Patent Publication Number: US-PP20307-P2

Title: Strawberry plant named ‘MARVEL’

Description:
Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed:  Fragaria ananassa.    
   Variety denomination: ‘MARVEL’. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry variety named ‘MARVEL’. This new variety is a result of a controlled cross made in 2001 between strawberry variety designated ‘PS-1269’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,686) and strawberry variety designated ‘PS-2880’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,597) in an ongoing breeding program. The variety is botanically known as  Fragaria ananassa.  The new variety is distinguished from its parents primarily in fruit color. 
   The seedling resulting from the aforementioned cross was selected from a controlled breeding plot in Ventura County, Calif. in the fall of 2003. After its selection, the new variety was asexually propagated by stolons in a nursery located in San Joaquin County, Calif. The new variety was extensively tested over the next several years in fruiting fields in Ventura County, Calif. This propagation has demonstrated that the combination of traits disclosed herein as characterizing the new variety are fixed and remain true to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   ‘MARVEL’ is primarily adapted to the climate and growing conditions of the central coast of California. This region provides the necessary winter temperatures required for it to produce a strong vigorous plant and to remain in fruit production from October through December. The nearby Pacific Ocean provides the needed humidity and moderate temperatures to maintain fruit quality during the fall production months. 
   The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘MARVEL’, which in combination distinguish this strawberry plant as a new and distinct variety:
         1. Medium red fruit color;   2. Increased marketable fruit yield;   3. Medium to large fruit size;   4. Conical to cylindrical fruit shape;   5. Achene position that ranges from level with to above the fruit surface;   6. Medium to large plant size;   7. Medium green foliage color;   8. Medium foliage size;   9. Petiole pubescence that ranges from moderate to heavy; and   10. Strong pubescence of the fruiting truss.       

   The strawberry variety that is believed to be most closely related to the new strawberry variety ‘MARVEL’ is ‘PS-2880’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,597). In comparison to the similar strawberry variety ‘PS-2880’, the new strawberry variety ‘MARVEL’ differs by the following combination of characteristics as described in Table 1: 
   
     
       
         
             
             
             
           
             
               TABLE 1 
             
             
                 
             
             
                 
                 
               ‘PS-2880’ 
             
             
                 
                 
               (U.S. Plant Pat. 
             
             
               Characteristic 
               ‘MARVEL’ 
               No. 15,597) 
             
             
                 
             
           
          
             
                 
             
          
         
         
             
             
             
             
          
             
               1. 
               Color of mature 
               Medium red 
               Red 
             
             
                 
               fruit 
             
             
               2. 
               Fruit weight (gm) 
               23.5 
               20.7 
             
             
               3. 
               Marketable yield 
               615-618 
               457 
             
             
                 
               (gm/plt) 
             
             
               4. 
               Unevenness of fruit 
               Weak to medium 
               Medium to strong 
             
             
                 
               surface 
             
             
               5. 
               Attitude of calyx 
               Spreading 
               Spreading to reflexed 
             
             
               6. 
               Stolon anthocyanin 
               Weak to medium 
               Medium 
             
             
                 
               intensity 
             
             
               7. 
               Foliage color (upper 
               Medium green 
               Medium to light green 
             
             
                 
               surface) 
             
             
               8. 
               Foliage shape in 
               Slightly concave to 
               Slightly concave to flat 
             
             
                 
               cross section 
               convex 
             
             
               9. 
               Interveinal blistering 
               Weak to medium 
               Medium to strong 
             
             
               10. 
               Foliage gloss 
               Weak to medium 
               Medium to strong 
             
             
               11. 
               Foliage size 
               Medium 
               Medium to large 
             
             
               12. 
               Fruiting truss 
               Strong 
               Medium 
             
             
                 
               pubescence 
             
             
                 
             
          
         
       
     
   
   For identification a series of AFLP molecular markers have been determined for this new variety. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS 
     The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance of typical specimens of the new strawberry variety ‘MARVEL’, at various stages of development as true as it is reasonably possible with color reproductions of this type. Color in the photographs may differ slightly from the color value cited in the botanical description which accurately describe the color of ‘MARVEL’. The depicted plant and plant parts of the new strawberry variety ‘MARVEL’ were taken in Ventura County, Calif., and are approximately 3 to 4 months old: 
       FIG. 1  shows typical fruiting field characteristics of ‘MARVEL’ taken in the month of October 2007. 
       FIG. 2  shows a close-up view of typical leaf structure of ‘MARVEL’ taken in the month of November 2007. 
       FIG. 3  shows typical mature and immature fruit of ‘MARVEL’ taken in the month of October 2007. 
       FIG. 4  shows a close-up view of mature fruit of ‘MARVEL’ taken in the month of October 2007. 
       FIG. 5  shows typical internal and external mature fruit characteristics of ‘MARVEL’ taken in the month of October 2007. 
   

   DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION 
   ‘MARVEL’ 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 description of the new variety ‘MARVEL’, unless otherwise noted, is based on observations taken during the 2007 growing season in Ventura County, Calif. These measurements and ratings were taken from plants of ‘MARVEL’ dug from a low-elevation nursery located in San Joaquin County, Calif. during late January 2007 and planted approximately 6 months later in Ventura County, Calif. The approximate age of the observed plants is 3 to 4 months. Yield observations and fruit quality characteristics are averaged from four years of data collected from the 2004 through 2007 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 terminology where noted follows the Munsell Book of Colors, Munsell Color, Baltimore, Md. (1976). 
   The following tables 2-8 describe fruit, plant, stolon, foliage, fruiting truss, flower and pest disease characteristics of the new strawberry ‘MARVEL’ in comparison to the similar strawberry variety ‘PS-2880’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. Pat. No. PP 15,597). 
   
     
       
         
             
           
             
               TABLE 2 
             
           
          
             
                 
             
             
               FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS 
             
          
         
         
             
             
             
          
             
                 
                 
               ‘PS-2880’ 
             
             
                 
                 
               (U.S. Plant Pat. 
             
             
               Characteristic 
               ‘MARVEL’ 
               No. 15,597) 
             
             
                 
             
             
               Color of mature fruit 
               7.5R 3/8 to 4/10 
               7.5R 4/8 to 3/8 
             
             
                 
               Medium red 
               Red 
             
             
               Color of internal flesh 
               7.5R 3/12 to 4/12 
               7.5R 3/12 to 4/12 
             
             
                 
               Medium red 
               Medium red 
             
             
               Length (cm) 
               4.3 
               4.7 
             
             
               Width (cm) 
               3.7 
               3.6 
             
             
               Ratio length/width 
               1.14 
               1.29 
             
             
                 
               Slightly longer than 
               Slightly longer than 
             
             
                 
               broad 
               broad 
             
             
               Calyx diameter (cm) 
               4.6 
               5.4 
             
             
               Average weight (gm) 
               23.5 
               20.7 
             
             
               Achene color 
               5Y 6/8 to 7.5R 3/8 
               5Y 6/8 to 7.5R 3/8 
             
             
                 
               Ranges from medium 
               Ranges from medium 
             
             
                 
               yellow to medium red 
               yellow to medium red 
             
             
               Achene weight (mg) 
               0.43 
               0.53 
             
             
               Achenes per berry 
               402 
               364 
             
             
               Marketable yield (gm/plt) 
               615-618 
               457 
             
             
               Fruit size 
               Ranges from medium 
               Medium 
             
             
                 
               to large 
             
             
               Predominant shape 
               Ranges from conical to 
               Ranges from conical to 
             
             
                 
               almost cylindrical 
               wedged 
             
             
               Difference in shapes 
               Moderate 
               Moderate 
             
             
               between primary and 
             
             
               secondary fruit 
             
             
               Band without achenes 
               Absent or very narrow 
               Absent or very narrow 
             
             
               Unevenness of surface 
               Ranges from weak to 
               Medium to strong 
             
             
                 
               medium 
             
             
               Evenness of color 
               Even 
               Ranges from even to 
             
             
                 
                 
               slightly uneven 
             
             
               Glossiness 
               Ranges from medium 
               Ranges from medium 
             
             
                 
               to strong 
               to strong 
             
             
               Insertion of achenes 
               Ranges from level 
               Above the surface 
             
             
                 
               with to above the 
             
             
                 
               surface 
             
             
               Insertion of calyx 
               In the basin 
               Ranges from in the 
             
             
                 
                 
               basin to level with the 
             
             
                 
                 
               fruit 
             
             
               Attitude of the calyx 
               Spreading 
               Ranges from spreading 
             
             
                 
                 
               to reflexed 
             
             
               Size of calyx in relation 
               Slightly larger 
               Slightly larger 
             
             
               to fruit diameter 
             
             
               Adherence of calyx 
               Strong 
               Weak 
             
             
               Firmness of skin 
               Medium 
               Medium 
             
             
               Firmness of flesh 
               Firm 
               Firm 
             
             
               Distribution of red color 
               Marginal and central 
               Marginal and central 
             
             
               of the flesh 
             
             
               Hollow center expression 
               Absent or very weak 
               Ranges from strong to 
             
             
                 
                 
               moderate 
             
             
               Flavor 
               Good 
               Fair to good 
             
             
               Soluble solids (% Brix) 
               8.6 
               7.7 
             
             
               Time of first flowering 
               Medium 
               Ranges from early to 
             
             
                 
                 
               medium 
             
             
               Time of first harvesting 
               Medium 
               Ranges from early to 
             
             
                 
                 
               medium 
             
             
               Harvest period 
               Late September to mid 
               Late September to mid 
             
             
                 
               December 
               December 
             
             
               Type of bearing 
               Fully everbearing 
               Fully everbearing 
             
             
                 
             
          
         
       
     
   
   
     
       
         
             
           
             
               TABLE 3 
             
           
          
             
                 
             
             
               PLANT CHARACTERISTICS 
             
          
         
         
             
             
             
          
             
                 
                 
               ‘PS-2880’ 
             
             
                 
                 
               (U.S. Plant Pat. 
             
             
               Characteristic 
               ‘MARVEL’ 
               No. 15,597) 
             
             
                 
             
             
               Height (cm) 
               24.3 
               26.4 
             
             
               Spread (cm) 
               36.4 
               35.8 
             
             
               Size 
               Ranges from medium to 
               Ranges from medium to 
             
             
                 
               large 
               large 
             
             
               Habit 
               Globose 
               Globose 
             
             
               Density 
               Ranges from medium to 
               Medium 
             
             
                 
               dense 
             
             
               Vigor 
               Ranges from medium to 
               Ranges from medium to 
             
             
                 
               strong 
               strong 
             
             
                 
             
          
         
       
     
   
   
     
       
         
             
           
             
               TABLE 4 
             
           
          
             
                 
             
             
               STOLON CHARACTERISTICS 
             
          
         
         
             
             
             
          
             
                 
                 
               ‘PS-2880’ 
             
             
                 
                 
               (U.S. Plant Pat. 
             
             
               Characteristic 
               ‘MARVEL’ 
               No. 15,597) 
             
             
                 
             
             
               Average number per 
               7.7 
               5.3 
             
             
               plant 
             
             
               Anthocyanin intensity 
               Ranges from weak to 
               Medium 
             
             
                 
               medium 
             
             
               Anthocyanin coloration 
               7.5R 4/8 to 5/8 
               7.5R 4/6 to 5/6 
             
             
               Diameter at bract (mm) 
               3.3 
               3.3 
             
             
                 
               Ranges from medium 
               Ranges from medium 
             
             
                 
               to thick 
               to thick 
             
             
               Pubescence 
               Strong 
               Strong 
             
             
                 
             
          
         
       
     
   
   
     
       
         
             
           
             
               TABLE 5 
             
           
          
             
                 
             
             
               FOLIAGE CHARACTERISTICS 
             
          
         
         
             
             
             
          
             
                 
                 
               ‘PS-2880’ 
             
             
                 
                 
               (U.S. Plant Pat. 
             
             
               Characteristic 
               ‘MARVEL’ 
               No. 15,597) 
             
             
                 
             
             
               Foliage: 
                 
                 
             
             
               Color of upper surface 
               5GY 3/4 to 3/6 
               7.5GY 3/4 to 4/4 
             
             
                 
               Medium green 
               Ranges from light to 
             
             
                 
                 
               medium green 
             
             
               Color of under side 
               5GY 5/4 to 6/4 
               5GY 5/4 to 6/4 
             
             
                 
               Light grey green 
               Light grey green 
             
             
               Shape in cross section 
               Ranges from slightly 
               Ranges from slightly 
             
             
                 
               concave to slightly 
               concave to flat 
             
             
                 
               convex 
             
             
               Interveinal blistering 
               Ranges from weak to 
               Ranges from medium 
             
             
                 
               medium 
               to strong 
             
             
               Glossiness 
               Ranges from weak to 
               Ranges from medium 
             
             
                 
               medium 
               to strong 
             
             
               Number of leaflets 
               Three 
               Three 
             
             
               Terminal Leaflet: 
             
             
               Length (cm) 
               8.8 
               10.3 
             
             
               Width (cm) 
               7.8 
               8.8 
             
             
               Length/width ratio 
               1.13 
               1.18 
             
             
               Serrations/leaf 
               21.0 
               22.9 
             
             
               Size 
               Medium 
               Ranges from medium 
             
             
                 
                 
               to large 
             
             
               Shape of base 
               Acute 
               Acute 
             
             
               Shape of teeth 
               Obtuse 
               Obtuse 
             
             
               Petiole: 
             
             
               Petiole color 
               5GY 6/6 to 7/6 
               5GY 6/6 to 7/6 
             
             
                 
               Medium yellow green 
               Medium yellow green 
             
             
               Length (cm) 
               15.6 
               13.9 
             
             
               Diameter (mm) 
               4.1 
               4.3 
             
             
               Petiolule color 
               5GY 6/6 to 7/6 
               5GY 6/6 to 7/6 
             
             
                 
               Medium yellow green 
               Medium yellow green 
             
             
               Petiolule length (mm) 
               14.0 
               15.3 
             
             
               Pubescence 
               Ranges from moderate 
               Moderate 
             
             
                 
               to heavy 
             
             
               Attitude of hairs 
               Slightly outward 
               Slightly outward 
             
             
               Stipule: 
             
             
               Color 
               2.5GY 4/6 to 5/6 
               2.5GY 5/6 to 6/6 
             
             
                 
               Medium yellow green 
               Medium yellow green 
             
             
               Length (mm) 
               21.0 
               26.3 
             
             
               Width (mm) 
               10.6 
               9.2 
             
             
               Anthocyanin intensity 
               Absent or very weak 
               Absent or very weak 
             
             
               Anthocyanin color 
               10RP 5/6 to 5/8 
               10RP 5/6 to 5/8 
             
             
                 
               Red purple 
               Red purple 
             
             
                 
             
          
         
       
     
   
   
     
       
         
             
           
             
               TABLE 6 
             
           
          
             
                 
             
             
               FRUITING TRUSS CHARACTERISTICS 
             
          
         
         
             
             
             
          
             
                 
                 
               ‘PS-2880’ 
             
             
                 
                 
               (U.S. Plant Pat. 
             
             
               Characteristic 
               ‘MARVEL’ 
               No. 15,597) 
             
             
                 
             
             
               Length (cm) 
               23.7 
               27.1 
             
             
               Flower position relative 
               Level with the foliage 
               Level with the foliage 
             
             
               to foliage 
             
             
               Anthocyanin intensity 
               Absent or very weak 
               Weak 
             
             
               Anthocyanin color 
               10RP 8/4 to 9/2 
               10RP 5/6 to 6/6 
             
             
                 
               Red purple 
               Red purple 
             
             
               Pubescence 
               Strong 
               Medium 
             
             
               Attitude at first pick 
               Prostrate 
               Prostrate 
             
             
                 
             
          
         
       
     
   
   
     
       
         
             
           
             
               TABLE 7 
             
           
          
             
                 
             
             
               FLOWER CHARACTERISTICS 
             
          
         
         
             
             
             
          
             
                 
                 
               ‘PS-2880’ 
             
             
                 
                 
               (U.S. Plant Pat. 
             
             
               Characteristic 
               ‘MARVEL’ 
               No. 15,597) 
             
             
                 
             
             
               Petal color 
               N 9.5/90.0% R to 
               N 9.5/90.0% R to 
             
             
                 
               9.25/84.2% R 
               9.25/84.2% R 
             
             
                 
               White 
               White 
             
             
               Corolla diameter (mm) 
               31.9 
               33.6 
             
             
               Calyx diameter (mm) 
               34.5 
               34.1 
             
             
               Petal length (mm) 
               12.0 
               13.0 
             
             
               Petal width (mm) 
               12.2 
               13.8 
             
             
               Petal length/width ratio 
               0.98 
               0.95 
             
             
               Petals/flower 
               5.9 
               6.5 
             
             
               Sepal color 
               5GY 3/6 to 4/6 
               5GY 4/4 to 4/6 
             
             
                 
               Medium yellow green 
               Medium yellow green 
             
             
               Sepal length (mm) 
               12.2 
               12.3 
             
             
               Sepal width (mm) 
               5.6 
               4.4 
             
             
               Sepal length/width ratio 
               2.19 
               2.78 
             
             
               Sepals/flower 
               11.8 
               12.3 
             
             
               Size of calyx relative to 
               Ranges from same size 
               Ranges from same size 
             
             
               corolla 
               to larger 
               to larger 
             
             
               Size of inner calyx 
               Ranges from same size 
               Smaller 
             
             
               relative to outer calyx 
               to smaller 
             
             
               Relative position of 
               Overlapping 
               Overlapping 
             
             
               petals 
             
             
                 
             
          
         
       
     
   
   
     
       
         
             
           
             
               TABLE 8 
             
           
          
             
                 
             
             
               PEST AND DISEASE REACTIONS 
             
          
         
         
             
             
             
          
             
                 
                 
               ‘PS-2880’ 
             
             
                 
                 
               (U.S. Plant Pat. 
             
             
               Characteristic 
               ‘MARVEL’ 
               No. 15,597) 
             
             
                 
             
             
               Two spotted spider mite 
               Moderately susceptible 
               Moderately susceptible 
             
             
               Lygus bug 
               Susceptible 
               Susceptible 
             
             
               Flower thrips 
               Moderately susceptible 
               Moderately susceptible 
             
             
               Powdery mildew 
               Moderately susceptible 
               Susceptible 
             
             
               Botrytis fruit rot 
               Moderately susceptible 
               Moderately susceptible 
             
             
               Angular leaf spot 
               Moderately susceptible 
               Susceptible