Cos for mechanical harvest

Abstract

The present invention relates to a Lactuca sativa L. var. longifolia Lam seed which has a solid main vein and narrow base leaves, dark green outer leaves, short core, absence of fringe burn, and absence of tipburn. A specific embodiment is designated 41-69 RZ, referred to as Actarus. The present invention also relates to a Lactuca sativa L. var. longifolia Lam plant produced by growing the “41-69 RZ” (“Actarus”) seed. The invention further relates to methods for producing the lettuce cultivar, represented by lettuce variety 41-69 RZ.

1 - 62 . (canceled) 
     
     
         63 . A lettuce plant of the romaine or cos type, i.e.  Lactuca sativa  L. var.  longifolia  Lam capable of being mechanically harvested, wherein said plant has leaves with a solid main vein and narrow base leaves, a representative sample of seed of which having been deposited under NCIMB No 41440. 
     
     
         64 . A seed of the plant of  claim 63 . 
     
     
         65 . Parts of the plant of  claim 63  that are suitable for sexual reproduction. 
     
     
         66 . Parts as claimed in  claim 65 , selected from the group consisting of microspores, pollen, ovaries, ovules, embryo sacs, egg cells. 
     
     
         67 . Parts of the plant of  claim 63  that are suitable for vegetative reproduction. 
     
     
         68 . Parts as claimed in  claim 67  selected from cuttings, roots, stems, cells, protoplasts. 
     
     
         69 . Tissue culture of a lettuce plant of  claim 63 . 
     
     
         70 . Tissue culture as claimed in  claim 69 , which is derived from leaves, pollen, embryos, cotyledon, hypocotyls, meristematic cells, roots, root tips, anthers, flowers, seeds and stems. 
     
     
         71 . Progeny of a lettuce plant of  claim 63  capable of being mechanically harvested, having a solid main vein and narrow base leaves. 
     
     
         72 . Progeny of a lettuce plant of  claim 63 , wherein the plant is of the romaine or cos type, i.e.  Lactuca sativa  L. var.  longifolia  Lam, and has leaves with a solid main vein and narrow base leaves and is modified in one or more other characteristics. 
     
     
         73 . Progeny as claimed in  claim 72 , wherein the modification is effected by mutagenesis. 
     
     
         74 . Progeny as claimed in  claim 72 , wherein the modification is effected by transformation with a transgene. 
     
     
         75 . A method of producing a hybrid lettuce seed comprising crossing a first parent lettuce plant with a second parent lettuce plant and harvesting the resultant hybrid lettuce seed, wherein said first parent lettuce plant or said second parent lettuce plant is the lettuce plant of  claim 63 . 
     
     
         76 . A method of producing a lettuce cultivar of the romaine or cos type, i.e.  Lactuca sativa  L. var.  longifolia  Lam capable of being mechanically harvested, having leaves with a solid main vein and narrow base leaves comprising: (a) crossing a mother lettuce plant with a father lettuce plant to produce a hybrid seed; (b) growing said hybrid seed to produce a hybrid plant; (c) selfing said hybrid seed to produce F2 progeny seed; (d) growing F2 progeny seed into F2 plants; (e) selecting said F2 plants for having leaves with a solid main vein and narrow base leaves; (f) selfing said F2-plants to produce F3 families; (g) selecting said F3 families for having leaves with a solid main vein and narrow base leaves; (h) selecting F3 plants from said F3 families for having leaves with a solid main vein and narrow base leaves; repeating steps (f) to (h) in subsequent generations, until genetic uniformity is reached within selected families, wherein said first parent lettuce plant or said second parent lettuce plant is the lettuce plant of  claim 63 .