A new folic acid-rich strawberry variety Jingxiang No. 2

Jingxiang No. 2 is a new strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) variety developed by crossing Benihoppe and 06-54-6. In January 2013, 2000 hybrid seeds were obtained through artificial hybridization and stored at 4 ℃. Next September, 860 hybrid seedlings were raised and transplanted to the Strawberry Hybridization Greenhouse at the Yujiawu Breeding Base of Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences. From 2016 to 2022, successive selfing and regional adaptability trials were conducted in Haidian, Tongzhou, and Changping districts of Beijing, as well as Chengde and Fuyang cities. Line 13-27-24 was finally selected, named Jingxiang No. 2 in 2022, and certified by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People's Republic of China in November 2025. Its Plant Variety Right Number is CNA20231010573. The plant exhibits strong growth vigor, with a plant height of 25.3 cm and a crown diameter of 30.6 cm × 29.4 cm. It has a semi-spreading growth habit, with obovate green leaves (0.53 mm thick) that are flat-surfaced, featuring acute serrated margins. The leaf surface is leathery, smooth, and glossy, with petioles 14.6 cm in length; each plant bears an average of 9.6 leaves. The plant shows strong inflorescence emergence capacity, producing branched inflorescences that are level with or slightly lower than the leaf surface. The flowers are hermaphroditic with white petals. The fruit is uniformly conical, with an orange-red peel and orange-yellow flesh. The average fruit weight is 22.1 g (maximum up to 41.5 g), with a strong aroma and excellent flavor. Key fruit quality indices are as follows: soluble solids content ranges from 11.0% to 14.8%, fructose content is 23.29 mg·g-1 , glucose content is 14.84 mg·g-1 , citric acid content is 8.34 mg·g-1 , L-malic acid content is 0.35 mg·g-1 , D-malic acid content is 0.5 mg·g-1 , folic acid content is 53.7 μg·100 g-1 , and fruit firmness is 1.27 kg·cm-2 . Jingxiang No. 2 is a high-quality strawberry variety rich in folate, suitable for greenhouse forcing cultivation. Under greenhouse cultivation in Beijing, it ripens in mid-December, with high fruit quality ideal for fresh consumption. The plant grows vigorously, with strong disease resistance, abundant runners, and high propagation efficiency. In northern strawberry demonstration parks, when Jingxiang No. 2 and Benihoppe are planted under the same conditions, Jingxiang No. 2 demonstrates stronger resistance to strawberry powdery mildew, fusarium wilt, anthracnose, and gray mold than Benihoppe. Based on the varietal characteristics of Jingxiang No. 2, the key production practices are cultivating robust seedlings, balanced fertilization, and appropriate fruit thinning. Due to its unique flavor, sufficient fertilizer supply must be guaranteed for Jingxiang No. 2, with base fertilizer dominated by organic fertilizer. According to the plant growth vigor and flower-fruit load, higher-order flowers and fruits can be appropriately removed to maintain the balance between vegetative growth and fruiting. For pest and disease management, low-toxicity, low-residue, and high-safety pesticides are preferred; after flowering, physical and biological control should be the primary approaches.