Harmonie

Strawberry

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Kent'

Summary: 'Harmonie' is a June-bearing strawberry variety with leaf blistering ranging from very weak to medium whereas it is very weak in 'Kent'. The fruit of 'Harmonie' are red and broader than they are long whereas the fruit of 'Kent' are light red and slightly longer than they are broad. 'Harmonie' flowers and produces fruit approximately one week later than 'Kent'. 'Harmonie' is moderately susceptible to leaf spot (Mycosphaerella fragariae (Tul.) Lindau) whereas 'Kent' is highly susceptible. 'Harmonie' is moderately susceptible to susceptible to leaf scorch (Diplocarpon earliana Ell. & Ev.) whereas 'Kent' is highly susceptible.

Description:

'Harmonie' is a June-bearing strawberry variety with early to mid-season flowering and harvest maturity. Plants are flat in growth habit with medium plant density and vigour. The leaves are medium to dark green on the upper side with very weak to medium blistering between the veins. There are three leaflets present with a cupped terminal leaflet which is slightly longer than it is broad. The base of the terminal leaflet is obtuse with acute to slightly obtuse margin teeth. The pubescence on the petiole is medium to dense with the hairs positioned outwards. 'Harmonie' produces a medium amount of stolons which are medium to thick.

'Harmonie' has small to medium-sized flowers which are positioned beneath to level with the foliage. The calyx is larger in diameter than the corolla and the inner calyx is slightly larger than the outer calyx. The flower petals are free to touching. The petal length/width ratio is as long as it is broad.

The fruiting truss is semi-erect and short to medium in length. The medium-sized fruit is broader than it is long. The fruit is globose-conical in shape with no or very slight differences between the shape of the primary and secondary fruits. The band without achenes on the fruit is narrow to medium in width with unevenness of the fruit surface ranging from smooth to weak to medium. The red fruit of 'Harmonie' is slightly uneven in colour with strong glossiness. The achenes are inserted below to level with the fruit surface. The calyx is set level with to slightly above the fruit and the calyx segments are clasping to very slightly reflexed. In relation to fruit diameter, the calyx is slightly smaller in diameter than the size of the fruit and adheres strongly to the fruit. The fruit flesh is medium firm to firm and is slightly uneven to even orange red in colour. The fruit has medium to strong sweetness, is slightly aromatic with medium acidity.

'Harmonie' is moderately susceptible to leaf spot (Mycosphaerella fragariae (Tul.) Lindau) and moderately susceptible to susceptible to leaf scorch (Diplocarpon earliana Ell. & Ev.).

Origin & Breeding History: 'Harmonie' originated from a controlled cross between varieties 'Yamaska' and 'Joliette'. The cross took place in 1993 at the Horticultural Research and Development Centre of the Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada Research Station in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec. 'Harmonie' has been tested at L'Acadie since 1994. Selection criteria included shelf life, yield, fruit size and colour and disease resistance. 'Harmonie' was tested under the experimental designation, 'APF9323-3'.

Tests & Trials: Tests and trials for 'Harmonie' were conducted in matted rows at the Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada experimental farm in L'Acadie, Quebec since 1994. A completely randomized design for four replicates (4 plots) was used to evaluate the selections. Each experimental unit was a 4-meter long plot, 50 cm wide. A representative 2 metre section of the plot was used for data collection. The remainder was used as guard row.