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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #157971
Title: 'OVATION' STRAWBERRY

Author
item Lewers, Kimberly
item Enns, John
item Wang, Shiow
item Maas, John
item GALLETTA, G. - USDA/ARS RETIRED
item HOKANSON, S. - UNIV. OF MINNESOTA
item CLARK, J. - UNIV. OF ARKANSAS
item DEMCHAK, K. - PENN. STATE UNIV.
item FUNT, R. - OHIO STATE UNIV.
item NONNECKE, G. - IWOA STATE UNIV.
item PROBASCO, P. - RUTGERS COOP EXT.
item JELENKOVIC, G. - RUTGERS COOP EXT.
item GARRISON, S. - RUTGERS COOP EXT.
item Smith, Barbara
item SMITH, B. - UNIV. WISCONSIN
item WEBER, C. - CORNELL UNIV

Submitted to: HortScience
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/17/2004
Publication Date: 6/17/2004
Citation: Lewers, K.S., Enns, J.M., Wang, S.Y., Maas, J.L., Galletta, G.J., Hokanson, S.C., Clark, J.R., Demchak, K., Funt, R.C., Nonnecke, G.R., Probasco, P.R., Jelenkovic, G.L., Garrison, S.A., Smith, B.J., Smith, B.R., Weber, C.A. 2004. 'ovation' strawberry. Hortscience. 37:1785-1788

Interpretive Summary: Strawberry growers need varieties with superior yields and fruit quality that collectively provide a long growing season to attract and keep customers. Each year, cultivated varieties, breeding material, and wild germplasm are cross-pollinated to generate novel genetic combinations with an emphasis on productivity, quality, disease resistance and adaptation to the Mid-Atlantic and adjacent regions. The resulting strawberry seedlings are evaluated for fruit quality and disease resistance. Those that are selected are further evaluated in subsequent years with standard cultivars in two production systems, the plasticulture and the advanced matted-row systems. In the plasticulture production system in Maryland, the June-bearing strawberry selection B440 consistently yielded among the highest yielding selections and cultivars. In the advanced matted row system in Maryland, B440 fruit size and quality remained high while yields were average. Because of its exceptionally late fruiting season, outstanding plant and fruit characteristics, and disease resistance, B440 was released to nurseries and growers as the named variety 'Ovation'. Evaluation in the Mid-Atlantic and adjacent regions indicates that exceptionally late fruiting season and good quality berries make 'Ovation' a good season extender for strawberry growers even in locations and production systems where yield is just average.

Technical Abstract: 'Ovation', a June-bearing strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) cultivar, was introduced for propagation to nurseries in January 2003 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS). 'Ovation' was selected for its exceptionally late fruiting season, outstanding plant vigor and ease of propagation, attractive, symmetrical, large firm fruit with good color and flavor, resistance to red-stele root-rot disease (incited by Phytophthora fragariae var. fragariae), and moderate resistance to anthracnose fruit and crown rots (caused by Colletotrichum acutatum). In the plasticulture production system in Maryland, 'Ovation' was among the top-yielding selections and cultivars, yielding as well as 'Allstar'. In the advanced matted row system in Maryland, 'Ovation' fruit size and quality remained high while yields were average. Evaluation in other regions indicates that exceptionally late fruiting season and good quality fruits make 'Ovation' a good season extender even in locations and production systems where yield is just average. 'Ovation' is suggested for trial in the Mid-Atlantic, adjacent regions, and parts of the Midwest as a high-quality, large-fruited cultivar to extend growers' strawberry production into July. 'Ovation' was named, not only because the cultivar marks the end of strawberry production season in these regions, but also to honor the long and productive career of the late Dr. Gene Galletta.