‘ c216 ’ as other short - day strawberry cultivars produces fruit over an extended period when treated appropriately in arid , subtropical climates . the production pattern for ‘ c216 ’ is similar to that of the ‘ camarosa ’ cultivar ( u . s . plant pat . no . 8 , 708 ). it initiates fruiting at approximately the same time as the ‘ camarosa ’ cultivar and produces greater quantities of early - season fruit with most cultural treatments . ‘ c216 ’ will be of special interest for winter plantings where the ‘ camarosa ’ cultivar has been successful , and in summer plantings where the ‘ pajaro ’ cultivar ( u . s . plant pat . no . 4 , 538 ) and the ‘ chandler ’ cultivar ( u . s . plant pat . no . 5 , 262 ) have been successful . fruiting plants of ‘ c216 ’ are large and vigorous , similar to those of the ‘ camarosa ’ cultivar , but more open than plants of the ‘ camarosa ’ cultivar . ‘ c216 ’ plants are larger and somewhat less erect than plants of the ‘ gaviota ’ cultivar ( u . s . plant pat . no . 10 , 461 ). comparative statistics for foliar characters near mid - season are given for the three cultivars in table 1 that follows . individual leaflets for ‘ c216 ’ are similar to those of the ‘ gaviota ’ cultivar , and are somewhat more rounded than the leaflets of the ‘ camarosa ’ cultivar . the leaves ( including petioles ) are longer and more narrow than those of the ‘ gaviota ’ cultivar . the leaves are similar in size to those of the ‘ camarosa ’ cultivar . the petioles are similar in thickness to those of the ‘ camarosa ’ cultivar . ‘ c216 ’ has a more concave leaf form than the ‘ gaviota ’ and ‘ camarosa ’ cultivars , and has more serrations and lighter leaf pubescence than the comparison cultivars . the adaxial ( upper ) surfaces of leaves of ‘ c216 ’ are lighter in color than those of the ‘ gaviota ’ cultivar and similar to those of the ‘ camarosa ’ cultivar although they occasionally are more yellow . see table 2 that follows . ‘ c216 ’ has been classified for three isozyme systems using starch gel electrophoresis : phosophoglucoisomerase ( pgi ), leucine aminopeptidase ( lap ), and phosphoglucomutase ( pgm ). it is distinguishable from the ‘ gaviota ’ and ‘ camarosa ’ cultivars using this methodology . see table 3 that follows . ‘ c216 ’ is moderately susceptible to common leaf spot ( ramularia tulasnei ) and verticillium wilt ( verticillium dahliae ). it is quite resistant to phytophthora crown rot ( phytophthora cactorum ), and relatively resistant to powdery mildew ( sphaerotheca macularis ). when treated properly , it has tolerance to two - spotted spidermites ( tetranychus urticae ) equal or greater to that of the ‘ gaviota ’ and ‘ camarosa ’ cultivars . ‘ c216 ’ is tolerant to strawberry viruses encountered in california . comparative statistics for flower and fruit characters near mid - season are given for ‘ camarosa ’, ‘ gaviota ’ and ‘ c216 ’ in table 4 that follows . the primary flowers for ‘ c216 ’ are similar in size to those of the ‘ gaviota ’ and ‘ camarosa ’ cultivars although somewhat smaller in late spring . the sepals are somewhat smaller than those of the ‘ gaviota ’ or ‘ camarosa ’ cultivars . the calyx for ‘ c216 ’ varies from even with the fruit shoulder to slightly necked , and each primary flower has 6 to 8 petals . the fruit shape for ‘ c216 ’ is typically symmetrical conic , and is readily distinguishable from that of the ‘ camarosa ’ cultivar that is shortened flat conic . ‘ c216 ’ has a greater proportion of symmetrical fruit than the ‘ gaviota ’ cultivar . achenes vary from yellow to dark red , and are substantially even with the fruit surface or slightly indented . external and internal fruit color for ‘ c216 ’ is lighter than that of the ‘ camarosa ’ and ‘ gaviota ’ cultivars , and is substantially brighter in coloration . see table 5 that follows where cielab fruit color information is presented . ‘ c216 ’ has been tested under a variety of cultural regimes , and optimal performance is obtained when nursery treatments and nutritional programs similar to those used with the ‘ camarosa ’ cultivar are employed . when following appropriate planting regimes , ‘ c216 ’ has similar fruit size and produces greater individual - plant yields than the ‘ gaviota ’ or ‘ camarosa ’ cultivars . in general , ‘ c216 ’ is well adapted to very early season planting . ‘ c216 ’ is earlier in its production pattern than the ‘ gaviota ’ cultivar and similar to that of the ‘ camarosa ’ cultivar , but with substantially greater production of early - season fruit ( with conventional winter planting in southern or central california ). commercial appearance ratings have been better than those of the ‘ camarosa ’ cultivar and trials conducted in santa maria , calif ., u . s . a . in 1999 to 2000 have indicated that the fraction of non - marketable fruit that is less than one - half that produced by the ‘ camarosa ’ cultivar . fruit for ‘ c216 ’ is slightly firmer than fruit of the ‘ gaviota ’ cultivar , and slightly less firm than that of the ‘ camarosa ’ cultivar . subjectively , ‘ c216 ’ has very good flavor . the fruit will be outstanding for both fresh market and processing , and will be useful for home garden purposes . see the comparative data presented in table 6 that follows . there information is provided for plants that were evaluated during 1999 and 2000 at the south coast research and extension center of the university of california near irvine , calif ., u . s . a . such plants had been asexually reproduced by the use of runners at macdoel , calif ., u . s . a ., were harvested on october 1 st to 3 rd , and were transplanted approximately 2 to 4 days after harvest . the test planting consisted of 64 inch four - row beds , 21 , 780 plants / acre . harvest was initiated in late december and continued through the last week of june .
a new and distinct short - day strawberry cultivar is provided . attractive pointed symmetrical - conic bright light red fruit of good quality typically is formed in a good yield . the fruit flavor is good and the fraction of non - marketable fruit tends to be low . the growth habit is large , erect , and open . flat to very concave leaflets having semi - pointed to pointed serrations are formed .