Portola

Strawberry

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Albion', 'Diamante', 'Monterey' and 'San Andreas'

Summary: 'Portola' differs from the reference varieties, 'Albion', 'Diamante', 'Monterey' and 'San Andreas', mainly in leaf blistering, number of leaflets, petiole pubescence, stolon anthocyanin colouration, stolon thickness, position of the inflorescence in relation to the foliage, flower size, petal spacing, attitude of the fruiting truss at first picking, fruit size and band without achenes. Leaf blistering of 'Portola' is very strong whereas it is strong on 'Albion' and 'Monterey', weak to medium in 'Diamante' and medium to strong on 'San Andreas'. 'Portola' has more than three leaflets on up to five out of ten leaves whereas the reference varieties all have three leaflets only. The density of pubescence on the petiole of 'Portola' is medium whereas it is dense to very dense on 'Albion' and 'Diamante', dense on 'Monterey' and very dense on 'San Andreas'. The intensity of anthocyanin colouration on the stolons of 'Portola' is medium to strong whereas it is very weak on 'Albion' and 'Diamante' and weak on 'Monterey'. The stolons of 'Portola' are medium in thickness whereas they are thick on all of the reference varieties. The inflorescence of 'Portola' is positioned well above the foliage whereas it is level with the foliage on 'Diamante' and 'Monterey' and slightly above the foliage on 'Albion'. The flowers of 'Portola' are small to medium in size whereas they are medium to large on 'Albion', 'Diamante' and 'Monterey' and large on 'San Andreas'. The petals of 'Portola' are touching to overlapping whereas they are free on 'Albion' and free to touching on 'Monterey'. The attitude of the fruiting truss at first picking of 'Portola' is erect whereas it is semi-erect on 'Diamante' and 'Monterey', and semi-erect to prostrate on 'San Andreas'. The fruit of 'Portola' is medium-sized whereas it is large to very large in 'Albion' and 'San Andreas' and large in 'Diamante'. The band without achenes on 'Portola' is very narrow whereas it is medium on 'Albion' and 'San Andreas'.

Description:

PLANT: upright growth habit, medium to dense, medium vigour, fully everbearing

LEAF: medium green on upper side, slightly convex to convex in profile, very strong interveinal blistering, more than three leaflets per leaf
TERMINAL LEAFLET: cupped profile, as long as broad length/width ratio, moderately oblique base, acute shape of teeth
PETIOLE: medium density of pubescence, hairs pointing outwards, weak anthocyanin colouration of stipules

STOLON: few in number, medium to strong anthocyanin colouration, medium thickness, sparse pubescence

FLOWERING: early
INFLORESCENCE: positioned well above foliage
FLOWER: small to medium sized, calyx diameter smaller to the same size as the corolla, inner calyx diameter smaller to the same size as the outer calyx
PETALS: touching to overlapping, broader than they are long

FRUITING TRUSS: erect attitude at first picking, very long
FRUIT: longer than they are broad, medium sized, wedged, slight difference in shape between primary and secondary fruit, very narrow band without achenes
FRUIT SURFACE: strong to very strong uneveness of surface, orange, very even colour, strong glossiness
ACHENES: insertion level with surface of fruit
CALYX: insertion set level with fruit , reflexed pose of segments, larger than fruit diameter, medium adherence to fruit
FRUIT FLESH: firm, orange red, slightly uneven colour, medium sweetness, fine texture when tasted, strong acidity
FRUIT HARVEST: early

REACTION TO PESTS: susceptible to highly susceptible to Aphis spp., susceptible to Lygus lineolaris (tarnished plant bug)
REACTION TO DISEASES: moderately susceptible to Botrytis fruit rot, moderately resistant to powdery mildew, susceptible to leaf blight and moderately susceptible to viral diseases

Origin & Breeding History: 'Portola' arose as the result of a cross between the advance selections, 'Cal 97.93-7' and 'Cal 97.209-1' conducted in 2001. 'Portola' first fruited in 2002 at the University of California Wolfskill Experimental Orchard, near Winters, California. It was selected, originally designated Cal 1.206-5 and was asexually propagated by runners. Following selection and throughout testing, the variety was designated 'CN224'.

Tests & Trials: The tests and trials for 'Portola' were conducted at Krause Berry Farms, Aldergrove, British Columbia during the summer of 2008. The trials consisted of two replications of 40 plants per variety, with a plant spacing of 30 cm and a row spacing of approximately 1.07 metres.

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Strawberry: 'Portola' (centre, right) with reference varieties 'Albion' (left), 'Diamante' (centre, left), 'Monterey' (centre) and 'San Andreas' (right)

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Strawberry: 'Portola' (top centre) with reference varieties 'Monterey' (top left), 'San Andreas' (top right), 'Albion' (bottom left) and 'Diamante' (bottom right)