Saint-Laurent d'Orléans

A new june bearing strawberry cultivar for Eastern Central Canada and climates similar to Quebec conditions

Additional index words: Fragaria  x ananassa, fruit breeding, storage, shelf life, antioxidant, June bearing
‘Saint-Laurent d’Orléans’ is a new June bearing strawberry cultivar (Fragaria X ananassa Duch.) released by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. ‘Saint-Laurent d’Orléans’ was named because it has large, very firm, light red (Royal Horticultural Society color chart 43 A or 44 A) shiny fruit, with excellent shelf life (Table 1) and resistance to leaf diseases. The selection was named after the village of St-Laurent d'Orléans, which is located at the south of l’ Île d'Orléans , Quebec . In this area the principal economy comes from agriculture, with a major emphasis on vegetable and strawberry production. This village is known as the capital of strawberry production in Quebec and is recognized for the high quality the fruit produced there.  
Origin
‘Saint-Laurent d’Orléans’, tested as FIO9624-11, is a selection from a cross between ‘L’Acadie‘ (Khanizadeh et al., 1999) and a selection (SJ8916-1 x Pink Panda), which was bred in 1996 by S. Khanizadeh. ‘Saint-Laurent d’Orléans’ has been tested at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada sub-station in L’Acadie, Quebec since 1997, and in controlled semi-commercial sites by our research partner Les Fraises de l’Île d’Orléans in Île d’Orléans, Québec and also by Meiosis Ltd. in Europe .
Description 
Plants of ‘Saint-Laurent d’Orléans’ are of medium vigor, have a flat globose growing habit, and produce 4-5 inflorescences per crown. Plants can survive winter air temperatures to –30 °C with 10 cm straw mulch cover. Petioles are short with three, medium green, cupped and obtuse leaflets, with slightly acute teeth. The terminal leaflets have a 1.25 length: width ratio. The leaves are medium to dark green with very weak to medium blistering between the veins. ‘Saint-Laurent d’Orléans’ produces perfect white medium- to large-sized flowers.  The five petals (occasionally six to seven) are touching and petals are slightly longer than wide. The fruit shape is conic or globose conic. The flesh is medium to dark red almost throughout and firm. Fresh fruit store well (up to 4-5 days) at room temperature and longer under refrigeration.
‘Saint-Laurent d’Orléans’ was tested in several locations but the data presented here are from the replicated trials (four replicates) in commercial fields (Les Fraises de l' Île d'Orléans Inc., St-Laurent, Île d'Orléans, Quebec ) since 1999.  ‘Saint-Laurent d’Orléans’ produces significantly higher yield and larger fruit size than ‘Kent’, the most popular variety in Quebec, and also outyields ‘Mira’, ‘Honeoye’, and ‘Annapolis’ (Table 1).

The fruit are also firmer, with lighter red skin color, and have longer shelf life at room temperature than ‘Kent’, ‘Mira’, and ‘Annapolis’. ‘Saint-Laurent d’Orléans’ is a late midseason cultivar with fifty percent of primary fruit ripe by early July in L’Acadie, Quebec .
‘Saint-Laurent d’Orléans’ demonstrates a higher degree of resistance to leaf diseases [scorch (Diplocarpon earlina Ell. & Ev.) and leaf spot (Mycosphaerella fragariae (Tul.) Lindau] compared with ‘Kent’ and has lower susceptibility to verticillium wilt (Verticillium albo-atrum Reinke & Berth.) when compared with ‘Jewel’ and ‘Seascape’, which ranked intermediate (field and in vitro data not shown).
Total antioxidant capacity of the fruit of ‘Saint-Laurent d’Orléans’, measured by 2,2’-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) cation radical-scavenging assay (Gao et al., 2000) showed high TEAC (Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity) levels in the crude and aqueous extract (242.5 and 248 µmol/mg, respectively), while the lipophilic extract (40.3 µmol/mg) showed the lowest capacity. The TEAC of all three extracts from ‘Saint-Laurent d’Orléans’ was higher than that reported for ‘Kent’ (Rekika, et. al. 2005). Relatively greater antioxidant levels (TEAC) and better shelf life were found in ‘Saint-Laurent d’Orléans’ fruit compared with ‘Kent’ (Rekika, et. al. 2005).
The phenolic compounds of various fruits have been widely shown to protect plant tissues against external stresses and contribute to disease resistance (Wang et al., 1994; Mayr et al., 1997; Kalt et al., 1999). These compounds may act as flavoring agents, colorants or antioxidants to extend shelf life and enhance preservation quality (Baldwin et al., 1995).
Area of adaptation and uses
‘Saint-Laurent d’Orléans’ is recommended for Eastern Central Canada, especially in areas where the climate is similar to that in the strawberry production areas of Quebec. Typically, strawberry production in Quebec occurs in areas with winter temperatures as low as –30 °C and warm, humid summers with an unpredictable mixture of sun and rain. ‘Saint-Laurent d’Orléans’ plant performance is good in both well-drained and poorly-drained soils regardless of soil texture. The fruit is ideal for pick-your-own, fresh market, or shipping.
Availability
Contact the licenced nurseries or the breeder.

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