Blueberry plant named ‘NS 15-14’

Abstract

A new and distinct variety of blueberry plant, which is denominated varietally as ‘NS 15-14’ is described, with an upright plant growth habit and which produces fruit considered very large in size, medium in firmness, and low in acidity under the ecological conditions prevailing in Yanchep, Western Australia.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of blueberry plant named NS ‘15-14’, substantially as illustrated and described, which is characterized principally as to novelty by an upright plant growth habit and by producing fruit considered very large in size, medium in firmness, and low in acidity 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 15-14’ during the third 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 15-14’, the fruit being sufficiently mature for harvesting and shipment. This photograph also depicts the fruit size and the color of the ripe fruit, two 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 15-14.’ 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, “RHS”) 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 third 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 weak to medium for the species. Growth habit.—Considered upright, in like manner to the commercial variety ‘Ivanhoe’ (unpatented). This is in contrast to the seed parent ‘EB 9-4’ (also the closest known variety) and the pollen parent ‘EB 8-50’, wherein the growth habit is considered to be semi-upright to intermediate. Average size of plant.—1.15 meters in height by 0.70 meters in width. Internode length (space between nodes).—Considered short to medium, 14.43 millimeters (mm). Bark color.—RHS Greyish Red Orange Group 177D. Color, one year old shoots.—RHS Greyed Orange Group 173A. Fruiting type.—On one-year-old shoots and current season's shoots, in like manner to commercial varieties ‘Concord’ (unpatented) and ‘Burlington’ (unpatented). Foliage: General. Average leaf length.—Considered medium to long for the species, 61.45 mm. Average leaf width.—Considered medium for the species, 27.03 mm. Color of leaf upper.—RHS Darkish Yellow Green Group 139A. Color of leaf underside.—RHS Moderate Yellow Green Group 138B. Vein color of plant leaf.—RHS Light Yellow Green Group 144D. Venation pattern of leaf.—Pinnate reticulate. Leaf apex texture.—Glabrous. Leaf apex shape.—Acute. Leaf base shape.—Acute. Leaf shape.—Elliptic. Leaf margin.—Serrate. Leaf arrangement of plant.—Alternate. Petiole length.—3.21 mm. Petiole diameter.—2.2 mm. Petiole color.—RHS Strong Yellow Green 144C. Flowers: Number of flowers/inflorescence.—4-6. Length of inflorescence (excluding pedicel).—Considered long, 10.21 mm. Corolla shape.—Urceolate. Corolla tube surface texture.—Ridges are present on the corolla tube. Average corolla length.—12.57 mm. Corolla diameter.—8.90 mm. Corolla aperture size.—3.52 mm. Corolla color.—RHS White Group NN155C. Pedicel color.—RHS Light Yellow Green Group 145C. Pedicel length.—4.01 mm. Average calyx diameter.—Considered small, 3.53 mm. Average calyx basin depth.—Considered medium, 1.98 mm. Attitude of sepals.—Semi-erect. Type of sepals.—Straight. Reproductive organs: Size of pollen anthers.—5.48 mm. Color of pollen anthers.—RHS Greyed Orange Group 165B. Pistil length.—7.39 mm. Pistil color.—RHS Light Yellow Green Group 144D. Fruit: Color of unripe fruit.—RHS Strong Yellow Green Group 144B. 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 Brownish Orange Group N167B. Average fruit size.—Very large, 21-22 mm in diameter and 14.91 mm in height. This is in contrast to the seed parent ‘EB 9-4’ (also the closest known variety) and the pollen parent ‘EB 8-50’, wherein the fruit size is considered large to very large. Average weight of fruit.—4 grams. Berry shape.—Considered oblate. Sweetness when ripe.—Considered medium to high for the species. Firmness when ripe.—Considered medium for the species. This is in contrast to the seed parent ‘EB 9-4’ (the closest known variety), wherein the fruit firmness is considered firm. This is also in contrast to the pollen parent ‘EB 8-50’, wherein the fruit firmness is considered firm to very firm. Acidity when ripe.—Considered low for the species. This is comparable to the pollen parent ‘EB 8-50’, wherein the fruit acidity is also considered low. This is in contrast to the seed parent ‘EB 9-4’ (the closest known variety), wherein the fruit acidity is considered low to medium. Cluster density.—Considered medium for the species. Average fruit production.—2-3 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 vegetative bud burst.—This variety is evergreen under the ecological conditions prevailing in Yanchep, Western Australia, but a vegetative bud break occurs in August, which is considered medium. Date of bloom time.—This variety is evergreen under the ecological conditions prevailing in Yanchep, Western Australia, but a bloom time occurs on flowering first year shoots at April/May, which is considered very early on one-year-old shoots in like manner to the commercial variety ‘Patriot’ (unpatented) and is considered very early on current year's shoots. Duration of bloom time and bloom intensity.—4-6 weeks; bloom intensity is considered strong. Beginning of fruit ripening.—Considered very early on one-year-old shoot in like manner to the commercial variety ‘Bluetta’ (unpatented) and very early on current year's shoots. First pick date.—The observed date of the first pick is approximately July under the ecological conditions prevailing in Yanchep, Western Australia. Last pick date.—The observed date of the last pick is approximately September 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.