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'Sweet Charlie' Strawberry1
C. K. Chandler, E.E. Albregts, C.M. Howard, and J.K. Brecht2Introduction
'Sweet Charlie' strawberry (Fragaria xananassa) offers strawberry growers in Florida, and other areas with relatively mild winter climates, a short-day cultivar that is early fruiting and produces fruit that has a distinctively sweet flavor and is resistant to anthracnose (caused by Colletotrichum acutatum). Plants of 'Sweet Charlie' generally start producing ripe fruit about two weeks earlier than 'Camarosa', a University of California release, that is currently the standard, main-season cultivar in west central Florida. 'Sweet Charlie' was named in honor of the late Charles M. (Charlie) Howard, plant pathologist at the University of Floridas Gulf Coast Research and Education Center from 1967 to 1991.Origin
'Sweet Charlie' (tested as FL 85-4925) was selected in 1986 by C.M. Howard from a cross between FL 80-456 and 'Pajaro'. FL 80-456 was an anthracnose resistant clone selected by C.M. Howard in 1981. 'Pajaro' is a 1980 release from the University of California that produces firm, attractive, and flavorful fruit under west central Florida conditions, but is highly susceptible to anthracnose.Description
The size of 'Sweet Charlie' plants varies according to planting date, but they tend to be smaller and more compact than plants of 'Camarosa' planted on the same date (Fig. 1).
The recommended planting period for 'Sweet Charlie' in west central Florida is October 1 to October 15, while the recommended plant density is 17,424 to 21,780 plants/acre. Leaves are generally slightly cupped, medium to dark green, and semi-glossy. Primary fruit are usually wedge shaped; secondary and later fruit are conical to wedge shaped (Fig. 2).
CREDITS: C.K. Chandler 2000
Figure 1. 'Sweet Charlie' strawberry plant.
Average fruit weight is 17 g. External fruit color is orange red; internal color is orange streaked with white. The achenes are greenish yellow and slightly recessed. The calyx is large, with 1.5 to 2.5 cm long coarsely serrated lobes. Fruit of 'Sweet Charlie' is often sweet and flavorful due to a consistently low acid content. 'Sweet Charlie' has generally produced higher December and February fruit yields than other cultivars grown in west central Florida. Long distance shipment of its fruit during warm weather is not recommended because the fruit can have a relatively short shelf life.
CREDITS: C.K. Chandler 2000
Figure 2. 'Sweet Charlie' fruit. Disease Reactions
'Sweet Charlie' has shown no symptoms of anthracnose fruit rot in commercial Florida field situations where it has been grown adjacent to susceptible cultivars that are showing severe symptoms of this disease. 'Sweet Charlie' is, however, susceptible to Colletotrichum crown rot (caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides). Powdery mildew (Sphaerotheca macularis f.sp. fragariae) has not been a serious problem on 'Sweet Charlie'.Availability
The University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences obtained a U.S. plant patent (no. 8,729) on 'Sweet Charlie' in 1994. A list of nurseries licenced to propagate 'Sweet Charlie' can be found at http://strawberry.ifas.ufl.edu.
Footnotes
1. This document is HS820, one of a series of the Horticultural Sciences Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date October 2001.Reviewed May 2003. Visit the EDIS Web Site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.2. C.K. Chandler, associate professor, Gulf Coast Research and Education Center - Dover; E.E. Albregts, emeritus professor (deceased), Gulf Coast Research and Education Center - Dover; C.M. Howard, professor (deceased), Gulf Coast Research and Education Center - Dover; J.K. Brecht, associate professor, Horticultural Sciences Department, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, 32611.
The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Larry Arrington, Dean.
Copyright Information
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