Southern highbush blueberry plant named ‘TH-920’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Vaccinium plant named ‘TH-920’, characterized by a combination of early-to-mid season ripening; large berries with good scar and flavor and high fruit quality; moderately vigorous growth suited to home gardens, soft pink flowers at opening, bronze coloring to newly emerging foliage, berries transitioning from pink hued to sky-blue during ripening; and a chilling requirement of about 500-550 hours below about 45° F.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of the Vaccinium plant named ‘TH-920’ as illustrated and described herein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying colored photographic illustrations show the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new cultivar of Vaccinium corymbosum ‘TH-920’ showing the colors as true as possible. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describes the colors of the new Vaccinium corymbosum ‘TH-920’. Photographs were taken of plants grown outdoors in Alapaha, Ga. and Griffin, Ga. during different years.

(2) The photographs labeled FIGS. 1A and 1B depict 5-year old plants of ‘TH-920’ showing pink flower color, with FIG. 1A showing a row of several ‘TH-920’ plants and FIG. 1B showing a closer view of branches of a ‘TH-920’ plant. Photographs were taken in March 2012 in Griffin, Ga.

(3) The photographs labeled FIGS. 2A and 2B depict typical 2- and 4-year old ‘TH-920’ plants, respectively, displaying showy pre-ripened berries with a pink cast and bronze coloring in newly emerging foliage. Photographs were taken in Alapaha, Ga. in April 2012 and April 2014, respectively.

(4) The photograph labeled FIG. 3 depicts typical 5-year old ‘TH-920’ plants during fruit ripening in Griffin, Ga. taken in May 2012.

(5) The photographs labeled FIGS. 4A-4B depict close-up views of fruit of ‘TH-920’ plants. FIG. 4A depicts maturing fruit on a branch of a typical 5-year old ‘TH-920’ plant showing berries in various stages of ripening with color from light pink (pre-ripened) to sky-blue (ripe). FIG. 4B depicts a close-up view of ripe fruit of ‘TH-920’ in a human hand, showing the sky-blue fruit color, taken in Griffin, Ga. May 2012.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(6) The following traits have been consistently observed in the original plant of this new variety and in asexually propagated progeny grown in Alapaha and Griffin, Ga., and, to the best knowledge of the inventors, their combination forms the unique characteristics of the new variety Vaccinium corymbosum ‘TH-920’.

(7) Throughout this specification, color names beginning with a small letter signify that the name of that color, as used in common speech, is aptly descriptive. Color names beginning with a capital letter designate values based upon The R.H.S. Colour Chart, 5.sup.th edition published by The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England in 2007, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

(8) The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements, and values describe plants of the Vaccinium corymbosum cultivar named ‘TH-920’. Where dimensions, sizes, colors, and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations and averages set forth as accurately as practicable. Data were collected between the years of 2009-2013 from horticulture farms and nurseries in Alapaha and/or Griffin, Ga. from 4 to 6-year-old plants (planted in the field with supplemental irrigation). The average low temperature for the year ranges from about 54° F. to 58° F., and the average high temperature for the year ranges from about 78° F. to 82° F. Botanical classification: Vaccinium corymbosum ‘TH-920’. Commercial classification.—Fruit-bearing shrub. Parentage.—‘TH-647’ (non-patented breeding line) and ‘Windsor’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,783). Growth and propagation: Propagation type.—Vegetative by softwood cuttings. Growth rate.—Moderately vigorous. Root description.—Fibrous. Plant description: Growth habit.—Plant is semi-spreading to spreading, with crown of about 10 to 15 cm diameter formed from fused canes about 10 cm or less above the soil surface. After about 10 cm, about 3 to 5 canes form. Usage.—Home gardens and limited commercial fruit production. Productivity.—High. Annual yields of about 8 to 12 lbs per plant each year on plants around 5 years old or older grown under well fertilized and irrigated field conditions. Size of plant.—Plant is about 1.5 to 1.7 m tall by about 4 years. The plant crown, or base, is narrow, typically about 10 to 15 cm in diameter. Upper portion of plant canopy reaches about 1.3 to 1.5 m in diameter by about 4 years. Cold hardiness.—Similar to southern highbush varieties such as ‘Camellia’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,151) and ‘Star’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,675). Disease resistance.—No exceptional disease resistance or susceptibility observed. Typical for southern highbush such as ‘Camellia’ and ‘Star’. Chilling requirement.—Plants are medium chill, requiring only about 500 to 550 hours, more or less, of temperatures at or below about 7° C. to induce normal leafing and flowering. The chill requirement is more than the male parent ‘Windsor’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,783; 300 hours of chilling required), and slightly less than the female parent ‘TH-647’ (non-patented breeding selection; 550 to 600 hours of chilling required). Leafing.—Plants tend to break sufficient leaf buds simultaneously with, or shortly after, anthesis. Canes.—Main cane base diameter about 30 to 50 mm, color most near Brown N 200B to Grey 201A; first major branch diameter 20 to 30 mm, color most near Grey 201B, two year old cane diameter about 15 to 20 mm, color Greyed Orange 174A; current season wood diameter about 5 to 10 mm, color Yellow Green 145A to 145B. Fruiting wood.—Numerous twigs of about 15 to 25 cm in length, with internode lengths of about 15 to 20 mm common. Foliage: Leaf color healthy mature leaves.—Top side of leaf color is Green 137D, under side of leaf color is Green 138C. Leaf arrangement.—Alternate, simple. Leaf shape.—Elliptic. Leaf margins.—Nearly entire, slight undulations. Leaf venation.—Pinnate, slightly reticulated. Leaf apices.—Broadly acuminate. Leaf bases.—Acute. Leaf dimensions.—Length: about 55 to 75 mm; width: about 35 to 44 mm. Petioles.—Small, about 3.0 to 4.0 mm long, about 2.0 to 3.0 mm wide; Color: Yellow Green 145C. Texture.—Leaf margins, smooth; both upper and lower leaf surfaces, glaucous. Flowers: Date of 50% anthesis.—5-year average March 15 in south Georgia; March 23 in middle Georgia. Flower shape.—Urceolate. Flower bud number.—High, averaging 5 to 8 buds per fruiting shoot. Flowers per cluster.—6 to 7 common. Flower fragrance.—Slight rose fragrance often present. Corolla color.—Red Purple N63C prior to opening, transitioning to White N155B at opening, and finishing at White NN155D. Corolla length.—About 6.0 to 8.0 mm. Corolla width.—About 6.0 to 7.0 mm. Corolla aperture width.—About 3.0 to 3.5 mm. Flower peduncle.—Length about 9.0 to 11.0 mm; Color: Yellow Green 145C to 145D, with streaks of Red Purple 63B often present. Flower pedicel.—Length about 3.0 to 4.0 mm; Color: Green 139D. Calyx (with sepals).—Diameter: about 8.5 to 9.5 mm; Color: Green 138C; sepals Green 139D. Stamen.—Length: about 5.5 to 6.0 mm; number per flower: about 10; filament color: Yellow Green 145D. Style.—Length: about 7.5 to 8.5 mm; Color: Green 139D. Pistil.—Length: about 9.0 to 10.0 mm; ovary color: Green 138C. Anther.—Length: about 2.5 to 3.0 mm; number: 10; Color: Greyed Orange 164A. Pollen.—Abundance: high; Color: Yellow White 158A to 159B. Compatibility.—The cultivar has a small to moderate degree of self-compatibility. Fruit: Date of 50% maturity.—5-year average May 8 in south Georgia and May 25 in middle Georgia. Fruit development period.—About 52 to 60 days. Berry color.—With wax Blue 100D; with wax removed Black 202A. Berry flesh color.—Green White 157B. Berry surface wax abundance.—High to very high. Berry weight.—1.sup.st harvest: about 2.6 to 3.0 g; 2.sup.nd harvest: about 2.0 to 2.7 g. Berry size.—Height from calyx to scar: about 15 to 18 mm; diameter: about 17 to 20 mm. Berry shape.—Semi-spherical. Fruit stem scar.—Small to medium, dry, no tearing. Calyx.—Depth about 2.0 to 3.0 mm; width, about 5.0 to 6.0 mm; sepals semi-erect to erect when present. Berry firmness.—Medium firm. Berry flavor and texture.—Mildly sweet, very smooth texture, low to medium acidity. Storage quality.—Good. Suitability for mechanical harvesting.—Not suitable. Uses.—Intended for home gardens, but also likely suitable for commercial production in some areas. Seed: Seed abundance in fruit.—Medium, about 15 or more fully developed seeds/berry. Seed color.—Greyed Orange 164B to 165C. Seed dry weight.—About 40.3 mg per 100 seed. Seed size.—About 1.0 to 1.5 mm long; about 0.5 to 0.8 mm wide.