This invention relates to new and distinct cultivar of strawberry plant named ‘Sweet Sunrise’. The new cultivar is primarily characterized by its early ripening and its medium-large, conical fruit that have outstanding processing characteristics including deep red internal and external color, sweet flavor, and very easy calyx removal, as well as vigorous, productive plants that are tolerant to biotic and abiotic stress.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: ‘SWEET SUNRISE’ is a new strawberry plant that isFragaria×ananassaDuchesne ex Rozier.

Variety denomination: The new strawberry plant claimed is of the variety denominated ‘Sweet Sunrise’,Fragaria×ananassaDuchesne ex Rozier.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry cultivar strawberry designated ‘Sweet Sunrise’ and botanically known asFragaria×ananassaDuchesne ex Rozier. This new strawberry cultivar was discovered in Corvallis, Oreg. in June 2000 and originated from a cross between the female parent ‘Puget Reliance’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,310) and the male parent B 754 (unpatented). The original seedling of the new cultivar was asexually propagated by rooting daughter plants from the mother plant since 2000 in Benton County, Oreg. The present invention has been found to be stable and reproduce true to type through successive asexual propagations.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following description of ‘Sweet Sunrise’ is based on observations taken from 2002 to 2012 growing seasons in trials in Corvallis and Aurora, Oreg. 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. ‘Sweet Sunrise’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The botanical description of ‘Sweet Sunrise’ was taken from plants one year after establishment in the field. Color terminology follows The Royal Horticultural Society Colour chart. London (R.H.S.) (5thedition, 2007).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Table 1 shows selected characteristics of the new cultivar compared with plant characteristics of ‘Charm’, (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 13/694,975). Characteristics include plant height, number of crowns per plant, plant habit, bract frequency, petiole texture, petal length and width, fruit shape, and fruit weight.

Table 2 shows plant characteristics of the new cultivar compared with plant characteristics of ‘Charm’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 13/694,975). Plant characteristics include plant height, diameter, number of crowns per plant, habit, density of individual plants and vigor.

Table 3 shows leaf characteristics of the new cultivar compared with leaf characteristics of ‘Charm’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 13/694,975). Leaf characteristics include leaf type, leaf shape. leaf length, leaf width, terminal leaflet length, terminal leaflet width, terminal leaflet length to width ratio, leaf margins, shape of teeth, leaf serrations per leaflet, upper and lower leaf surface color, number of leaflets, terminal leaflet apex shape, terminal leaflet base shape, glossiness upper side leaf surface, texture upper side leaf surface, texture underside leaf surface and leaf arrangement.

Table 5 shows stolon characteristics of the new cultivar compared to ‘Charm’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 13/694,975). These characteristics include the number of stolons, the anthocyanin coloration of the stolons, the thickness of the stolons, and the pubescence of the stolons.

Table 7 shows fruit characteristics of the new cultivar compared to ‘Charm’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 13/694,975). These characteristics include number of berries per truss, fruiting truss attitude, fruit length, fruit diameter, fruit length/width ratio, fruit weight, relative fruit size, predominant fruit shape, difference in shape between primary and secondary fruit, band without achenes, evenness of fruit surface, top color, non-blush side color, blush side color, internal color, achene color, achene count per fruit, insertion of calyx, pose of calyx segments, size of calyx in relation to fruit, ease of calyx removal, firmness of flesh, evenness of flesh color, distribution of flesh color, sweetness, acidity, Brix, pH, titratable acidity, texture when tasted, time of flowering, harvest maturity (50% of plants with ripe fruit), type of bearing, and yield.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL GENOTYPES

When ‘Sweet Sunrise’ is compared to female parent ‘Puget Reliance’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,310), the fruit are deeper red, firmer, and more conically shaped and the plants less susceptible to foliar disease. When ‘Sweet Sunrise’ is compared to the male parent B 754 (unpatented) the fruit are deeper red, firmer and the plants better adapted to biotic and abiotic stress in the Pacific Northwest.