Blueberry plant named ‘MG09768-05-002’

Abstract

The new blueberry plant variety MG09768-05-002 is provided. MG09768-05-002 is a commercial variety intended for the fresh fruit market. The variety is produced from a cross of Magnolia and Caroline, which can be distinguished by its outstanding features.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of blueberry plant named MG09768-05-002, substantially as illustrated and described herein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying photographic illustration shows typical specimens in full color of the foliage and fruit of the new variety MG09768-05-002. MG09768-05-002 has been labeled NB-5-2 in the photographs. The colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type.

(2) FIG. 1 is a photograph of the new variety MG09768-05-002, demonstrating the plant's upright/whippy growth habit at age 6-7 years.

(3) FIG. 2 is a photograph of the fruit of the new variety MG09768-05-002 at age 6-7 years.

(4) 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.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(5) The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of MG09768-05-002. 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. The plant history was taken on plants approximately 3 years of age, and the descriptions relate to plants grown in the field in Moondarra, Victoria, Australia. Descriptions of fruit characteristics were made on fruit grown in Moondarra, Victoria, Australia. Color designations are from Pantone Color Bridge plus. Classification: a. Family.Ericaceae. b. Genus.Vaccinium. c. Species.hybrid. d. Common name.Blueberry. Parentage: Female ParentMagnolia (not patented). Male ParentCaroline (not patented). Market class: A fruiting plant intended for the fresh fruit market.

PLANT

(6) General: a. Parentage.Magnolia x Caroline. b. Plant height.0.8-1 m. c. Plant width.0.5-0.6 m. d. Growth habit.Upright/whippy. e. Growth (vigor).Strong-very strong. f. Productivity.Medium to high (6.6 kg/plant). g. Cold hardiness.Not tested. h. Cold tolerance.Not tested. i. Chilling requirement.Not tested. j. Tolerance to disease.Not tested. k. Leafing.Strong to very strong. l. Twigginess.Moderate.

STEM

(7) General: a. Suckering tendency.4-5/plant. b. Mature cane color.199B/165BC. c. Mature cane length.0.7-0.75 m. d. Mature cane width.1 cm. e. Bark texture.Medium roughness. f. Surface texture of new wood.Smooth. g. Internode length on strong, new shoots.18 mm. h. Fruiting wood.Up to 18 cm in length.

FOLIAGE

(8) General: a. Time of beginning of leaf bud burst.Mid-late September. b. Leaf color (top side).148A/147A. c. Leaf color (under side).145B. d. Leaf arrangement.Alternate. e. Leaf shape.Elliptic. f. Leaf margins.Entire. g. Undulation of margin.Weak. h. Leaf venation.Reticulate. i. Leaf apices.Acute. j. Leaf bases.Obtuse. k. Leaf length.58-64 mm. l. Leaf width.26-28 mm. m. Leaf length/width ratio.Medium; about 1:0.44. n. Leaf nectarines.Absent. o. Pubescence of upper side.Absent. p. Pubescence of lower side.Absent. q. Cross sectional profile.Flat. r. Longitudinal profile.Straight. s. Attitude.Semi-upright. Petioles: a. Length.5 mm. b. Width.1.5-2 mm. c. Color.Yellow-Green 144D.

FLOWERS

(9) General: a. Time of beginning of flowering.25.sup.th September. b. Time of 50% anthesis.8.sup.th October. c. Flower shape.Urceolate. d. Flower bud density.Moderate to high (8 buds/lateral). e. Flower fragrance.Weak; sweet smell. Corolla: a. Length.9 mm. b. Width.7-8 mm. c. Aperture width.4 mm. d. Anthocyanin coloration of corolla.Absent. e. Corolla ridges.Present. f. Protrusion of stigma.Absent. Inflorescence: a. Length.25-30 mm. b. Diameter.28-32 mm. c. Length of peduncle.4-5 mm. d. Surface texture of peduncle.Smooth. e. Color of peduncle.145B/144C/D. f. Length of pedicel.8-10 mm. g. Surface texture of pedicel.Smooth. h. Color of pedicel.140B/144C/D. i. Number of flowers per cluster.6-7. j. Flower cluster density.Moderate. Calyx (with sepals): a. Diameter.7-8 mm. b. Color (sepals).145B/144A. Stamen: a. Length.6-7 mm. b. Number per flower.10-12. c. Filament color.142C/145C. Style: a. Length.8-9 mm. b. Color.145B/140B. Pistil: a. Length.10-12 mm. b. Ovary color (exterior).149C/144A. Anther: a. Length.3-4 mm. b. Number.10-12. Color.167A/164C. Pollen: a. Self-compatibility.Good (80%).

FRUIT

(10) General: a. Time of fruit ripening.Late December/early January at Moondarra, Victoria, Australia. b. Time of 50% maturity.Early to mid-January. c. Fruit development period.Approximately 80-90 days. d. Cluster density.23 berries per cluster. e. Unripe fruit color.142C. f. Ripe berry color.203C/103A. g. Berry surface wax abundance.Moderate-strong. h. Berry flesh color.149C/D. i. Berry weight.2.84 g. j. Berry height from calyx to scar.12-13 mm. k. Berry diameter.20-23 mm. l. Berry shape.Oblate. m. Fruit stem scar.Small/dry. n. Sweetness when ripe.Medium to high. o. Firmness when ripe.Firm. p. Acidity when ripe.Medium to high. q. Storage quality.Very good. r. Suitability for mechanical harvesting.Not suitable. s. Self-fruitfulness.Yes. t. Uses.Fresh fruit.

SEED

(11) General: a. Seed abundance in fruit.Moderate. b. Seed length.1-2 mm.

(12) TABLE-US-00001 COMPARISON BETWEEN COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS Brigitta MG09768- (not Organ Context 05-02 patented) Plant Vigor Strong Medium Plant Growth habit Upright to semi- Upright upright One-year- Color Greenish red Green old shoot One-year- Length of internode Medium Medium old shoot Leaf Length Medium Long Leaf Width Medium Broad Leaf Shape Elliptic Elliptic Leaf Color of upper side Green Green Leaf Intensity of green Light to medium Medium color on upper side (varieties with green leaf color only) Leaf Margin Entire Serrate Flower bud Anthocyanin Weak to medium Medium- coloration strong Flower Shape of corolla Urceolate Urceolate Flower Size of corolla tube Medium Medium Flower Anthocyanin coloration Absent or very Absent or of corolla tube weak very weak Flower Ridges on corolla tube Present Present Fruit Density Sparse Medium- cluster dense Unripe fruit Intensity of green color Light Light Fruit Size Large Medium Fruit Shape in longitudinal Oblate Oblate section Fruit Attitude of sepals Erect Erect Fruit Diameter of calyx basin Small to medium Small- medium Fruit Depth of calyx basin Shallow to medium Deep Fruit Intensity of bloom Medium to strong Medium Fruit Color of skin Dark blue Dark blue Fruit Firmness Soft to medium Medium Fruit Sweetness Medium to high Low- medium Fruit Acidity Medium to high Low- medium Time of Vegetative bud burst Early to medium Medium Time of Beginning of flowering Medium Medium Time of Beginning of fruit Medium Medium ripening Legacy (not Organ Context patented) Plant Vigor Medium to strong Plant Growth habit Upright to semi- upright One-year-old Color Reddish yellow shoot One-year-old Length of internode Short to medium shoot Leaf Length Medium Leaf Width Medium Leaf Shape Elliptic Leaf Color of upper side Green Leaf Intensity of green color on Medium to dark upper side (varieties with green leaf color only) Leaf Margin Entire Flower bud Anthocyanin coloration Weak Flower Shape of corolla Urceolate Flower Size of corolla tube Medium Flower Anthocyanin coloration Absent or very weak of corolla tube Flower Ridges on corolla tube Present Fruit cluster Density Medium Unripe fruit Intensity of green color Light Fruit Size Medium Fruit Shape in longitudinal Oblate section Fruit Attitude of sepals Erect to semi-erect Fruit Diameter of calyx basin Small Fruit Depth of calyx basin Medium to deep Fruit Intensity of bloom Medium Fruit Color of skin Dark blue Fruit Firmness Medium Fruit Sweetness Medium Fruit Acidity Medium Time of Vegetative bud burst Early to medium Time of Beginning of flowering Early to medium Time of Beginning of fruit Medium ripening