Narrative
The USDA, Agricultural Research Service, the Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station and the Washington Agricultural Research Center announce the naming and release of MARYS PEAK a high-yielding, large sized, late midseason ripening cultivar with excellent fresh and processed fruit quality. MARYS PEAK, a June-bearing strawberry (Fragaria ×ananassa Duch.), was tested as ORUS 2427-4 and was selected in 2002 from the cross ‘Pinnacle’ x ORUS 1723-3 (Firecracker x NW 90005-1). MARYS PEAK has been tested in multiple trials in Oregon as well as in Washington.In multiple trials in Oregon, MARYS PEAK had comparable or higher yields than ‘Totem’ and the yield was comparable to ‘Sweet Sunrise’ and ‘Tillamook’ and comparable or lower than ‘Charm’. In Washington, MARYS PEAK yielded less than ‘Charm’ but was comparable to other standard commercial cultivars in trial including ‘Totem’ and ‘Tillamook’. MARYS PEAK had large fruit that were usually significantly larger than those of ‘Totem’ and similar to ‘Tillamook’. In commercial fields, yield and fruit size for MARYS PEAK were considered to be commercially viable.MARYS PEAK has scored well in subjective evaluations of fresh fruit characteristics in the field, especially for firmness. The fruit were not as uniformly shaped as ‘Totem’, ‘Puget Reliance, ‘Charm’ or ‘Sweet Bliss, but they were comparable to ‘Tillamook’ and ‘Sweet Sunrise’ and nicer than ‘Hood’. In Oregon, fruit firmness of MARYS PEAK was similar to ‘Tillamook’ and greater than all other commercial cultivars in trial. In Washington, fruit firmness was evaluated using a penetrometer, and MARYS PEAK had the greatest firmness, significantly greater than ‘Hood’, in the first fruiting season (year 1), and in year 2 it was not as firm as ‘Tillamook’ but was better than ‘Puget Reliance’. The fruit had external and internal color comparable to ‘Hood’, ‘Puget Crimson’, ‘Sweet Sunrise’, and ‘Valley Red’ and was darker than ‘Charm’, ‘Totem’, or ‘Tillamook’. MARYS PEAK fruit cap well, comparable to ‘Hood’, ‘Sweet Sunrise’, ‘Totem’ and ‘Tillamook’ but not as easily as ‘Charm’, ‘Puget Crimson’ or ‘Valley Red’. MARYS PEAK was rated very good for flavor, comparable to most Northwest commercial cultivars, and better than ‘Valley Red’ or ‘Tillamook’. MARYS PEAK in Oregon is a late midseason cultivar ripening 2-4 days later than ‘Charm’, ‘Tillamook’ and ‘Totem’ and 14-15 days later than ‘Sweet Sunrise’. However in Washington, MARYS PEAK ripened with ‘Tillamook’, ‘Totem’ and 3-5 days later than ‘Sweet Sunrise’ and ‘Charm’. In evaluations of thawed frozen samples, MARYS PEAK was scored outstanding, comparable to ‘Totem’, Hood’ and ‘Puget Crimson’ and better than ‘Puget Reliance’, ’Sweet Bliss’ and ‘Valley Red’. Flavor of MARYS PEAK as a processed product was usually identified as very good and sweet. MARYS PEAK fruit had soluble solids levels higher than ‘Charm’, ‘Stolo’, ‘Sweet Bliss’, ‘Tillamook’, and ‘Valley Red’ but were not as sweet as ‘Benton’, ‘Hood’ or ‘Puget Crimson’. Fruit pH was around 3.4, which is comparable to most commercial cultivars but lower than ‘Hood’, ‘Stolo’, ‘Sweet Bliss’, and ‘Sweet Sunrise’. The titratable acidity was higher than for ‘Stolo’ and ‘Sweet Sunrise’, lower than for ‘Sweet Bliss’ and ‘Puget Crimson’, and comparable to ‘Tillamook’ and ‘Totem’. MARYS PEAK plants are vigorous with an open architecture that facilitates harvest. The plants are not as vigorous as ‘Charm’ or ‘Sweet Sunrise’, are comparable to ‘Totem’ and ‘Tillamook’, and are more vigorous than ‘Hood’. MARYS PEAK has held up well with good yields in the second harvest season and therefore plants are presumed to be relatively tolerant to viruses. Other than two spray applications during bloom to control botrytis fruit rot (Botrytis cinerea), the plantings in our trials received no pesticide applications. Under this spray program, MARYS PEAK did not show any particular susceptibility to pests and was less susceptible to fruit rot than most other cultivars. While there may be some genetic resistance, the lower susceptibility to fruit rot may be due to the open plant architecture and the later flowering and ripening times when the environmental conditions are less conducive to fungal infection and development. MARYS PEAK has US Plant Patent 29.370. When this germplasm contributes to the development of a new cultivar, hybrid, or germplasm, it is requested that appropriate recognition be given to the source. Further information or a list of nurseries propagating MARYS PEAK is available on written request to Chad Finn; USDA-ARS, Northwest Center for Small Fruit Research; Horticultural Crops Research Unit; 3420 NW Orchard Ave.; Corvallis, Oregon 97330. The USDA-ARS does not sell plants. In addition, genetic material of this release has been deposited in the National Plant Germplasm System where it will be available for research purposes, including development of new cultivars.