Patent Publication Number: US-PP28724-P3

Title: Strawberry plant named ‘Taia’

Description:
Latin name of the genus and species:  Fragaria×ananassa.    
     Varietal denominations: ‘Taia’ (a.k.a. ‘108825’). 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry variety designated as ‘Taia’ (a.k.a. ‘108825’). 
     ‘Taia’ (a.k.a. ‘108825’) is the result of a controlled-cross between a female parent cultivar designated 106734 and a male parent cultivar designated 103474 (both unpatented, proprietary cultivars) made by the Inventor and was first fruited in Watsonville, Calif. growing fields. Following selection and during testing, the plant was originally designated ‘108825’ and subsequently named ‘Taia’. 
     This new variety was asexually reproduced via runners (stolons) by the inventor at Watsonville, Calif. Asexual propagules from the original source have been tested in Watsonville growing fields and to a limited extent, grower fields in high elevation. The properties of this variety were found to be transmissible by such asexual reproduction. This cultivar is stable and reproduces true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a new and distinctive strawberry cultivar designated as ‘Taia’. These cultivars are primarily adapted to the climate and growing conditions of the central coast of California. This region provides the necessary temperatures required for it to produce a strong vigorous plant and to remain in fruit production from March through October. The nearby Pacific Ocean provides the needed humidity and moderate day temperatures and evening chilling to maintain fruit quality for the production months. 
     The following traits and photographs in combination distinguish strawberry variety ‘Taia’ from known strawberry varieties. In addition, this new cultivar was confirmed to be a unique strawberry germplasm when tested against the California Seed &amp; Plant Lab, Inc. (Elverta, Calif.) database using Short Sequence Repeats (SSRs). Plants for the botanical measurements in the present application were grown as annuals. Any color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The fruit produced by this new cultivar is attractive and of excellent quality. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying color photographs depict various characteristics of the cultivars as nearly true as possible to make color reproductions. 
         FIG. 1  shows ‘Taia’ plants with ripe and near-ripe fruits. 
         FIG. 2  shows a close-up look of ‘Taia’ plants in the field with near-ripe fruits, showing the details of the flowers, leaves and petiole. 
         FIG. 3  shows ‘Taia’ plant leaves with petioles. 
         FIG. 4  shows a close-up look of a ‘Taia’ plant leaf. 
         FIG. 5  shows flower petals and sepals of ‘Taia’ plant. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     ‘Taia’ (a.k.a. ‘108825’) 
     This invention relates to a new and distinctive day-neutral type cultivar designated as ‘Taia’. It is primarily adapted to the climate and growing conditions of the central coast of California. This region provides the necessary temperatures required for it to produce a strong vigorous plant and to remain in fruit production from March through October. The nearby Pacific Ocean provides the needed humidity and moderate day temperatures and evening chilling to maintain fruit quality for the production months. 
     The following traits in combination distinguish strawberry variety ‘Taia’ from the known strawberry varieties. Plants for the botanical measurements in the present application were grown as annuals. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. 
     ‘Taia’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions, and the phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment. The following observations, measurements, and comparisons describe this plant as grown under normal conditions in Watsonville, Calif. unless otherwise noted. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Hybrid Patent Data Sheet 
               
               
                 (planted: October Year 1; measurement: November Year 2) 
               
               
                 ‘Taia’ (a.k.a. ‘108825’) 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                 Plant 
                   
               
               
                 Plant Growth Habit 
                 semi-upright 
               
               
                 Day length 
                 neutral 
               
               
                 Plant season 
                 fall 
               
               
                 Height (mm) 
                 370 
               
               
                 Diameter (mm) 
                 435 (the entire plant structure, including  
               
               
                   
                 the “superstructure” of petioles, leaves,  
               
               
                   
                 flowers) 
               
               
                   
                 70 (inner “base” or “heart” structure of  
               
               
                   
                 the plant, i.e. the mature apical and axial  
               
               
                   
                 crowns of the strawberry plant where  
               
               
                   
                 petioles, flowers and runners are attached) 
               
               
                 Density of foliage 
                 medium 
               
               
                 Average number of crowns 
                 3 
               
               
                 per mature plant 
                   
               
               
                 Plant vigor 
                 moderate 
               
               
                 Rain/weather tolerance 
                 moderate 
               
               
                 Harvest ease 
                 moderate 
               
               
                 Terminal Leaf 
                   
               
               
                 Length (mm) 
                 67 
               
               
                 Width (mm) 
                 84 
               
               
                 Terminal leaflet 
                 1.25 
               
               
                 length/width ratio 
                   
               
               
                 Blistering 
                 none 
               
               
                 No. teach/terminal leaflet 
                 26 
               
               
                 Shape of terminal leaflet 
                 obtuse 
               
               
                 base 
                   
               
               
                 Shape of terminal leaflet in 
                 concave 
               
               
                 cross-section 
                   
               
               
                 Margin description of the 
                 serrate to crenate 
               
               
                 terminal 
                   
               
               
                 Shape of teeth 
                 obtuse 
               
               
                 Color of upper side of 
                 137A 
               
               
                 leaves 
                   
               
               
                 Color of lower side of 
                 137C 
               
               
                 leaves 
                   
               
               
                 Leaf glossiness 
                 medium to weak 
               
               
                 presence or absence of any 
                 absence 
               
               
                 leaf variegation 
                   
               
               
                 Number of leaflets 
                 35 
               
               
                 Terminal leaflet margin 
                 revolute 
               
               
                 Terminal leaflet shape 
                 orbicular 
               
               
                 Terminal Leaflet shape of 
                 obtuse/conical 
               
               
                 apex 
                   
               
               
                 Petiole 
                   
               
               
                 Length (mm) 
                 355 
               
               
                 Width (mm) 
                 3.5 
               
               
                 Petiole pubescence 
                 medium 
               
               
                 Petiole pose of hairs 
                 outwards 
               
               
                 Petiole color 
                 145A 
               
               
                 Petiolule 
                   
               
               
                 Length (mm) 
                 21 
               
               
                 Width(mm) 
                 1.8 
               
               
                 Stolon 
                   
               
               
                 Count (mm) 
                 325 
               
               
                 Diameter (mm) 
                 5 
               
               
                 Stolon number 
                 12 
               
               
                 Description of any 
                 172A 
               
               
                 anthocyanin coloration 
                   
               
               
                 Density of pubescence on 
                 medium 
               
               
                 the stolon 
                   
               
               
                 Stolon thickness 
                 small 
               
               
                 Stolon pubescence 
                 medium 
               
               
                 Stolon color 
                 146C 
               
               
                 Inflorescence 
                   
               
               
                 Petal/flower 
                   
               
               
                 Corolla diameter (mm) 
                 22 
               
               
                 Calyx diameter (mm) 
                 26 
               
               
                 Color of calyx 
                 136A 
               
               
                 Pose of calyx segments 
                 reflexed 
               
               
                 Size of calyx in relation 
                 smaller 
               
               
                 to fruit 
                   
               
               
                 Position of calyx 
                 inserted 
               
               
                 attachment 
                   
               
               
                 Level of adherence of calyx 
                 Medium to high 
               
               
                 Petal length (mm) 
                 15 
               
               
                 Petal width (mm) 
                 16 
               
               
                 Petal length/width ratio 
                 0.938 
               
               
                 Petal shape 
                 orbicular 
               
               
                 Petal apex 
                 rounded 
               
               
                 Petal margin 
                 entire 
               
               
                 Petal base shape 
                 concave 
               
               
                 Petal spacing 
                 touching 
               
               
                 Petal number per flower 
                 5 
               
               
                 Upper petal color 
                 N999D 
               
               
                 Lower petal color 
                 155C 
               
               
                 Sepal length (mm) 
                 11 
               
               
                 Sepal width (mm) 
                 5 
               
               
                 Sepal number per flower 
                 12 
               
               
                 Sepal shape 
                 elliptical 
               
               
                 Sepal apex 
                 convex 
               
               
                 Sepal margin 
                 entire 
               
               
                 Peduncle size (cm) 
                 26.5 
               
               
                 Stipules length (mm) 
                 37 
               
               
                 Stipules width (mm) 
                 7 
               
               
                 Stipule pubescence 
                 medium 
               
               
                 Stipule anthocyanin 
                 absence 
               
               
                 Stipule color 
                 145B 
               
               
                 Inflorescence position  
                 even 
               
               
                 relative to foliage 
                   
               
               
                 flower arrangement of 
                 touching 
               
               
                 petals 
                   
               
               
                 Number of flowers per 
                 24 
               
               
                 plant 
                   
               
               
                 Flower size 
                 large 
               
               
                 Number of stamen 
                 30-35 
               
               
                 Receptacle color 
                 150B 
               
               
                 Anther color 
                 12A 
               
               
                 Fertility 
                 self-fertile 
               
               
                 Time of flowering 
                 March 
               
               
                 Fruit 
                   
               
               
                 Fruit/truss 
                 5 
               
               
                 Length (mm) 
                 44 
               
               
                 Width (mm) 
                 38 
               
               
                 Fruit length/width ratio 
                 1.1 
               
               
                 Core length (mm) 
                 35 
               
               
                 Core width (mm) 
                 14 
               
               
                 Fruiting truss length (mm) 
                 98 
               
               
                 Fruiting truss diameter 
                 2 
               
               
                 (mm) 
                   
               
               
                 Truss color 
                 145B 
               
               
                 Fruit skin color 
                 41A 
               
               
                 Fruit weight (g) 
                 26 
               
               
                 Relative fruit size 
                 large 
               
               
                 Predominant fruit shape 
                 conical 
               
               
                 Difference in shape 
                 none to very slight 
               
               
                 between 
                   
               
               
                 primary &amp; secondary fruits 
                   
               
               
                 Glossiness 
                 medium 
               
               
                 Position of achenes 
                 even 
               
               
                 Achene color 
                 145A 
               
               
                 Achenes per fruit 
                 127 
               
               
                 Achene weight (g) 
                 0.09 
               
               
                 Width of the band without 
                 low to medium 
               
               
                 achenes 
                   
               
               
                 Firmness of flesh 
                 medium to firm 
               
               
                 Color of flesh 
                 41A 
               
               
                 Time of fruit ripening 
                 April 
               
               
                 Harvest maturity (50% of 
                 early 
               
               
                 plants with ripe fruit) 
                   
               
               
                 Grams of fruit/plat 
                 662 
               
               
                 (during peak season, June) 
                   
               
               
                 Appearance Score (from 1- 
                 4 
               
               
                 5, with 5 = best) 
                   
               
               
                 Storage longevity (e.g., 10 
                 7 to 10 days 
               
               
                 days to 2 weeks) 
                   
               
               
                 Cull rate: Non salable fruit 
                 &lt;15% 
               
               
                 production rate 
                   
               
               
                 Disease and pest resistance 
                 not tested 
               
               
                 Acidity as measured by pH 
                 3.26 
               
               
                 Sweetness as measured by 
                 6.3 
               
               
                 brix 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     When ‘Taia’ is compared to the proprietary female parent, ‘Taia’ has a smaller calyx diameter and a smaller corolla diameter. In addition, the number of fruit per truss of ‘Taia’ is fewer than that of the female parent. 
     When ‘Taia’ is compared to the proprietary male parent, ‘Taia’ has a medium density of foliage, while the male parent has a high density of foliage. The plant vigor of ‘Taia’ is moderate, while the plant vigor of the male parent is high. The terminal leaflet margin of ‘Taia’ is revolute, while the terminal leaflet margin of the male parent is flat. 
     When ‘Taia’ is compared to ‘Seascape’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,614), the terminal leaf of ‘Taia’ has a serrate to crenate margin, while the terminal leaf of ‘Seascape’ has a crenate margin. The leaf glossiness of ‘Taia’ ranges from medium to weak, while the leaf glossiness of ‘Seascape’ is medium. The number of leaflets of ‘Taia’ is 35, while the number of leaflets of ‘Seascape’ is 49.