New everbearing strawberry cultivar ‘Natsunoshizuku’

Abstract

‘Natsunoshizuku’ is a new strawberry cultivar (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.), that originated from a cross between ‘Miyazaki-natsuharuka’ and 06sAB-4e (‘Natsuakari’ × Morioka30) in 2011. This cultivar shows upright plant shape, is very vigorous, and produces many runners. ‘Natsunoshizuku’ is everbearing and can bear fruits in summer and autumn, which are off-crop season of strawberry in Japan. The marketable yield of the cultivar is more than other everbearing cultivars ‘Natsuakari’ and ‘Summer-berry’ and expected to exceed 3 t / 10a in regions with cool summers. The averaged marketable fruit weight throughout the harvest period is about the same as ‘Natsuakari’ and ‘Summer-berry’, around 10g. The shape, skin color and flesh color of its fruit is conical, medium red, and light red, respectively. Achenes are at the same level as the pericarp. Sticking out of achenes on the surface of a fruit, which often lowers the value of the fruit, is unlikely occur. Fruit firmness, which is relevant to ease of transportation and shelf life, is higher than ‘Natsuakari’ and ‘Summer-berry’, making it suitable for commercial use during summer and autumn. Both soluble solids and acidity of the fruit are high, making it suitable for cakes and other desserts.