strawberry Variety
UC Surfline
The next-generation short-day—earlier, firmer, higher yielding than current industry standard (Fronteras)
NEW – Early season short-day variety that yields well into the season with excellent post-harvest qualities
UC Surfline consistently out-yields Fronteras showing an impressive mean 20 % increase in multi year trials. With 40 % greater fruit firmness under Oxnard and Santa María conditions (2020–2023) its performance is stunning. The mean total yield in Californian trials has proven consistently high at 52 t / ha vs Fronteras at 43 t / ha. Fruits maintain size and shape later in the season, and postharvest quality is markedly
improved. All this coupled with superior Fusarium and Phytophthora disease resistance while remaining adapted to production in Argentina’s short-day growing regions.
UC Surfline Key Features
Earlier and higher yielding
than benchmark Fronteras
Superior firmness
with strong postharvest life
Strong Disease resistance
to Fusarium and Phytophthora
High pack-out
with consistent fruit size through the season
UC Surfline is creating the most interest at this early stage as it is very early and will be well-positioned to compete with early varieties from other programmes. We are seeing great interest in the main short-day growing regions for early fruit production such as Spain, Morocco, Egypt and Australia, amongst others.
Rupert Hargreaves
“UC Surfline stands out as a highly competitive variety due to its strong resistance to important diseases such as Neopestalotiopsis, Fusarium, and Phytophthora. It also delivers excellent yields, making it a very attractive option for growers seeking both sustainability and productivity.”
Kelly Mendoza – Fresa Fortaleza, Master License Holder, Mexico
Comparative Results
Use the dropdown below to select a trait and compare performance across our strawberry varieties. Compare key commercial characteristics across our strawberry genetics, including disease resistance, yield performance, fruit firmness, fruit size, and market suitability.
Fusarium Wilt
UC Surfline
R (1.0)
UCD Warrior
MS (3)
UCD Victor
R (1)
UC Monarch
R (1.6)
Verticillium Wilt
UC Surfline
MR (1.5)
UCD Warrior
MR (2)
UCD Victor
MS (3)
UC Monarch
MR (2.6)
Phytophthora Crown Rot
UC Surfline
R (1.4)
UCD Warrior
R (1)
UCD Victor
MR (2)
UC Monarch
MR (2)
Macrophomina Phaseolina
UC Surfline
MS (3.1)
UCD Warrior
MR (2)
UCD Victor
MS (3)
UC Monarch
MS (3.1)
Fruit Firmness
UC Surfline
355 g-force
UCD Warrior
284 g-force
UCD Victor
423 g-force
UC Monarch
322.4 g-force
Fruit Size
UC Surfline
30 g avg
UCD Warrior
24g avg
UCD Victor
32.1g avg
UC Monarch
25.6 g avg
Brix
UC Surfline
7.4 °Bx
UCD Warrior
8.5 °Bx
UCD Victor
8.8 °Bx
UC Monarch
7.7 °Bx
Marketability
UC Surfline
86–97 %
UCD Warrior
80–95%
UCD Victor
high %
UC Monarch
80-88 %
Yield Potential*
UC Surfline
48-60 t/ha
UCD Warrior
40-52 t/ha
UCD Victor
44-56 t/ha
UC Monarch
40-50 t/ha
Key:
R – Resistant, S – Susceptible, MR – Moderate Resistance, MS – Moderate Susceptibility, ND – Not Determined
Scale: *ratings on a 1-5 scale
References
*UC Davis Strawberry Breeding Program (2015–2024). Multi-year trial data (Oxnard, Santa María, Watsonville
1. UC Davis Strawberry Breeding Program (2015–2024). Multi-year trial data (Oxnard, Santa María, Watsonville).
2. Cal Poly Strawberry Center Field Day Handout (Lompoc, May 2024), Tables 1–3.
3. HortScience 58(12): ‘UC Eclipse – A Summer-Plant Photoperiod-Insensitive Strawberry Cultivar’ (2023).
4. HortScience 60(6): ‘UC Surfline – A Short-Day Cultivar with High Early and Sustained Fruit Yields’ (2025).
5. UC Davis Variety Release Sheet: UCD Royal Royce (2019).
6. Coronda Berry Congress 2025 Presentations (Argentina): Slides pp. 5–6 (Royal Royce), pp. 9–10 (Surfline), pp. 13–15 (Eclipse).
7. UC Davis Office of Technology Transfer – Plant Licensing Program (2024).
8. Knapp S. J., Cole G., Brown A., Feldmann M. (2020–2024). UC Davis Strawberry Program Breeding Summaries.
9. Cal Poly and UC Davis joint field reports (2021–2023): Oxnard and Santa María yield summaries.
UC Surfline Enquiry
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