BLUEBERRY PLANT NAMED 'FLR14-372'

Abstract

FLR14-372 is a new and distinct southern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) variety distinguished by a low chilling requirement, semi-upright growth habit, and firm, crunchy, and early-maturing fruit that are sweet and aromatic with a small, dry picking scar.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of southern highbush blueberry plant named FLR14-372, as illustrated and described herein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The accompanying photographs show typical bush, flower, and fruit characteristics for FLR14-372. Colors shown are as true as can be reasonably reproduced by photographic procedures and may differ from those cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of FLR14-372.

[0010] FIG. 1Shows several clusters of flowers of FLR14-372, as observed during the early stages of flowering.

[0011] FIG. 2Shows branches with green fruit clusters of FLR14-372 during the fruit ripening period.

[0012] FIG. 3Shows a close-up of ripe harvested FLR14-372 berries.

[0013] FIG. 4Shows a close-up of mature FLR14-372 leaves with a scale bar.

[0014] FIG. 5Shows several FLR14-372 plants when grown in an evergreen production system in Lalla Mimouna, Morocco.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

[0015] The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of FLR14-372. The data that define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Morocco. The plants were 2 years of age when the data was collected. Certain characteristics may vary with plant age. Certain characteristics may vary with plant age. FLR14-372 has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions, and the measurements given may vary when grown in different environments. Where means are given, the sample size was 10. Color descriptions are based on The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.) Colour Chart by The Royal Horticultural Society, London, Fifth Edition, 2007. When the R.H.S. color designations differ from the accompanying photographs, the R.H.S. color designations are accurate.

Phenotypic Description of Vaccinium corymbosum L. (FLR14-372) [0016] Plant: [0017] Plant vigor.High. [0018] Growth habit.Semi-upright. [0019] Flower bud density (number) along flowering twigs in March.Medium to High, averaging 11.4. [0020] Twigginess.High. [0021] Tendency toward evergreenness.High. [0022] Productivity.In trials in Morocco, FLR14-372 was very productive, with higher total yields than Snowchaser. [0023] Chilling requirement.FLR14-372 has performed best under evergreen production conditions where chilling is not calculated. FLR14-372 flowered and leafed well in areas receiving an average of 300 chill hours (0 to 7 C.). [0024] Cold hardiness.FLR14-372 has not been grown in temperate climates with extremely cold winter temperatures. Plants have survived winter freezes of 2 C. without damage. [0025] Ease of propagation.In propagation by cuttings of softwood stems, FLR14-372 has a good percentage of rooting (90% success), superior to Snowchaser. FLR14-372 has also a very good response to meristematic culture. [0026] Trunk and branches: [0027] Suckering tendency.High. Plants typically average 27 canes (with observed number of canes ranging from a minimum of 24 to a maximum of 30) arising from the crown. [0028] Surface texture (of strong, 6-month-old shoots observed in March).Smooth. [0029] Surface texture (of 3-year-old and older wood).Rough. [0030] Color of new twigs observed in the field.Yellow-green N144D. [0031] Color of 3-year-old, rough-textured canes.Greyed-brown N199C. [0032] Internode length (strong, upright shoots measured in March).Mean of 24.1 mm. [0033] Leaves: [0034] Length (including petiole, from tip of petiole to end of blade).Mean of 8.1 cm. [0035] Width (at widest point).Mean of 3.4 cm. [0036] Shape.Elliptic. [0037] Margin.Entire. [0038] Color.Upper surface: Green N134B. Lower surface: Yellow-green N147B. [0039] Pubescence.Upper surface of leaves: Absent. Lower surface of leaves: Absent. Margins: Absent. [0040] Relative time of leafing versus flowering.When grown as an evergreen plant, leafing is delayed relative to flowering. [0041] Flowers: [0042] Arrangement.Flowers are arranged alternately along a short, leafless, deciduous branch. [0043] Fragrance.Strong floral fragrance. [0044] Shape.Urceolate. [0045] Flowering period.The bloom period when observed under evergreen production in Morocco is from September to December. [0046] Cluster (tight, medium, loose).Medium. [0047] Number of flowers per cluster.Mean of 8.4. [0048] Pedicel.Length at time of anthesis: Mean of 11.0 mm. Color at time of anthesis: Yellow-green 144D with greyed-red 180C on the sun-exposed side. [0049] Peduncle.Length at time of anthesis: Mean of 17.3 mm. Color at time of anthesis: Green 142C with greyed-red 179A on sun-exposed side. [0050] Calyx.Surface texture: Smooth. Diameter: Mean of 7.6 mm. Color (outer surface, visible at the time of anthesis without removing the corolla tube): Green 138C to Red 47B on calyx lobes. [0051] Corolla.Diameter: Mean of 7.4 mm. Length (from pedicel attachment point to corolla tip excluding the pedicel): Mean of 7.9 mm. Aperture diameter: Mean of 5.0 mm. Texture: Smooth. Color: White 155B. [0052] Reproductive organs: [0053] Style.Length (top of ovary to stigma tip): Mean of 7.6 mm. Color: Yellow-green 145B. Location of tip of stigma relative to lip of the corolla Stigma tip is approximately even to 1 mm outside the corolla lip. [0054] Anthers.Color: Greyed-orange N167B. Pollen Abundance of shed: Medium. Color: Orange-white 159B. [0055] Self-fruitfulness.Low to medium. Planting in field configurations that promote cross fertilization with other southern highbush varieties is recommended for all southern highbush blueberry plants. [0056] Fruit: [0057] Mean date of 50% harvest in Lalla Mimouna, Morocco.February 25. [0058] Diameter of calyx aperture on mature berry.Mean of 10.1 mm. [0059] Size and shape of calyx lobes on mature berry.Small and very erected. [0060] Pedicel length on ripe berry.Mean of 11.8 mm. [0061] Detachment force for ripe berries (easy, medium, hard).Hard on the first fruits, but easy during the full harvest. [0062] Number of berries per cluster.Mean of 7.9. [0063] Fruiting type.On one-year-old and current season's shoots. [0064] Berry: [0065] Cluster (tight, medium, loose).Medium. [0066] Weight (on well-pruned plants).Mean of 1.8 grams. The first harvested fruits average roughly 3 grams. [0067] Height.Mean of 12.8 mm. [0068] Width.Mean of 17.0 mm. [0069] Shape.Oblate. [0070] Surface color of mature berries ripe on the plant.Violet-blue 98D. [0071] Surface color of ripe berry after polishing.Greyed-purple N186A. [0072] Immature berry color, with bloom.Greyed-green 193B. [0073] Immature berry color without bloom.Yellow-green N144C. [0074] Surface wax.Medium to high. The surface wax on FLR14-372 has only moderate persistence. [0075] Pedicel scar.Small and dry. Mean of 2.7 mm. [0076] Firmness.Very firm. [0077] Flavor.Sweet with a very strong aroma. [0078] Texture.Crunchy. [0079] Seeds: [0080] Color of dried seeds.Greyed-orange N167A. [0081] Length of well-developed dried seed.Mean of 1.8 mm. [0082] Width of well-developed dried seed.Mean of 1.0 mm. [0083] Use: FLR14-372 produces southern highbush blueberries suitable for fresh markets. FLR14-372 has performed best in trials when grown under an evergreen management system. [0084] Resistance to diseases, insects, and mites: FLR14-372 has grown vigorously and shows excellent bush survival when grown under protected cultivation in an evergreen management system. It appears to be moderately resistant to root rot (Phytophthora cinnamomi). FLR14-372 appears to have excellent resistance to the fungal species that cause summer leaf spots. Resistance of FLR14-372 to fungal leaf spots, Botrytis fruit rot, and powdery mildew (Microsphaera vaccinia) is greater than that of Snowchaser, although we could observe under certain conditions a low sensitivity to powdery mildew (Microsphaera vaccinia).