Blueberry plant named ‘DrisBlueTwentyThree’

Abstract

A new and distinct variety of blueberry plant named DrisBlueTwentyThree, particularly selected for its pleasant minty sweet fruit flavor, juicy crisp fruit texture, large fruit size, strong evergreening ability of the plant, and early production, is disclosed.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of blueberry plant designated DrisBlueTwentyThree as shown and described herein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) This new blueberry plant variety is illustrated by the accompanying photograph. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photograph is of plants that are four and a half years old, unless otherwise specified.

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a section of a cane of variety DrisBlueTwentyThree.

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates leaves of variety DrisBlueTwentyThree. The two leaves on the left show the upper leaf surfaces and the two leaves on the right show the lower leaf surfaces.

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates clusters of flowers of variety DrisBlueTwentyThree at various developmental stages.

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates whole fruit of variety DrisBlueTwentyThree. The two fruit on the left have bloom on them and show the top view (calyx basin) of the whole fruit, whereas the two fruit on the right have bloom removed and show the bottom view (fruit-pedicel junction) of the whole fruit.

(6) FIG. 5 illustrates the cross-sections (two columns of fruit on the left) and longitudinal sections (two columns of fruit on the right) of fruit of variety DrisBlueTwentyThree.

(7) FIG. 6 illustrates plants of variety DrisBlueTwentyThree.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(8) The following description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of DrisBlueTwentyThree. The data which define these characteristics is based on observations taken in Ventura County, Calif. from 2014 to 2019. This description is in accordance with UPOV terminology. Color designations, color descriptions, and other phenotypical descriptions may deviate from the stated values and descriptions depending upon variation in environmental, seasonal, climatic and cultural conditions. DrisBlueTwentyThree has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Unless noted otherwise, the botanical description of DrisBlueTwentyThree was taken from plants that were four and a half years old. The indicated values represent averages calculated from measurements of several plants. Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (2015 edition). Descriptive terminology follows the Plant Identification Terminology, An Illustrated Glossary, 2.sup.nd edition by James G. Harris and Melinda Woolf Harris, unless where otherwise defined. Classification: Family.Ericaceae. Botanical.Vaccinium corymbosum L. Common name.Blueberry. Variety name.DrisBlueTwentyThree. Parentage: Female parent.The proprietary blueberry plant 196H 3 (unpatented). Male parent.The proprietary blueberry plant 75J301 (unpatented). Plant: Height.137.7 cm. Width.118.9 cm. Length/width ratio.1.2. Vigor.Medium. Growth habit.Semi-upright. One-year-old canes (young canes).Length: 78 cm. Diameter at the base: 7 mm. Diameter at the tip: 2 mm. Internode length on the upper half: 23.8 mm. Color: RHS 142A (Strong yellow-green). Five-year-old canes (mature canes).Length: 75 cm. Diameter at the base: 19 mm. Diameter at the tip: 2 mm. Leaves: Length.63.5 mm. Width.33.2 mm. Length/width ratio.1.9. Internode length.19.95 mm. Shape.Ovate. Margin.Entire. Color on upper side.RHS NN137A (Greyish olive green). Color of lower side.RHS 147B (Moderate yellow-green). Shape of the leaf apex.Acute. Shape of the leaf base.Attenuate. Leaf arrangement.Alternate. Petiole.Length: 4.9 mm. Diameter: 1.97 mm. Color: RHS 145A (Strong yellow-green). Flowers: Inflorescence length.41.9 mm. Flower length (excluding pedicel).10.41 mm. Flower diameter.7.81 mm. Flower length/width ratio.1.3. Flower bud.Length: 8 mm. Width: 4 mm. Number of flowers per bud: 4. Color with anthocyanin present: RHS 155A (Pale yellow-green). Flower pedicel.Length: 7.78 mm. Diameter: 1.14 mm. Corolla.Shape: Urceolate. Anthocyanin coloration of corolla tube: Absent or very weak. Color of corolla tube: RHS 155A (Pale yellow-green). Ridges on corolla tube: Absent. Petal width (ridge to ridge): 6.05 mm. Diameter of corolla aperture: 6.16 mm. Reproductive organs.Style length (including stigma): 9.24 mm. Flowering interval on one-year-old shoot.December to April. Flowering interval on current season's shoot.December to April. Fruit: Length.11.06 mm. Diameter.14.11 mm. Length/width ratio.0.8. Weight.2.0 grams. Shape in longitudinal section.Oblate. Attitude of sepals.Straight. Calyx basin.Diameter: 6.00 mm. Depth (including sepals): 2.52 mm. Diameter/depth ratio: 2.4. Number of berries per cluster.5. Fruit cluster peduncle length.19.59 mm. Diameter of fruit pedicel.1.56 mm. Color of pedicel.RHS 145A (Strong yellow-green). Color of unripe fruit.RHS 142C (Light yellow-green). Color of fruit without bloom on mature fruit.RHS 203D (Blueish black). Fruit flesh color.RHS 157B (Pale yellow-green). Fruit firmness.Medium. Fruit sweetness.High. Fruit acidity.Low. Fruiting type.On one-year-old and current season's shoots. Ripening interval on one-year-old shoot.February to June. Ripening interval on current season's shoot.February to June. Yield.25 kg to 35 kg of fruit per acre per season from 24- to 36-month old plants when grown at Oxnard, Calif. Resistance to abiotic stress, pests, and diseases: Blueberry bud mite (Acalitus vaccinii).Moderately resistant. Spotted-wing drosophila (drosophila suzitkii).Moderately susceptible.

COMPARISONS TO PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL BLUEBERRY VARIETIES

(9) DrisBlueTwentyThree differs from the proprietary female parent 196H 3 (unpatented) in that fruit of DrisBlueTwentyThree have better firmness, color, flavor, and shelf life than fruit of 196H 3. Additionally, plants of DrisBlueTwentyThree have an earlier fruit timing and are more productive than plants of 196H 3.

(10) DrisBlueTwentyThree differs from the proprietary male parent 75J301 (unpatented) in that fruit of DrisBlueTwentyThree have better flavor than fruit of 75J301. Further, unlike 75J301, no fruit shriveling has been observed for DrisBlueTwentyThree. Additionally, plants of DrisBlueTwentyThree have an earlier fruit timing and are more productive than plants of 75J301.

(11) DrisBlueTwentyThree differs from the commercial blueberry plant variety DrisBlueSeven (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,605) in that DrisBlueTwentyThree has an ovate leaf shape, straight fruit sepals, medium fruit firmness, and high fruit sweetness, whereas DrisBlueSeven has an elliptic leaf shape, incurving and straight fruit sepals, very firm fruit firmness, and medium fruit sweetness.

(12) DrisBlueTwentyThree differs from the commercial blueberry plant variety DrisBlueFour (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,407) in that DrisBlueTwentyThree has an ovate leaf shape, straight fruit sepals, high fruit sweetness, and a fruiting type of both on one-year-old and current season's shoots, whereas DrisBlueFour has an elliptic leaf shape, incurving and straight fruit sepals, medium fruit sweetness, and a fruiting type of only on one-year-old shoots.