Blueberry plant named ‘FC12-205’

Abstract

The new blueberry plant variety ‘FC12-205’ is provided. ‘FC12-205’ is a commercial variety intended for the fresh fruit market. The variety is produced from a cross of ‘ZF06-103’ (female parent, unpatented) and ‘ZF06-264’ (male parent, unpatented), which can be distinguished by its outstanding features, including late-season ripening, large, uniform fruit size and light blue appearance, yellow-green stem color, and flowers with strong floral scent.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of blueberry plant named ‘FC12-205’, substantially as illustrated and described herein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying photographic illustration shows typical specimens in full color of the foliage and fruit of the new variety ‘FC12-205’. The colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type.

(2) FIG. 1 is a photograph of the new variety ‘FC12-205’, demonstrating the plant's leaves and growth habit in the fall. The plants were grown in Lowell, Oreg. and photographed on Nov. 16, 2018.

(3) FIG. 2 is a photograph of the fruit cluster of the new variety ‘FC12-205’ grown in Lowell, Oreg. and photographed on Aug. 1, 2017.

(4) FIG. 3 is a photograph of the flowers of the new variety ‘FTC12-205’ grown in Lowell, Oreg. and photographed on May 4, 2017.

(5) FIG. 4 is a photograph of the spring foliage of the new variety ‘FC12-205’ grown in Lowell, Oreg. and photographed on May 30, 2017.

(6) FIG. 5 is a photograph of early buds on the new variety ‘FC12-205’ grown in Lowell, Oreg. and photographed on Mar. 16, 2017.

(7) FIG. 6 is a photograph of one-year old canes on the new variety ‘FC12-205’ grown in Lowell, Oreg. and photographed on Apr. 18, 2018.

(8) The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with the photographic and printing technology utilized. The color values cited in the detailed botanical description accurately describe the colors of the new blueberry.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(9) The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘FC12-205’. The data which defines these characteristics was collected from asexual reproductions of the original selection. Dimensions, sizes, colors, and other characteristics are approximations and averages set forth as accurately as possible. The plant history was taken on plants approximately 6 years of age, and the descriptions relate to plants grown in the field located at 39252 Jasper-Lowell Road, Lowell, Oreg., USA. Descriptions of fruit characteristics were made on fruit grown at the field described above. Color designations are from “The Pantone Book of Color” (by Leatrice Eiseman and Lawrence Herbery, Harry N. Abrams, Inc., Publishers, New York 1990). Where the Pantone color designations differ from the colors of the photographs, the Pantone colors are accurate. Classification: a. Family.—Ericaceae. b. Genus.—Vaccinium. c. Species.—Corymbosum. d. Common name.—Northern Highbush Blueberry. Parentage: Female Parent — ‘ZF06-103’ (unpatented). Male Parent — ‘ZF06-264’ (unpatented). Market class: Commercial production of fresh fruit, but suitable for process market.

PLANT

(10) General: a. Parentage.—Female Parent —‘ZF06-103’ (unpatented). Male Parent — ‘ZF06-264’ (unpatented). b. Plant height.—Average 162.56 cm. c. Plant width.—Average 203.20 cm. d. Growth habit.—Upright. e. Amount of growth in a season (i.e., plant vigor).—High. f. Productivity.—High, three-years old plants typically yield 6.9 lbs per plant. g. Cold hardiness.—Good. In Central and Northwest Washington, there has been no cold damage. h. Chilling requirement.—Estimated minimum of 800-1000. i. Leafing.—Good. j. Twigginess.—Moderately twiggy. k. Resistance/susceptibility to root rot (phytopthora cinnamomii).—Not overly susceptible. l. Resistance/susceptibility to stem blight (botryosphaeria sp.).—Not overly susceptible. m. Resistance/susceptibility to phomopsis twig blight (phomopsis vaccinii).—Not overly susceptible. n. Resistance/susceptibility to botrytis (botrytis cinerea).—Not overly susceptible. o. Resistance/susceptibility to leaf spot (septoria spp.).—Not overly susceptible. p. Resistance/susceptibility to leaf rust (naohidemyces vaccinii).—Not overly susceptible. q. Resistance/susceptibility to bud mites (acalatus vaccinii).—Not overly susceptible.

STEM

(11) General: a. Suckering tendency.—Low. b. Mature cane color.—Pantone color 17-1417 (Beaver fur). c. Mature cane length.—152.4 cm. d. Mature cane width.—Average 15.63 mm. e. Bark texture.—Rough. f. Fall color on new shoots.—Pantone color 18-550 (Aurora Red). g. Surface texture of new wood.—Smooth. h. Internode length on strong, new shoots.—19.62 mm. i. Average number of buds per fruiting lateral.—Average 6.

FOLIAGE

(12) General: a. Time of beginning of leaf bud burst.—In Lowell, Oreg., mid-April. b. Leaf color (top side).—Pantone color 19-0315 (Black Forest). c. Leaf color (under side).—Pantone color 15-6414 (Reseda). d. Leaf arrangement.—Alternate and Spirally Arranged. e. Leaf shape.—Elliptic. f. Leaf margins.—Entire. g. Undulation of margin.—entire. h. Leaf venation.—Anastomosing. i. Leaf apices.—Acute to attenuate. j. Leaf bases.—Obtuse. k. Leaf length.—Average 60.78 mm. l. Leaf width.—Average 32.79 mm. m. Leaf length/width ratio.—1.85. n. Leaf nectarines.—Absent. o. Pubescence of upper side.—Absent. p. Pubescence of lower side.—Absent. q. Cross sectional profile.—Flat. r. Longitudinal profile.—Plane. s. Attitude.—Porrect. t. Fall foliage leaf color (top side).—Pantone color 17-1558 (Grenadine). Petioles: a. Length.—3.887 mm. b. Width.—1.712 mm. c. Color.—Pantone color 14-0434 (Green Banana). d. Petiole surface texture.—Smooth.

FLOWERS

(13) General: a. Time of beginning of flowering.—Approximately mid to late April in Lowell, Oreg. b. Time of 50% anthesis.—Approximately early May in Lowell, Oreg. c. Flower shape.—Urceolate. d. Flower bud density.—Medium. e. Flower fragrance.—Pungent, sweet, floral. f. Immature flower color.—Pantone color 11-0602 (Snow White). g. Self-compatibility.—Very good, 93% of self-pollinated flowers produced fruit. Corolla: a. Color.—Pantone color 11-0602 (Snow White). b. Length.—8.214 mm. c. Width.—8.228 mm. d. Aperture width.—3.868 mm. e. Anthocyanin coloration of corolla.—Weak to absent. f. Corolla ridges.—Present. g. Protrusion of stigma.—0.114 mm below the corolla. Inflorescence: a. Length.—30.436 mm. b. Diameter.—32.78 mm. c. Length of peduncle.—20.954 mm. d. Surface texture of peduncle.—Puberulent. e. Color of peduncle.—Pantone color 17-1633 (Holly Berry). f. Length of pedicel.—8.16 mm. g. Surface texture of pedicel.—Puberulent. h. Color of pedicel.—Pantone color 17-1633 (Holly Berry). i. Number of flowers per cluster.—10.20. j. Flower cluster density.—Large size and medium-tight. Calyx (with sepals): a. Diameter.—8.542 mm. b. Color (sepals).—Pantone color 13-0215 (Reed). Stamen: a. Length.—6.698 mm. b. Number per flower.—11 stamen per flower. c. Filament color.—Pantone color 13-0442 (Green Glow). Pistil: a. Length.—10.22 mm. b. Ovary color (exterior).—Pantone color 17-0235 (Piquant Green). c. Style length.—8.452 mm. Anther: a. Length.—4.47 mm. b. Number.—2 per filament. c. Color.—Pantone color 16-1150 (Topaz). Pollen: a. Abundance.—Moderate. b. Color.—Pantone color 12-0817 (Cornhusk).

FRUIT

(14) General: a. Time of fruit ripening.—Late. The first harvest begins after ‘Cargo’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,661) and before ‘Last Call’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,386), typically the first week of August in Lowell, Oreg. b. Time of 50% maturity.—Approximately the beginning of August in Lowell, Oreg. c. Fruit development period.—Averaging 85 days in Lowell, Oreg. d. Mean harvest date.—Averaging August 3.sup.rd e. Mean date last pick.—Averaging August 31.sup.st f. Cluster density.—Medium. g. Berries per cluster.—8.6 berries per cluster. h. Unripe fruit color.—Pantone color 15-0336 (Herbal Garden). i. Ripe berry color.—Pantone color 16-3919 (Purple Cloud). j. Berry skin color after polishing.—Pantone Color 19-4013 (Dark Navy). k. Berry surface wax abundance.—High. l. Berry flesh color.—Pantone color 13-0317 (Lilly Green). m. Berry weight.—Average 2.510 g. n. Berry height from calyx to scar.—11.778 mm. o. Berry diameter.—18.100 mm. p. Calyx aperture.—Average 7.817 mm. q. Calyx depth.—Average 1.105 mm. r. Pedicel length.—Average 8.932 mm. s. Pedicel surface texture.—Smooth. t. Berry detachment force.—Medium-hard. u. Berry shape.—Oblate. v. Fruit stem scar.—1.684 mm. w. Sweetness when ripe.—Medium. x. Firmness when ripe.—Firm. y. Acidity when ripe.—Medium. z. Storage quality.—Good at 42 days normal cold storage at +/−1C.

SEED

(15) General: a. Seed abundance in fruit.—Average. b. Seed color.—Pantone color 17-1134 (Brown Sugar). c. Seed dry weight.—0.267 mg. per seed. d. Seed length.—Average 1.5 mm.

COMPARISON BETWEEN PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

(16) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 State of State of Denomination Characteristic expression expression of of similar for of similar candidate variety variety comparison variety ‘FC12-205’ ‘Liberty’ (U.S. Vigor Low High Plant Patent No. 15,146) ‘Legacy’ Bloom Medium High retention ‘Aurora’ (U.S. Season Very Late Late Plant Patent No. 15,185) ‘Aurora’ (U.S. Acidity High Medium Plant Patent No. 15,185) ‘ZF06-264’ Fruit Size Medium Large ‘ZF06-103’ Growth habit Semi-sprawl Upright