong sweetness, with medium acidity and fine texture. The 
achenes are yellow (Munsell color rating 8.5YR 7.8/11.8) but darken to a 
red color when exposed to sunlight (Munsell color rating of 5.5R 
2.9/11.6). 
The time of flowering when 50% of the plants are at first flower is very 
early to early. When the `Baeza` variety was planted in Florida in early 
October, the plants began flowering in late October to early November. 
The harvest maturity when 50% of the plants possess ripe fruit is very 
early to early. For `Baeza` planted in Florida in early October, 50% of 
the plants possessed ripe fruit in late November. 
`Baeza` is a fully everbearing variety producing fruit. Everbearing 
strawberry varieties are characterized as plants which fruit two or more 
times per season, and the summer flowering is governed by long 
photoperiods. See Advances in Fruit Breeding, page 86 (eds. Jules Janick 
and James N. Moore, 1975). 
Chilling requirements: `Baeza` requires 4 to 6 weeks of chilling when 
planted in a winter plant cultural system. 
Resistance to Stress 
The new variety `Baeza` is moderately resistant to drought, high 
temperatures, high pH and high soil salt levels. 
Disease Resistance and Susceptibility 
The `Baeza` fruit is moderately resistant to decay by Botrytis fruit rot. 
`Baeza` is moderately susceptible to leaf spots (Xanthamonus fragariae). 
The `Baeza` plant is also moderately resistant to powdery mildew. 
The `Baeza` variety is susceptible to injury by the two-spotted spider mite 
(Tetranychus urticae), Tarsonemus pallidus, Aphelencoides fragariae, Aphis 
spp., and lygus bug (Lygus hesparus).