Blueberry plant named ‘NS 16-7’

Abstract

A new and distinct variety of blueberry plant, which is denominated varietally as ‘NS 16-7’ is described, with a strong plant vigor and which produces fruit considered large in size, high to very high in sweetness, and firm under the ecological conditions prevailing in Yanchep, Western Australia.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of blueberry plant, substantially as illustrated and described, which is characterized principally as to novelty by a strong plant vigor and by producing fruit considered large in size, high to very high in sweetness, and firm under the ecological conditions prevailing in Yanchep, Western Australia.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying drawings are color photographs of the new blueberry plant ‘NS 16-7’ during the second year of growth under the ecological conditions prevailing at the breeder's property, which is located at Yanchep Springs in Yanchep, Western Australia.

(2) FIG. 1 is a color photograph, which shows fruit, blooms, leaves, and a portion of a vegetative stem of the new blueberry plant ‘NS 16-7’, the fruit being sufficiently mature for harvesting and shipment. This photograph also depicts the fruit size and the color of the ripe fruit, leaves showing the sizes and the upper and under side colorations thereof, two blooms at different stages of maturation, and additional leaves on the stem at different stages of maturation.

(3) FIG. 2 is a color photograph, which shows the new blueberry plant ‘NS 16-7’. This photograph depicts a mature bush with ripe and unripe fruits, the fruit size, and the upright growth habit of the bush. The ripe fruit is sufficiently mature for harvesting and shipment.

(4) The colors in these photographs are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type. Due to variations in color printers and/or chemical development, processing and printing, the colors of the plant parts depicted in these photographs may, or may not, be accurate when compared to the actual specimen. For this reason, color references are made to the color plates (Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, Sixth Edition (2015), hereinafter, “R.H.S.”) and descriptions provided.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(5) Not a Commercial Warranty. The following detailed description was prepared solely to comply with the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112, and does not constitute a commercial warranty (either expressed or implied) that the present variety will, in the future, display the botanical, horticultural, or other characteristics set forth herein. Therefore, this disclosure may not be relied upon to support any future legal claims including, but not limited to, breach of warranty of merchantability, or fitness for any particular purpose, or non-infringement, which is directed in whole, or in part, to the present new variety of plant.

(6) Referring more specifically to the botanical features of this new and distinct variety of blueberry plant, the following has been observed during the second year of growth under the ecological conditions prevailing at the breeder's property, which is located at Yanchep Springs in Yanchep, Western Australia. Plant: General. Vigor.—Considered strong for the species. This is in contrast to the seed parent ‘EB 8-42’, wherein the vigor is considered to be medium to strong. This is also in contrast to the pollen parent ‘EB 9-2’, the closest known variety, wherein the vigor is considered to be strong to very strong. Growth habit.—Considered upright, in like manner to the commercial variety ‘Ivanhoe’ (unpatented). Average size of plant.—1.5 meters in height by 1.1 meters in width. Internode length (space between nodes).—Considered medium, 19.23 millimeters (mm). Bark color.—RHS Dark Greyish Yellowish Brown Group N199C. Color, one year old shoots.—RHS Moderate Yellow Green Group N148B. Fruiting type.—On one-year-old shoots only, in like manner to commercial varieties ‘Darrow’ (unpatented) and ‘Patriot’ (unpatented). Foliage: General. Average leaf length.—Considered medium for the species, 56.95 mm. Average leaf width.—Considered medium for the species, 25.9 mm. Color of leaf upper.—RHS Greyish Olive Green Group NN137B. Color of leaf underside.—RHS Moderate Yellow Green Group 148B. Vein color of plant leaf.—RHS Light Yellow Green Group 145B. Venation pattern of leaf.—Pinnate reticulate. Leaf apex texture.—Glabrous. Leaf apex shape.—Acute. Leaf base shape.—Acute. Leaf shape.—Elliptic. Leaf margin.—Entire. Leaf arrangement of plant.—Alternate. Petiole length.—3.45 mm. Petiole diameter.—2.26 mm. Petiole color.—RHS Light Yellow Green 145B. Flowers: Number of flowers/inflorescence.—7-10. Length of inflorescence (excluding pedicel).—Considered long to very long, 12.34 mm. Corolla shape.—Urceolate. Corolla tube surface texture.—Ridges are present on the corolla tube. Average corolla length.—9.2 mm. Corolla diameter.—7.22 mm. Corolla aperture size.—4.35 mm. Corolla color.—RHS Greenish White Group 155C. Pedicel color.—RHS Strong Yellow Green Group 144C. Pedicel length.—8.58 mm. Average calyx diameter.—Considered medium to large, 6.61 mm. Average calyx basin depth.—Considered deep, 3.62 mm. Attitude of sepals.—Erect. Type of sepals.—Straight. Reproductive organs: Size of pollen anthers.—6.34 mm. Color of pollen anthers.—RHS Moderate Reddish Orange Group N172B. Pistil length.—9.88 mm. Pistil color.—RHS Light Yellow Green Group 145B. Fruit: Color of unripe fruit.—RHS Light Yellow Green Group 145B. Color of fruit skin.—RHS Bluish Black Group 203C, also considered “dark blue” in like color to the commercial variety ‘Heerma’ (unpatented), after removal of bloom. Color of ripe fruit flesh.—RHS Light Yellow Green Group 145D. Color of seeds.—RHS Greyish Reddish Brown Group 200B. Average fruit size.—Large, 18 mm in diameter and 14.33 mm in height. This is comparable to the seed parent ‘EB 8-42’, wherein the fruit size is also considered large. This is in contrast to the pollen parent ‘EB 9-2’, the closest known variety, wherein the fruit size is considered large to very large. Average weight of fruit.—3.0 grams. Berry shape.—Considered oblate. Sweetness when ripe.—Considered high to very high for the species. This is in contrast to the seed parent ‘EB 8-42’, wherein the fruit sweetness is considered medium to high. This is also in contrast to the pollen parent ‘EB 9-2’, the closest known variety, wherein the fruit sweetness is considered high. Firmness when ripe.—Considered firm for the species. This is comparable to the seed parent ‘EB 8-42’, wherein the fruit firmness is also considered firm. This is in contrast to the pollen parent ‘EB 9-2’, the closest known variety, wherein the fruit firmness is considered firm to very firm. Acidity when ripe.—Considered very low for the species. Cluster density.—Considered dense for the species. Average fruit production.—3.5 kilograms on a two-year-old bush. Storability of fruit.—Considered excellent for the species. Market use of fruit.—1st grade fresh market fruit. Date of bud burst.—This variety is evergreen under the ecological conditions prevailing in Yanchep, Western Australia, but a bud break occurs in late June. Date of bloom time.—This variety is evergreen under the ecological conditions prevailing in Yanchep, Western Australia, but a bloom time occurs in late July/August, which is considered medium to late on one-year-old shoot after the commercial variety ‘Berkeley’ (unpatented), which is medium, but before the commercial variety ‘Darrow’ (unpatented), which is late. Duration of bloom time.—3 weeks. Beginning of fruit ripening.—Considered medium to late on one-year-old shoot after the commercial variety ‘Heema’ (unpatented), which is medium, but before the commercial variety ‘Darrow’ (unpatented), which is late. First pick date.—The observed date of the first pick is approximately November under the ecological conditions prevailing in Yanchep, Western Australia. Last pick date.—The observed date of the last pick is approximately mid-December under the ecological conditions prevailing in Yanchep, Western Australia. Pollination requirements.—Self-fertile. Resistance to pests and disease.—No particular resistance noted. The variety has not been tested to detect any resistance.

(7) Although the new variety of blueberry plant possesses the described characteristics when grown under the ecological conditions prevailing in Yanchep, Western Australia, it should be understood that variations are to be expected in the usual magnitude and characteristics incident to changes in growing conditions, fertilization, pruning, pest control, frost, climatic variables, and horticultural management.