Patent Publication Number: US-PP30578-P2

Title: Strawberry plant named ‘Keepsake’

Description:
Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: ‘Keepsake’ is a new strawberry plant that is  Fragaria  x  ananassa  Duchesne ex Rozier. 
     Variety denomination: The new strawberry plant claimed is of the variety denominated ‘Keepsake’  Fragaria  x  ananassa  Duchesne ex Rozier. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT 
     The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry cultivar designated ‘Keepsake’ and botanically known as  Fragaria  x  ananassa  Duchesne ex Rozier. This new strawberry cultivar was discovered in Beltsville, Md., in Spring 2007 and originated from a cross between the female parent B1031 (unpatented) and the male parent B1181 (unpatented). The original seedling of the new cultivar was asexually propagated in Beltsville since 2007 by rooting daughter plants from stolons of a mother plant. The present invention has been found to be stable and reproduce true to type through successive asexual propagations rooting daughter plants from stolons. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS 
       This new strawberry plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs that show the flowers, fruit and entire plants; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. 
         FIG. 1  shows shows ‘Keepsake’ plants, with 30.5 cm spacing, in annual plasticulture. 
         FIG. 2  shows a single ‘Keepsake’ plant. 
         FIG. 3  shows a single ‘Keepsake’ flowering truss. 
         FIG. 4  shows typical ‘Keepsake’ detached flowers. 
         FIG. 5  shows typical ‘Keepsake’ fruit at various ripening stages. 
         FIG. 6  shows a container of ‘Keepsake’ fruit. 
         FIG. 7  shows typical halved ‘Keepsake’ fruits. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR 
     The following description of ‘Keepsake’ is based on observations taken from the 2008 through 2018 growing seasons in evaluations in Beltsville, Md. 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 on variation in environmental, seasonal, climatic, and cultural conditions. ‘Keepsake’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The botanical description of ‘Keepsake’ was taken from plants nine months after establishment in the field. Color terminology follows The Royal Horticultural Society Colour chart, London (RHS86). 
     DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION 
     Table 1 shows selected characteristics of the new cultivar compared with plant characteristics of ‘Flavorfest’, the closest comparable commercial cultivar. Characteristics include density of individual plant, anther count, pose of calyx segments, size of calyx in relation to fruit, difference in shape between primaries and secondaries, and sweetness. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Characteristic 
                 ‘Keepsake’ 
                 ‘Flavorfest’ 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 Density of individual plant 
                 Medium 
                 Medium to dense 
               
               
                 Anther count 
                 19.2 
                 24.6 
               
               
                 Pose of calyx segments 
                 Reflexed to 
                 Spreading to 
               
               
                   
                 spreading 
                 clasping 
               
               
                 Size of calyx in relation to fruit 
                 Larger 
                 Slightly smaller 
               
               
                 Difference in shape between 
                 Moderate 
                 Significant; 
               
               
                 primary and secondary fruits 
                   
                 depressed oblate 
               
               
                   
                   
                 primary fruits 
               
               
                 Sweetness of fruit 
                 Very sweet 
                 Sweet 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Table 2 shows plant characteristics of the new cultivar compared with plant characteristics of ‘Flavorfest’. Plant characteristics include plant height, diameter, number of crowns per plant, habit, and vigor. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Characteristic 
                 ‘Keepsake’ 
                 ‘Flavorfest’ 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 Plant height (cm) 
                 39.1 
                 41.7 
               
               
                 Plant diameter (cm) 
                 45.7 
                 61.5 
               
               
                 Number of crowns plant 
                 4.6, 4 to 5 
                 4.6, 3 to 6 
               
               
                 Habit 
                 Upright open 
                 Upright open 
               
               
                   
                 globose 
                 globose 
               
               
                 Vigor 
                 Medium to strong 
                 Strong 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Table 3 shows leaf characteristics of the new cultivar compared with leaf characteristics of ‘Flavorfest’. 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 3 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Characteristic 
                 ‘Keepsake’ 
                 ‘Flavorfest’ 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 Leaf type 
                 Semi-evergreen 
                 Semi-evergreen 
               
               
                 Leaf shape 
                 Trifoliolate with 
                 Trifoliolate with 
               
               
                   
                 ovate leaflets 
                 ovate leaflets 
               
               
                   
                 touching to 
                 overlapping 
               
               
                   
                 overlapping 
                   
               
               
                 Leaf length (cm) 
                 12.7 
                 14.3 
               
               
                 Leaf width (cm) 
                 15.6 
                 17.6 
               
               
                 Terminal leaflet length (cm) 
                 10.2 
                 10.5 
               
               
                 Terminal leaflet width (cm) 
                 8.6 
                 8.9 
               
               
                 Terminal leaflet length 
                 1.2 
                 1.2 
               
               
                 width ratio 
                   
                   
               
               
                 Leaf margins 
                 Serrate 
                 Serrate 
               
               
                 Shape of teeth 
                 Apiculate 
                 Apiculate 
               
               
                 Leaf serrations per leaflet 
                 27.2 
                 24.6 
               
               
                 Color mature leaves 
                 Green Group 137C 
                 Green Group 137C 
               
               
                 lower surface 
                   
                   
               
               
                 Color mature leaves 
                 Green Group 137A 
                 Green Group 137A 
               
               
                 upper surface 
                   
                   
               
               
                 Number of leaflets 
                 3 
                 3 to 4, mostly 3 
               
               
                 Terminal leaflet apex shape 
                 Obtuse 
                 Obtuse 
               
               
                 Terminal leaflet base shape 
                 Acute cuneate 
                 Acute cuneate 
               
               
                 Glossiness upper side 
                 Semi-gloss 
                 Semi-gloss 
               
               
                 leaf surface 
                   
                   
               
               
                 Texture upper side 
                 Very slightly rugose 
                 Very slightly rugose 
               
               
                 leaf surface 
                   
                   
               
               
                 Texture underside 
                 Very slightly 
                 Very slightly 
               
               
                 leaf surface 
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 reticulate 
                 reticulate 
               
               
                 Leaf arrangement 
                 Individual trifoliate 
                 Individual trifoliate 
               
               
                   
                 leaves attached to 
                 leaves attached to 
               
               
                   
                 compressed stem 
                 compressed stem 
               
               
                   
                 (crown) a ground 
                 (crown) at ground 
               
               
                   
                 level 
                 level 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Table 4 shows information about the petiole, the petiolule, the bract and the stipule of the new cultivar compared to ‘Flavorfest’. This includes petiole length, petiole diameter, petiole pubescence, petiole color, petiolule color, petiolule length, bract frequency, texture petiole, stipule length, and stipule width. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                 TABLE 4 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Characteristic 
                 ‘Keepsake’ 
                 ‘Flavorfest’ 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                 Leaf petiole length (cm) 
                 27.3 
                 31.9 
               
               
                   
                 Petiole diameter (cm) 
                 0.5 
                 0.5 
               
               
                   
                 Petiole pubescence 
                 Very sparse 
                 Sparse 
               
               
                   
                 Petiole color 
                 Yellow Green 
                 Yellow Green 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Group 144B 
                 Group 144A 
               
               
                   
                 Petiolule color 
                 Yellow Green 
                 Yellow Green 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Group 144B 
                 Group 144A 
               
               
                   
                 Petiolule length (cm) 
                 0.8 
                 0.6 
               
               
                   
                 Bract frequency 
                 1 to 2 per 
                 1 to 2 per 
               
               
                   
                   
                 florescence, 
                 florescence, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 generally unifoliate 
                 unifoliate and 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 trifoliate 
               
               
                   
                 Texture petiole 
                 Smooth 
                 Smooth 
               
               
                   
                 Stipule length (cm) 
                 2.0 
                 1.9 
               
               
                   
                 Stipule width (cm) 
                 0.6 
                 0.6 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Table 5 shows stolon characteristics of the new cultivar compared to ‘Flavorfest’. 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 5 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Characteristic 
                 ‘Keepsake’ 
                 ‘Flavorfest’ 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                 Stolon production 
                 10 
                 8 
               
               
                   
                 Stolon anthocyanin 
                 Medium 
                 Medium 
               
               
                   
                 Stolon thickness (cm) 
                 0.3 
                 0.3 
               
               
                   
                 Stolon pubescence 
                 Sparse 
                 Sparse 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Table 6 shows inflorescence characteristics of the new cultivar compared to ‘Flavorfest’. These characteristics include inflorescence position relative to foliage, flower type, flower size, petal shape, relative petal spacing, petal apex shape, petal margin, petal base shape, petal length, petal width, petal length/width ratio, number of petals, petal color, stigma color, style color, anther color, filament color, and flower truss type. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                 TABLE 6 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Characteristic 
                 ‘Keepsake’ 
                 ‘Flavorfest’ 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 Inflorescence position 
                 Slightly below 
                 Slightly below 
               
               
                   
                 canopy 
                 canopy 
               
               
                 Flower type 
                 Complete simple 
                 Complete simple 
               
               
                 Flower diameter (cm) 
                 2.14 
                 2.58 
               
               
                 Petal shape 
                 Circular to obovate 
                 Circular to obovate 
               
               
                 Petal spacing 
                 Overlapping 
                 Separate to 
               
               
                 overlapping 
                   
                   
               
               
                 Petal apex shape 
                 Circular 
                 Circular 
               
               
                 Petal margin 
                 Entire 
                 Entire 
               
               
                 Petal base shape 
                 Obovate 
                 Obovate 
               
               
                 Petal length (cm) 
                 0.96 
                 1.05 
               
               
                 Petal width (cm) 
                 1.05 
                 0.99 
               
               
                 Petal length/width ratio 
                 0.92 
                 1.07 
               
               
                 Petal count 
                 5.16 
                 5.33 
               
               
                 Petal color 
                 White Group 155D 
                 White Group 155D 
               
               
                 Stigma color 
                 Yellow-Green 
                 Yellow-Green 
               
               
                   
                 Group 150B 
                 Group 153D 
               
               
                 Style color 
                 Yellow-Green 
                 Yellow-Green 
               
               
                   
                 Group 150A 
                 Group 150B 
               
               
                 Anther color 
                 Yellow-Orange 
                 Yellow-Orange 
               
               
                   
                 Group 20A 
                 Group 18A 
               
               
                 Anther count 
                 19.2 
                 24.6 
               
               
                 Filament color 
                 Yellow-Green 
                 Yellow-Green 
               
               
                   
                 Group 150B 
                 Group 154D 
               
               
                 Blooming habit 
                 Cyme 
                 Cyme 
               
               
                 Anther number 
                 19.2 
                 24.6 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Table 7 shows fruit characteristics of the new cultivar compared to ‘Flavorfest’. 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. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                 TABLE 7 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Characteristic 
                 ‘Keepsake’ 
                 ‘Flavorfest’ 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 Number of berries per 
                 7.0 
                 10.6 
               
               
                 fruiting truss 
                   
                   
               
               
                 Fruiting truss attitude 
                 Prostrate 
                 Prostrate 
               
               
                 Diameter fruit (cm) 
                 4.6 
                 4.3 
               
               
                 Length fruit (cm) 
                 4.0 
                 3.6 
               
               
                 Ratio fruit length/width 
                 0.9 to 1.1 
                 0.8 to 0.9 
               
               
                 Weight fruit (g) 
                 13.8 
                 14.8 
               
               
                 Relative fruit size 
                 Medium to large 
                 Medium to large 
               
               
                 Predominant fruit shape 
                 Conic to oblate 
                 Conic to oblate 
               
               
                 Difference in shape between 
                 Moderate 
                 Significant; 
               
               
                 primary and secondary fruits 
                   
                 depressed oblate 
               
               
                   
                   
                 primary fruits 
               
               
                 Band without achenes 
                 Narrow 
                 Absent to narrow 
               
               
                 Evenness of fruit surface 
                 Very even 
                 Even 
               
               
                 Color of top of fruit 
                 Red Group 45A 
                 Red Group 46A 
               
               
                 Non-blush side color 
                 Red Group 44A, 
                 Red Group 45A, 
               
               
                   
                 45A 
                 46A 
               
               
                 Blush side color 
                 Red Group 44A, 
                 Red Group 45A, 
               
               
                   
                 45A, 46A 
                 46A 
               
               
                 Internal flesh color 
                 Orange-Red Group 
                 Orange-Red Group 
               
               
                   
                 33A, White 155D 
                 33A, White 155D 
               
               
                 Achenecolor 
                 Yellow-Green 
                 Yellow-Green 
               
               
                   
                 Group 151B, Red 
                 Group 153C, Red 
               
               
                   
                 Group 45A 
                 Group 46A 
               
               
                 Achene count 
                 206 
                 312 
               
               
                 Insertion of calyx 
                 Slight 
                 Slight, more 
               
               
                   
                   
                 depressed on 
               
               
                   
                   
                 primaries 
               
               
                 Pose of calyx segments 
                 Reflexed to 
                 Spreading to 
               
               
                   
                 spreading 
                 clasping 
               
               
                 Size of calyx in relation to fruit 
                 Larger 
                 Slightly smaller 
               
               
                 Ease of calyx removal 
                 Difficult 
                 Difficult 
               
               
                 Firmness of flesh 
                 Medium to firm 
                 Medium to firm 
               
               
                 Evenness of flesh color 
                 Not even 
                 Not even 
               
               
                 Distribution of flesh color 
                 Orange-red heart, 
                 Orange-red heart, 
               
               
                   
                 white ring, orange 
                 white ring, orange 
               
               
                   
                 red exterior 
                 red exterior 
               
               
                 Sweetness 
                 Very sweet 
                 Sweet 
               
               
                 Acidity 
                 Medium to mild 
                 Medium 
               
               
                 Brix (percent soluble solids) 
                 9.0 
                 8.0 
               
               
                 pH 
                 3.8 
                 3.8 
               
               
                 Texture when tasted 
                 Fine and juicy 
                 Fine and juicy 
               
               
                 Time of flowering 
                 April to May 
                 April to May 
               
               
                 Harvest maturity 
                 Late May to early 
                 Late May to early 
               
               
                 (50% of plant with ripe fruit) 
                 June 
                 June 
               
               
                 Type of bearing 
                 Short Day/June 
                 Short Day/June 
               
               
                   
                 Bearing 
                 Bearing 
               
               
                 Yield (kg/plant) 
                 0.57 
                 0.90 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL CULTIVARS 
     When ‘Keepsake’ is compared to female parent, B1031 (unpatented), a full sibling of ‘Flavorfest’ (unpatented), the fruits are more uniform in shape. When ‘Keepsake’ is compared to male parent, B1181 (unpatented), the plants are more resistant to foliar diseases.