Blueberry plant named ‘NS 15-22’

Abstract

A new and distinct variety of blueberry plant, which is denominated varietally as ‘NS 15-22’ is described, with a strong vigor and which produces fruit considered low in acidity and medium in firmness 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 vigor and by producing fruit considered low in acidity and medium in firmness 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 15-22’ 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 15-22’, 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 15-22’. 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, hereinafter, “R.H.S.”) and descriptions provided.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Not a Commercial Warranty

(5) 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 strong for the species. This is in contrast to the seed parent ‘EB 9-4’, wherein the vigor is considered medium, and the pollen parent ‘EB 8-46’, wherein the vigor is considered medium to strong. Growth habit.—Considered upright. This is in comparison to the commercial variety ‘Ivanhoe’ (unpatented), which is considered to be upright. Average size of plant.—1.2 meters in height by 0.57 meters in width. Internode length (space between nodes).—Considered short to medium, 15.5 millimeters (mm). Bark color.—RHS Moderate Reddish Brown Group 177A. One-year-old shoots.—Color — RHS Strong Yellow Green Group N144D; surface texture — smooth. 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 to long for the species, 58.4 mm. Average leaf width.—Considered medium to broad for the species, 30.5 mm. Color of leaf upper.—RHS Greyish Olive Green Group NN137C. Color of leaf underside.—RHS Moderate Yellow Green Group 139C. Vein color of plant leaf.—RHS Light Yellow Green Group 145C. 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.—3.67 mm. Petiole diameter.—1.40 mm. Petiole.—Color — RHS Light Yellow Green 145C; surface texture — smooth. Flowers: Number of flowers/inflorescence.—5. Length of inflorescence (excluding pedicel).—Considered medium to long, 8 to 7 mm. Corolla shape.—Urceolate. Corolla tube surface texture.—Ridges are present on the corolla tube. Average corolla length.—11.7 mm. Corolla diameter.—7.81 mm. Corolla aperture size.—4.36 mm. Corolla color.—RHS Greenish White Group 155C. Pedicel.—Color .— RHS Light Yellow Green Group 145C; length — 9.86 mm. Peduncle.—Color — RHS Light Yellow Green Group 145D; diameter — 1.93 mm; texture — smooth. Average calyx diameter.—Considered small to medium, 4.15 mm. Average calyx basin depth.—Considered shallow, 1.01 mm. Attitude of sepals.—Erect. Type of sepals.—Straight. Reproductive organs: Size of pollen anthers.—5.46 mm. Color of pollen anthers.—RHS Brownish Orange Group N167B. Pistil length.—10.47 mm. Pistil color.—RHS Light Yellow Green Group 145C. Fruit: Color of unripe fruit.—RHS Strong Yellow Group N144B. 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 Pale Yellow Green Group 196C. Color of seeds.—RHS Moderate Reddish Brown Group 177A. Average fruit size.—21 mm in diameter and 14.59 mm in height. Average weight of fruit.—1.9 grams. Berry shape.—Considered oblate to round. Sweetness when ripe.—Considered medium for the species. Firmness when ripe.—Considered medium for the species. This is in contrast to the seed parent ‘EB 9-4’, wherein the firmness is considered firm, and the pollen parent ‘EB 8-46’, wherein the firmness is considered firm to very firm. Acidity when ripe.—Considered low for the species. This is in contrast to the seed parent ‘EB 9-4’, wherein the fruit acidity is considered low to medium. This is comparable to the pollen parent ‘EB 8-46’, wherein the fruit acidity is also considered low. Cluster density.—Considered medium dense for the species; 6 to 9 berries per cluster. Average fruit production.—3 kilograms on a two-year-old bush. Storability of fruit.—Considered excellent for the species (storage trials at the breeding stage were at 3° C. to repliate the back of a standard refrigeration system and berries needed to survive a minimum of 12 weeks to score an “excellent” rating). 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 the end of May, which is considered early for the species. Date of bloom time.—This variety is evergreen under the ecological conditions prevailing in Yanchep, Western Australia, but a bloom time occurs in early July, which is considered very early on one-year old shoot in like manner to the commercial variety ‘Patriot’ (unpatented). Duration of bloom time and bloom intensity.—6 weeks; bloom intensity is considered medium. Beginning of fruit ripening.—Considered very early on one-year-old shoot in like manner to the commercial variety ‘Bluetta’ (unpatented). First pick date.—The observed date of the first pick is approximately September under the ecological conditions prevailing in Yanchep, Western Australia. Last pick date.—The observed date of the last pick is approximately November 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.