Blueberry plant named C15-270

Abstract

The new blueberry plant variety ‘C15-270’ is provided. ‘C15-270’ is a commercial variety intended for the fresh market. The variety is produced from a cross of unpatented parents ‘FL12-082’ and ‘FL12-069’.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of blueberry plant named ‘C15-270’, substantially as illustrated and described herein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The accompanying photographic illustration shows typical specimens in full color of the foliage and fruit of the new variety ‘C15-270’. The colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type.

[0018] FIG. 1 is a photograph of three-year-old plants of the new variety ‘C15-270’.

[0019] FIG. 2 is a photograph of the typical fruit cluster of the new variety ‘C15-270’.

[0020] FIG. 3 is a photograph of the botanical parts (ripe fruit, green fruit, flowers and leaves) of the new variety ‘C15-270’.

[0021] FIG. 4 is a photograph showing the medium to large pedicel scar of the new variety ‘C15-270’.

[0022] 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 variety.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

[0023] The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘C15-270’. 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. For all traits data was collected from 3 plant parts across 6 randomly selected plants. For the traits relating to fruits (e.g., fruit weight, firmness, brix, acidity) the data is an average across twenty fruits collected randomly. The plant history was taken on plants approximately 3 years of age, and the descriptions relate to plants grown in the field in Corindi Beach, New South Wales, 2456 Australia. Descriptions of fruit characteristics were made on fruit grown in Corindi Beach, New South Wales, 2456 Australia. Color designations are from the 2007 edition of The Royal Horticultural Society (“R.H.S.”). [0024] Classification: [0025] a. Family.—Ericaceae. [0026] b. Genus.—Vaccinium. [0027] c. Species.—Corymbosum hybrid. [0028] d. Common name.—Blueberry. [0029] Parentage: Female Parent—unpatented selection ‘FL12-082’. Male Parent—unpatented selection ‘FL12-069’. [0030] Market class: fresh market. [0031] Plant: [0032] General: [0033] Parentage.—FL12-082×FL12-069. [0034] Plant height.—1.45 m. [0035] Plant width.—1.26 m. [0036] Growth habit.—Semi-upright. [0037] Growth.—Strong vigour. [0038] Productivity.—High yield. [0039] Cold Hardiness.—Low chill. [0040] Cold tolerance.—Low. [0041] Chilling requirement.—Low, estimated between 150 and 300 hours. [0042] Tolerance to disease.—Tolerance to leaf rust. [0043] Leafing.—Overall strong leafing, and plant retains leaves during the winter. [0044] Twigginess.—Low. [0045] Foliage: [0046] General: [0047] Leaf color (top side)—Green group, similar to 139A. [0048] Leaf color (under side)—Green group, similar to 147B. [0049] Leaf arrangement.—Alternate. [0050] Leaf shape.—Elliptic. [0051] Leaf margins.—Entire. [0052] Leaf venation.—Reticulate. [0053] Leaf length.—Short, average 52.4 mm. [0054] Leaf width.—Broad, average 34.6 mm. [0055] Leaf length/width ratio.—1.5. [0056] Leaf nectarines.—Absent. [0057] Pubescence of upper side.—Absent. [0058] Pubescence of lower side.—Absent. [0059] Cross sectional profile.—Flat. [0060] Longitudinal profile.—Straight. [0061] Attitude.—Horizontal. [0062] Petioles: [0063] Length.—Average 4.4 mm. [0064] Width.—Average 1.45 mm. [0065] Color.—Yellow green group, similar to 145B. [0066] Flowers: [0067] General: [0068] Time beginning of flowering.—Late season. [0069] Flower shape.—Urceolate. [0070] Flower fragrance.—None perceptible. [0071] Corolla: [0072] Color.—White group, similar to NN155B. [0073] Length.—8.8 mm. [0074] Width.—8.9 mm. [0075] Aperture width.—4.8 mm. [0076] Anthocyanin coloration of corolla.—Absent or very weak. [0077] Corolla ridges.—Present. [0078] Protrusion of stigma.—Present. [0079] Inflorescence: [0080] Surface texture of peduncle.—Medium. [0081] Color of peduncle.—Yellow-green group, similar to 145B with greyed-red group 182A on top. [0082] Length of pedicel.—10.8 mm. [0083] Surface texture of pedicel.—Smooth. [0084] Color of pedicel.—Yellow green group, similar to 146C. [0085] Number of flowers per cluster.—8. [0086] Flower cluster density.—Dense. [0087] Calyx (with sepals): [0088] Diameter.—6.44 mm. [0089] Stamen: [0090] Length.—7.6 mm. [0091] Number per flower.—10. [0092] Filament color.—Yellow-green group, similar to 145D. [0093] Style.—Length 10.5 mm. [0094] Color.—Yellow-green group, similar to N144B. [0095] Pistil: [0096] Length.—12.3 mm. [0097] Anther: [0098] Length.—4.4 mm. [0099] Number.—10. [0100] Color.—Greyed-orange group, similar to 165B. [0101] Pollen: [0102] Self compatibility.—Yes. [0103] Abundance.—Abundant. [0104] Color.—Yellow group, similar to 10A. [0105] Fruit: [0106] General: [0107] Time of fruit ripening.—Late season. [0108] Cluster density.—Dense, range of 6-9 berries per cluster. [0109] Unripe fruit color.—Yellow green group, similar to 144B. [0110] Ripe Berry color.—Blue group 103A. [0111] Berry surface wax abundance.—Medium. [0112] Berry weight.—Large berry, on average 3 g. [0113] Berry height from calyx to scar.—13.6 mm. [0114] Berry diameter.—18.9 mm. [0115] Berry shape.—Oblate. [0116] Fruit stem scar.—Large. [0117] Sweetness when ripe.—Medium to high (13 Brix). [0118] Firmness when ripe.—Every firm. [0119] Acidity when ripe.—Medium to low (0.4%). [0120] Storage quality.—Low, similar to that of the bench mark variety ‘Snowchaser’ and average of 17 days. [0121] Suitability for mechanical harvesting.—Not tested. [0122] Self-fruitfulness.—Yes, with a proportion of fruit parthenocarpic. [0123] Uses.—Fruit to be hand harvested for fresh market. [0124] Seed: [0125] General: [0126] Seed abundance in fruit.—Low, on average 9 seeds per fruit. [0127] Seed color.—Greyed orange group, similar to 165A. [0128] Seed length.—2.16 mm.

COMPARISON BETWEEN PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

[0129] Table 1 below provide comparison between ‘C15-270’ and several commercial cultivars:

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Comparison of ‘C15-270’ with similar cultivars Characteristics ‘C15-270’ ‘C99-042’ ‘Snowchaser’ Plant vigour Strong Week to Medium medium Plant growth habit Semi upright Semi-upright to Semi-upright intermediate One year old shoot Medium Very short to Short length of internodes short Leaf length Short Short Long Leaf length (mm) 52.4 ± 1.5 53.10 ± 0.8 61.50 ± 0.9 Leaf width Broad Very narrow to Broad narrow Leaf width (mm) 34.6 ± 1.4  22.9 ± 1.3  34.3 ± 1.5 Flower size of corolla Small to Medium Medium medium Flower corolla  8.8 ± 0.3  9.7 ± 0.3  9.5 ± 0.3 length (mm) Fruit cluster density Dense Sparse Medium Fruit size Large Small to Small to medium medium Fruit weight (g)   3 ± 0.3  1.9 ± 0.39  1.7 ± 0.21 Fruit diameter (mm) 18.9 ± 1.3  15.6 ± 0.96 15.10 ± 0.97 Fruit intensity of bloom Medium Weak to Weak to medium medium Fruit firmness Very firm Firm Soft Soluble solid content (%) 13 13.1 14.3 Titratable acidity (%)  0.4  0.3  0.5 Time of vegetative Late Early Early bud burst Time of beginning Late Early to Very early to of flowering medium early Time of beginning Late Early to Very early to of fruit ripening medium early