Blueberry plant variety named ‘DrisBlueTwentyOne’

Abstract

A new and distinct variety of blueberry plant named DrisBlueTwentyOne, particularly selected for productivity, medium to large, firm, sweet-flavored fruit, and a mid-range chill hour requirement suitable for production in latitudes ranging from 30 to 40 degrees, is disclosed.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of blueberry plant designated DrisBlueTwentyOne 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 eight years old, unless otherwise specified.

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

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates leaves of variety DrisBlueTwentyOne. The upper leaf surface is shown on the left side and the lower leaf surface is shown on the right side.

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates clusters of flowers of variety DrisBlueTwentyOne.

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates whole fruit (top row) and longitudinal sections (bottom row) of the fruit of variety DrisBlueTwentyOne. On the top row, counting from left, the first and second fruit show the top view (calyx basin) of the whole fruit, and the third and fourth fruit show the bottom view (fruit-pedicel junction) of the whole fruit, and the second and fourth fruit have the bloom removed.

(6) FIG. 5 illustrates whole fruit (top row), cross-sections (bottom row, right two fruit) and longitudinal sections (bottom row, left two fruit) of the fruit of variety DrisBlueTwentyOne. On the top row, counting from left, the first and second fruit show the top view (calyx basin) of the whole fruit, the third and fourth fruit show the bottom view (fruit-pedicel junction) of the whole fruit, and the first and third fruit have the bloom removed.

(7) FIG. 6 illustrates a plant of variety DrisBlueTwentyOne.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(8) The following description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of DrisBlueTwentyOne. The data which define these characteristics is based on observations taken in Santa Cruz, Calif. from 2008 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. DrisBlueTwentyOne has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The botanical description of DrisBlueTwentyOne was taken from eight-year-old plants, unless noted otherwise. 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.) (2007 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.DrisBlueTwentyOne. Parentage: Female parent.The proprietary blueberry plant 136D 2 (unpatented). Male parent.The proprietary blueberry plant 181C 1 (unpatented). Plant: Height.172.2 cm. Width.202.2 cm. Length/width ratio.0.9. Growth habit.Semi-upright. One-year-old canes (young canes).Length: 45 cm. Diameter at the base: 8 mm. Diameter at the tip: 2 mm. Internode length on the upper half: 13.0 mm. Color: RHS 145A (Yellow-green). Texture: Smooth. Five-year-old canes (mature canes).Length: 157 cm. Diameter at the base: 28 mm. Diameter at the tip: 2 mm. Color: RHS 199D (Grey-brown). Texture: Rough. Leaves: Length.56.6 mm. Width.27.8 mm. Length/width ratio.2.0. Internode length.12.98 mm. Shape.Elliptic. Margin.Entire. Color on upper side.RHS 133 (Dark green). Color of underside.RHS 148C (Yellow-green). Arrangement.Alternate. Venation.Reticulate. Apex shape.Acute. Base shape.Cuneate. Trichomes on upper side.Glabrous (Absent). Sheath.Absent. Petiole.Length: 3.0 mm. Diameter: 1.21 mm. Color: RHS 145B (Yellow-green). Flowers: Inflorescence length (excluding peduncle).Medium. Flower length (excluding peduncle).11.58 mm. Flower diameter.6.02 mm. Flower length/width ratio.1.9. Flower color.RHS 157A (Green-white). Fragrance.Medium. Flower bud.Length: 6 mm. Width: 4 mm. Number of flowers per bud: 7. Color on immature buds: RHS 183A (Dark red). Color on mature buds: RHS 64B (Strong purplish red). Anthocyanin color: RHS 166B (Moderate reddish brown). Pedicel.Length: 3.20 mm. Diameter: 0.84 mm. Color: RHS 143C (Green). Corolla.Shape: Urceolate. Anthocyanin coloration of corolla tube: Very weak, on unopened flowers only. Anthocyanin color of corolla tube: RHS 58B (Red-purple). Ridges on corolla tube: Present. Petal width (ridge to ridge): 3.73 mm. Diameter of corolla aperture: 2.69 mm. Reproductive organs.Style length (including stigma): 8.49 mm. Style color: RHS 145A (Yellow-green). Ovary color: RHS 191B (Greyed-green). Anther color: RHS N172D (Greyed-orange). Flowering interval on one-year shoot.March-April. Fruit: Length.11.45 mm. Diameter.11.21 mm. Length/width ratio.1.0. Shape in longitudinal section.Round. Attitude of sepals.Semi-erect. Type of sepals.Incurving. Calyx basin.Diameter: 5.46 mm. Depth: 3.31 mm. Diameter/depth ratio: 1.6. Number of berries per cluster.2.90. Peduncle length.14.70 mm. Diameter of pedicel.0.80 mm. Seed.Length: 1.28 mm. Width: 0.72 mm. Length/width ratio: 1.8. Seed color: RHS 163A (Greyed-orange). Color of unripe fruit.RHS 145D (Yellow-green). Color of skin without bloom on immature (maturing, not green) fruit.RHS 59A (Red-purple). Color of fruit without bloom on mature fruit.RHS 99A (Dark-blue). Color of skin with bloom on mature fruit.RHS 97A (Violet-blue). Flesh color.RHS 145B (Yellow-green). Fruit firmness.Firm. Fruit sweetness.Low. Fruit acidity.Low. Fruiting type.On one-year-old shoots only. Ripening interval on one-year-old shoot.Mid-June to mid-August. Yield.8,000 kg to 12,000 kg of fruit per hectare per season from 60-month old plants when grown at Watsonville, Calif. Resistance to abiotic stress, pests, and diseases: Heat.Moderately susceptible. Spotted-wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii).Moderately susceptible. Botrytis fruit rot (Botrytis cinerea).Moderately susceptible. Botryosphaeria stem blight.Moderately susceptible. Phomopsis stem blight.Moderately susceptible.

COMPARISONS TO PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL BLUEBERRY VARIETIES

(9) DrisBlueTwentyOne differs from the proprietary female parent 136D 2 (unpatented) in that DrisBlueTwentyOne has higher yield in a concentrated ripening period when compared to 136D 2.

(10) DrisBlueTwentyOne differs from the proprietary male parent 181C 1 (unpatented) in that fruit of DrisBlueTwentyOne are larger in size than fruit of 181C 1.

(11) DrisBlueTwentyOne differs from commercial blueberry plant variety DrisBlueOne (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,449) in that flowers of DrisBlueTwentyOne have a medium size of corolla tube, whereas flowers of DrisBlueOne have a large size of corolla tube. Moreover, unripe fruit of DrisBlueTwentyOne have a light intensity of green color, whereas unripe fruit of DrisBlueOne have a medium intensity of green color. Further, mature fruit of DrisBlueTwentyOne have a dark blue color of skin after removal of bloom, whereas mature fruit of DrisBlueOne have a medium blue color of skin after removal of bloom. Additionally, fruit of DrisBlueTwentyOne have a low sweetness, whereas fruit of DrisBlueOne have a medium sweetness.

(12) DrisBlueTwentyOne differs from the commercial blueberry plant variety DrisBlueTwo (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,488) in that one-year-old shoot of DrisBlueTwentyOne has a green color, whereas on-year-old shoot of DrisBlueTwo has a greyish red color. Moreover, leaves of DrisBlueTwentyOne have an elliptic shape, whereas leaves of DrisBlueTwo have an ovate shape. Further, leaves of DrisBlueTwentyOne have an entire margin, whereas leaves of DrisBlueTwo have a serrate margin. Additionally, unripe fruit of DrisBlueTwentyOne have a light intensity of green color, whereas unripe fruit of DrisBlueTwo have a dark intensity of green color.