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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Genetic Improvement for Fruits & Vegetables Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #408247
Research Project: Strawberry Crop Improvement through Breeding, Genetics, Genomics, and Molecular Biology

Location: Genetic Improvement for Fruits & Vegetables Laboratory

Title: ‘USDA Lumina’ strawberry

Author
item Lewers, Kimberly
item ENNS, JOHN - Retired ARS Employee

Submitted to: HortScience
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/30/2024
Publication Date: 12/3/2024
Citation: Lewers, K.S., Enns, J. 2024. ‘USDA Lumina’ strawberry. HortScience. 60(1):28–34. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI17508-23.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI17508-23

Interpretive Summary: Strawberries are the most valuable annual food crop a farmer can grow on an acre of land, and they are the fourth most popular fruit with consumers. Long shelf life, great flavor, and reduced pesticide residue are very important to farmers and consumers alike. We developed a new variety of strawberry, named ‘Lumina’. ‘Lumina’, an early-season, “short-day” strawberry, follows ‘Keepsake’, a mid-season strawberry, and 'Cordial', a late-season strawberry, as the third cultivar resulting from a USDA-ARS effort at Beltsville, MD, to develop strawberries with increased shelf life. 'Lumina', 'Keepsake' and 'Cordial' strawberries had similarly low proportions of rot and degradation after a week of refrigerated storage, compared with other cultivars and breeding selections. ‘Lumina’ is resistant to many diseases and does not generally need to be sprayed with pesticides to produce many large, attractive berries. The name, ‘Lumina’, is in reference to the brightness and glossiness of the fruit. ‘Lumina’ is expected to be adapted to the Mid-Atlantic and regions with similar climate. This research will benefit strawberry producers and consumers.

Technical Abstract: 'Lumina', an early-season, "short-day" strawberry follows 'Keepsake', a mid-season strawberry, and 'Cordial' a late-season strawberry, as the third cultivar resulting from a USDA-ARS effort at Beltsville, MD, to develop strawberries with increased shelf life. 'Lumina', 'Keepsake' and 'Cordial' strawberries had similarly low proportions of rot and degradation after a week of refrigerated storage, compared with other cultivars and breeding selections. 'Lumina' has consistently provided high yields for an early-season strawberry and low field rot with no fumigation or fungicides in annual plasticulture at Beltsville, MD. 'Lumina' strawberries are large, sweet, very attractive, and firm and tough enough for handling. The name, 'Lumina', is in reference to the exceptionally bright and glossy fruits. 'Lumina' is expected to be adapted to the Mid-Atlantic and regions with similar climate.