BLUEBERRY PLANT NAMED 'FCM14-031'

Abstract

The new blueberry plant variety ‘FCM14-031’ is provided. ‘FCM14-031’ is a commercial variety intended for the hand harvest fresh market. The new blueberry plant originated from a cross of ‘FL00-180’ (female parent, not patented) and ‘FL01-06’ (male parent, not patented). ‘FCM14-031’ forms round medium vigor bush growth habit, displays well branched habit, produces early to mid-season fruit, and exhibits fruit that is large with a flat bottom and an open upright calyx that has a mildly aromatic flavor that has a balance between sweet and acidity.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of blueberry plant named ‘FCM14-031’, substantially as illustrated and described herein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The accompanying photographic illustrations show typical specimens in full color of the foliage and fruit of the new variety ‘FCM14-031.’ The colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type.

[0021] FIG. 1—depicts a mature plant of ‘FCM14-031’ grown in Tala, Jalisco, Mexico and photographed on Sep. 25, 2018.

[0022] FIG. 2—depicts mature fruit of ‘FCM14-031’ grown in Tala, Jalisco, Mexico photographed on Sep. 25, 2018.

[0023] FIG. 3—depicts immature fruit of ‘FCM14-031’ grown in Tala, Jalisco, Mexico and photographed on Sep. 25, 2018.

[0024] FIG. 4—depicts a fruit cluster of ‘FCM14-031’ grown in Tala, Jalisco, Mexico and photographed on Sep. 25, 2018.

[0025] FIG. 5—depicts flowers of ‘FCM14-031’ grown in Tala, Jalisco, Mexico and photographed on January 7th of 2020.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

[0026] The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘FCM14-031’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions of the original selection. Dimensions, sizes, colors, and other characteristics are approximations and averages set forth as accurately as possible. All measurements are the average of five observations. The plant history was taken on mature plants approximately 5 years of age, and the descriptions relate to plants grown in the field in Tala, state of Jalisco, Mexico unless otherwise noted.

[0027] Descriptions of fruit characteristics were made on fruit grown in Tala, State of Jalisco, Mexico. Color designations are from “The Pantone Book of Color” (by Leatrice Eiseman and Lawrence Herbery, Harry N. Abrams, Inc., Publishers, New York 1990) unless noted otherwise. Where the Pantone color designations differ from the colors in the photographs, the Pantone colors are accurate.

VARIETY

[0028] Classification: [0029] Family.—Ericaceae. [0030] Genus.—Vaccinium. [0031] Species.—corymbosum. [0032] Common name.—Southern Highbush Blueberry. [0033] Parentage: [0034] Female parent.—‘FL00-180’ (unpatented). [0035] Male parent.—‘FL01-06’ (unpatented). [0036] Market class: Commercial blueberry variety intended for the hand harvest fresh market.

PLANT

[0037] General: [0038] Parentage.—‘FL00-180’ (female parent, unpatented) x ‘FL01-06’ (male parent, unpatented). [0039] Plant height.—Average 144.6 cm. [0040] Plant width.—139.6 cm. [0041] Growth habit.—Round. [0042] Growth.—Medium vigor. [0043] Productivity.—High. [0044] Cold hardiness.—Not determined, likely USDA zone 7 given southern highbush parentage. [0045] Chilling requirement.—Zero. [0046] Leafing.—Excellent leafing. [0047] Twigginess.—Medium. [0048] Resistance/susceptibility to root rot (Phytopthora cinnamomii).—Does not appear to be overly susceptible. [0049] Resistance/susceptibility to stem blight (Botryosphaeria sp.).—Does not appear to be overly susceptible. [0050] Resistance/susceptibility to Phomopsis twig blight (Phomopsis vaccinii).—Not evaluated. [0051] Resistance/susceptibility to Botrytis (Botrytis cinerea).—Does not appear to be overly susceptible. [0052] Resistance/susceptibility to leaf spot (Septoria spp.).—Does not appear to be overly susceptible. [0053] Resistance/susceptibility to leaf rust (Naohidemyces vaccinii).—Good. [0054] Resistance/susceptibility to bud mites (Acalatus vaccinii).—Not evaluated.

FOLIAGE

[0055] General: [0056] Time of beginning of leaf bud burst.—One to three weeks after prune. [0057] Leaf color (top side).—Chive 19-0323. [0058] Leaf color (under side).—Loden Green 18-0422. [0059] Leaf arrangement.—Alternate and distichous. [0060] Leaf shape.—Lanceolate. [0061] Leaf margins.—Sinuate. [0062] Undulation of margins.—Flat. [0063] Leaf venation.—Anastomosing. [0064] Leaf apices.—Attenuate. [0065] Leaf bases.—Obtuse. [0066] Leaf length.—Average of 61.5 mm. [0067] Leaf width.—Average of 30.6 mm. [0068] Leaf length/width ratio.—2.0 medium. [0069] Leaf nectaries.—Absent. [0070] Pubescence of upper side.—Absent . [0071] Pubescence of lower side.—Absent. [0072] Cross sectional profile.—Plane. [0073] Longitudinal profile.—Entire. [0074] Attitude.—Ascending. [0075] Fall foliage leaf color (top side).—Chive 19-0323. [0076] Petioles: [0077] Length.—6.12 mm. [0078] Width.—4.3 mm. [0079] Color.—Leek Green 15-0628. [0080] Surface texture.—Smooth.

FLOWERS

[0081] General: [0082] Time of beginning of flowering.—In Tala, Jalisco Mexico approximately 95-100 days after pruning. [0083] Time of 50% anthesis.—In Tala, Jalisco Mexico approximately 170-180 days after pruning. [0084] Flower shape.—Urceolate. [0085] Flower bud density.—Medium. [0086] Flower fragrance.—Mild smell and sweet. [0087] Immature flower color.—Frozen Dew 13-0513. [0088] Pollen staining.—No data is available. [0089] Self-compatibility.—Good, under control crosses, 84% of the fruit set when they were pollinated with the same variety pollen. [0090] Corolla: [0091] Color.—Bone White 12-0105. [0092] Length.—11.46 mm. [0093] Width.—7.01 mm. [0094] Aperture width.—3.04 mm. [0095] Anthocyanin coloration of corolla.—Low. [0096] Corolla ridges.—Indistinct. [0097] Protrusion of stigma.—Does not stick out. [0098] Inflorescence: [0099] Length.—75.69 mm. [0100] Diameter.—30.79 mm. [0101] Length of peduncle.—65.132 mm. [0102] Surface texture of peduncle.—Rough. [0103] Color of peduncle.—Pompei 18-1426 and Apple Green 15-0543. [0104] Length of pedicel.—11.204 mm. [0105] Surface texture of pedicel.—Soft. [0106] Color of pedicel.—Pompei 18-1426 and Apple Green 15-0543. [0107] Number of flowers per cluster.—10.2. [0108] Flower cluster density.—High. [0109] Calyx (with sepals): [0110] Diameter.—5.734 mm. [0111] Color (sepals).—Lettuce Green 13-0324. [0112] Calyx surface.—Soft. [0113] Stamen: [0114] Length.—4.444 mm. [0115] Number per flower.—9.8. [0116] Filament color.—Adobe 17-1340. [0117] Pistil: [0118] Length.—10.01 mm. [0119] Ovary color (exterior).—Green Oasis 15-0538. [0120] Style: length.—average of 5.246 mm. [0121] Anther: [0122] Length.—0.7 mm. [0123] Number.—9.8. [0124] Color.—Nugget 16-1148. [0125] Pollen: [0126] Abundance.—High. [0127] Color.—Lemon Drop 12-0736.

FRUIT

[0128] General: [0129] Time of fruit ripening.—In Tala, Jalisco Mexico approximately August 10.sup.th dependent on the time of previous pruning. [0130] Time of 50% maturity.—In Tala, Jalisco Mexico approximately November 1 dependent on the time of previous pruning. [0131] Fruit development period.—Approximately 65-75 days from fruit set to ripe. [0132] Mean harvest date.—Approximately December 25 in Tala, Mexico when plants were pruned the previous June. Dependent on timing of previous pruning. [0133] Mean date last pick.—Last pick occurred on approximately January 1 in Tala, Mexico. Dependent on timing of previous pruning. [0134] Cluster density.—Medium. [0135] Berries per cluster.—Average of 10. [0136] Unripe fruit color.—Lettuce Green 13-0324. [0137] Ripe berry color.—Lilae Gray 14-3903. [0138] Berry skin color after polishing.—Patriot Blue 19-3925. [0139] Berry surface wax abundance.—Medium. [0140] Berry flesh color.—Died Moss 14-0626. [0141] Berry weight.—3.08 g. [0142] Berry Height from calyx to scar.—16.44 mm. [0143] Berry Diameter.—21.154 mm. [0144] Calyx aperture.—Average of 6.824 mm. [0145] Calyx depth.—Average of 4.088 mm. [0146] Pedicel length.—Average OF 11.204 mm. [0147] Pedicel surface texture.—Soft. [0148] Berry detachment force.—Medium. [0149] Berry shape.—Round. [0150] Fruit stem scar.—Small. [0151] Berry flavor.—Mild aromatic sub-acidic. [0152] Sweetness when ripe.—Good, with brix average of 14.1. [0153] Firmness when ripe.—Medium. [0154] Acidity when ripe.—Medium. [0155] Storage quality.—Good, 28-35 days at 2 C degrees+/−2 C degrees. [0156] Suitability for mechanical harvesting.—No information available. [0157] Self-fruitfulness.—Good, control self-crossing showed a fruit set of 83%. [0158] Uses.—Fresh market fruit production.

SEED

[0159] General: [0160] Seed abundance in fruit.—5 average seeds per fruit. [0161] Seed color.—Pecan Brown 17-1430. [0162] Seed dry weight.—0.7 mg per one seed. [0163] Seed length.—2.02 mm.

COMPARISON BETWEEN PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

[0164]

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Comparison Table Denomination Characteristic State of State of expression of similar for expression of of candidate variety variety comparison similar variety (‘FCM14-031’) ‘Biloxi’ Fruit: Size Small to Medium-Large medium ‘Biloxi’ Fruit: Color Light blue Medium Dark ‘Biloxi’ Plant: Vigor High Medium ‘FCM12-131’ Crop: Early Mid-Season Production Time ‘FCM12-131’ Plant: Survival Medium High