A new and distinct variety of strawberry (Fragaria L.) called "Saaid" is disclosed. The variety is a cross between "Rachel" and "Douglas", which results in a variety that flowers several months earlier than other known strawberry varieties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry 
(Fragaria L.) called "Saaid". The variety was developed from an organized 
scientifically designated breeding program carried out at the Agricultural 
Research Organization, the Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel. The variety 
is the product of selection of seedlings resulting from crosses between 
the strawberry varieties "Rachel" and "Douglas". The variety was asexually 
vegetatively propagated through runners and the reproduction ran true. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The new variety "Saaid" resembles the variety "Douglas" and is able to grow 
in September and produce fruit starting in early December and lasting 
until summer. The production of fruit beginning in early December is two 
months earlier than any known variety of Fragaria L. The fruit of the 
"Saaid" variety is characterized by good taste, good shape and size as 
well as a long shelf life.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The "Saaid" variety was grown in winter under polyethylene tunnels in 
Isreal. "Saaid" is a short day variety that flowers earlier than other 
known and available short day length strawberry varieties. Flowering and 
fruit production is not affected by the use of polyethylene wind tunnels. 
This production procedure is utilized in normal agricultural practices by 
the skilled artisan and does not involve temperature or light control. 
Mother plants were stored at 0.degree. C. from January through April. They 
were then planted in the nursery without further treatment. Runners with 
plantlets were produced during summer. These young plantlets were 
collected from the nursery in September and transferred to raised beds. 
Average temperatures at that time of the year are 30.degree. C. during the 
day and 22.degree. C. at night. Water and fertilizers were applied through 
drip irrigation. An exaple of an optimum planting date is between 
September 20th to the 25th with the approximate date of flowering on 
November 4, and the approximate date of first fruiting on December 4. 
"Saaid" flowering is not induced by chilling, but by natural exposure to 
short day length (long nights) characteristic of late fall and early 
winter. Color readings described herein were taken under natural light 
conditions and color identifications were made by reference to The Royal 
Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.C.C.) except where common terms 
of color definition are employed. 
The pertinent characteristics of the present invention are presented in 
Table 1 and Table 2. Additionally, the variety "Saaid" (1) has no tendency 
toward fruit malformation; (2) disease resistance appears normal in that 
no particular problematic conditions arose during trials; and (3) the type 
of bearing is not remontant (e.g., "Saaid" blooms perpetuously, during 
late fall and winter). 
The fruit is longer than broad, with primary, secondary and tertiary fruit 
of moderately distinct shape (Table 2). The fruit is firm with a red color 
(Table 2). 
The variety "Saaid" flowers several months earlier than known strawberry 
varieties. One of the closest known varieties would be "Karina" (Table 1) 
as well as the new varieties under co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. 
Nos. 07/735,969 ("Sharon"), 07/735,695 ("Shalom"), 07/735,967 ("Smadar"), 
and 07/735,968 ("Dorit"). Additionally, early flowering results in early 
fruit production for "Saaid" and the four co-pending varieties (Table 3). 
Total Soluble Solids (TSS), percent acidity and aroma are presented in 
Table 4 by comparison to the varieties listed in Table 3. 
TABLE 1 
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PLANT CHARACTERISTICS OF "SAAID" 
MORPHOLOGICAL COMABLE 
TRAIT DESCRIPTION.sup.a 
VARIETY.sup.b 
______________________________________ 
Classification 
Botanical- 
Fragaria L. 
Plant habit Globose "Gorella" 
Plant density 
Dense "Talisman" 
Plant vigor Strong "Grande" 
Leaf: 
a) Length 17-18 cm 
b) Width 11-14 cm 
c) Color Green Group 146 A 
(RHSCC) 
1) Upper Side: 
Dark Green 
d) Blistering 
Weak 
e) Cross-section 
Concave 
f) # of leaflets 
Three only 
Terminal leaflet 
a) Length/Width 
ratio Longer than broad 
b) Shape of base 
Acute 
c) Shape of teeth 
Rounded 
d) Length 7-8 cm 
e) Width 5-6 cm 
Flower 
a) Size Medium "Gorella" 
b) Size of calyx to 
Same Size 
corolla 
c) Size of inner calyx 
Same Size 
versus outer calyx 
d) Spacing of petals 
Overlapping 
e) Petal length/width 
As load as broad 
f) Time of flowering 
Early to Medium 
"Karina".sup.c 
Stolon 
a) Number Medium "Gorella" 
b) Thickness Medium 
c) Pubescence 
Weak 
d) Anthocyanin 
Strong 
coloration 
Petiole 
a) Pose of hairs 
Outwards 
b) Length 10-12 cm 
Inflorescence 
a) Position relative 
Level 
to foliage 
______________________________________ 
.sup.a The description of "Saaid" is based on the test guidelines for 
Fragaria L. of the International Union for the Protection of New Plant 
Varieties, (UPOV). 
.sup.b Only characteristics which are relevant for comparing varieties ar 
listed. 
.sup.c "Saaid" flowers at the beginning of November. One of the earliest 
known varieties for comparison is "Karina", which flowers in January. 
TABLE 2 
______________________________________ 
FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS OF "SAAID" 
CHARACTERISTIC DESCRIPTION 
______________________________________ 
Time of ripening early 
Ratio of length/maximum width 
longer than broad 
Primary Fruit.sup.a Bi-conical 
Length 43-50 mm 
Width 30-36 mm 
Secondary Fruit Bi-conical 
Length 33-37 mm 
Width 27-32 mm 
Tertiary Fruit Conical 
length 28-30 mm 
width 25-26 mm 
Size Large 
Brand without achenes 
Narrow 
Unevenness of surface 
Weak 
Color Red 
Evenness of color Even 
Glossiness Strong 
Insertion of achenes Level with surface 
Insertion of calyx Level with surface 
Pose of calyx segments 
Reflexed 
Size of calyx in relation 
Larger 
to fruit diameter 
Adherance of calyx Strong 
Firmness Firm 
Color of Flesh Medium Red 
Evenness of flesh color 
Uneven 
Sweetness.sup.b Strong 
Color 42BC circa (RHSCC) 
Taste.sup.b Good 
______________________________________ 
.sup.a There is a marked difference between the shape of the primary, 
secondary and tertiary fruit. 
.sup.b See Table 4. 
TABLE 3 
______________________________________ 
COMATIVE YIELD OF "SAAID".sup.a 
Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. 
______________________________________ 
Saaid 0 70 100 100 100 100 
Sharon.sup.b 
40 60 80 80 80 80 
Shalom.sup.c 
50 70 80 100 100 70 
Smadar.sup.d 
50 70 100 100 100 50 
Dorit.sup.e 
30 70 100 100 100 100 
Douglas.sup.f 
0 0 40 150 150 150 
Chandler.sup.g 
0 0 30 150 150 120 
______________________________________ 
.sup.a Average yield in g/m.sup.2 in Ramat Hadar, Israel (1989-90). The 
time of ripening for "Saaid" fruit is early to medium. 
.sup.b U.S. Application Ser. No. 07/735,969. The time of ripening for 
"Sharon" fruit is very early. 
.sup.c U.S. Application Ser. No. 07/735,695. The time of ripening for 
"Shalom" fruit is early. 
.sup.d U.S. Application Ser. No. 07/735,967. The time of ripening for 
"Smadar" fruit is very early to early. 
.sup.e U.S. Application Ser. No. 07/735,968. The time of ripening for 
"Dorit" fruit is early. 
.sup.f U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,487. The time of ripening for "Douglas" frui 
is late. 
.sup.g U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,262. The time of ripening for "Chandler" 
fruit is late. 
TABLE 4 
______________________________________ 
COMATIVE FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS OF "SAAID" 
T.S.S..sup.a 
Acidity.sup.b 
in % in % Aroma Taste 
______________________________________ 
Saaid 8.0-9.0 1.0 3 Normal 
Sharon.sup.c 
6.5-7.0 1.0 3 Slightly 
Acidic 
Shalom.sup.d 
8.0-9.0 1.0 4 Normal 
Smadar.sup.e 
8.5-9.5 1.0 5 Good 
Dorit.sup.f 
8.5-9.5 1.0 5 Good 
Douglas.sup.g 
6.5-7.0 0.8 3 Slightly 
Acidic 
Chandler.sup.h 
6.5-7.0 0.8 3 Slightly 
Acidic 
______________________________________ 
.sup.a Total Soluble Solids expresses fruit sweetness and was determined 
with a refractometer. 
.sup.b Percent of acidity was determined as follows: 2 cc of juice extrac 
was mixed with 20 cc of water. Five drops of fenolfthaleinen was added an 
the mixture was titrated with NaOH. The percent acidity is calculated as 
the quantity of NaOH (cc) .times. 0.32. 
.sup.c U.S. Application Ser. No. 07/735,969. 
.sup.d U.S. Application Ser. No. 07/735,695. 
.sup.e U.S. Application Ser. No. 07/735,967. 
.sup.f U.S. Application Ser. No. 07/735,968. 
.sup.g U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,487. 
.sup.h U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,262.