Strawberry plant named ‘CIVN260’

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry plant named ‘CIVN260’. This new strawberry plant named ‘CIVN260’ is primarily adapted high chill growing conditions, and is primarily characterized by its plants with erect leaves and visible, easy to collect fruits; fruits with regular and conical shape; easy pollination; excellent consistency; and great taste with high sugar content and aroma.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed:Fragaria ananassaDuch.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry variety named ‘CIVN260’. The variety is botanically known asFragaria ananassaDuch.

The new strawberry ‘CIVN260’ is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventors, Michelangelo Leis and Alessio Martinelli in San Giuseppe di Comacchio, Ferrara, Italy. The objective of the breeding program is to develop a new strawberry variety with high resistance to powdery mildew and general resistance to leaf and root disease; fruits with regular and conical shape; bright color; excellent consistency; and good taste and aroma even at high temperatures.

This new strawberry ‘CIVN260’ is a result of a controlled cross made by the inventors in 2009, in San Giuseppe di Comacchio, Ferrara, Italy. The female or seed parent is strawberry variety designated ‘NABILA’ (Patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,338). The male or pollen parent is strawberry variety designated ‘CLERY’ (Protected, CPVO Grant No. 16743).

The new strawberry ‘CIVN260’ was discovered and selected by the inventors as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in May 2011 in San Giuseppe di Comacchio, Ferrara, Italy (44° 45′ North and 12° 11′ East). After its selection, the new variety was asexually propagated by stolons in a nursery located in San Giuseppe di Comacchio, Ferrara, Italy. The new variety was extensively tested over the next several years in different European area with high chill conditions. This propagation has demonstrated that the combination of combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true to type.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘CIVN260’ is primarily adapted to the climate and growing with high chill conditions. This area provides the needed correct temperatures for flower induction and to produce a strong and vigorous plant and maintain fruit quality during fall production.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘CIVN260’, which in combination distinguish this strawberry plant as a new and distinct variety:1. plants with erect leaves and visible fruits;2. easy to collect;3. fruits with regular and conical shape;4. easy to pollinate;5. excellent consistency; and6. great taste with high sugar content and aroma.

Plants of the new strawberry variety ‘CIVN260’ differ from plants of the parents, ‘NABILA’ and ‘CLERY’. in the characteristics described in Table 1.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the most similar in comparison to the new strawberry variety ‘CIVN260’ is the male parent variety ‘CLERY’. Plants of the new strawberry variety ‘CIVN260’ differ from plants of ‘CLERY’ in the characteristics described in Table 2:

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

‘CIVN260’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The characteristics of the new variety may vary in detail, depending upon variations in environmental factors, including weather (temperature, humidity and light intensity), day length, soil type and location.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe the new strawberry variety ‘CIVN260’, unless otherwise noted, taken during the 2016 growing season in San Giuseppe di Comacchio, Ferrara, Italy. The observations, measurements and values were taken from plants of ‘CIVN260’ dug from a sea level-elevation nursery located in San Giuseppe di Comacchio, Ferrara, Italy, during January 2015 and planted approximately 7 months later in San Giuseppe di Comacchio, Ferrara, Italy. Plants of the new strawberry variety ‘CIVN260’ were grown under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice.

The observed plants were one year old plants. The plants used in the production field are produced in a nursery in San Giuseppe di Comacchio.

Yield observations and fruit quality characteristics are averaged from 3 years of data collected from the 2014 through 2016 growing seasons. Flower measurements and characteristics are from secondary flowers unless otherwise noted. Fruit characteristics and measurements are from secondary fruit unless otherwise noted.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions at approximately noon in San Giuseppe di Comacchio, Ferrara, Italy. The approximate age of the observed plants is about 7 months.

The following tables 3-9 describe fruit, plant, stolon, foliage, fruiting truss, flower and pest/disease characteristics of the new strawberry ‘CIVN260’.

TABLE 9PEST AND DISEASE REACTIONS‘CIVN260’ shows high resistance to powdery mildew and generallyto leaf and root diseases.