Southern highbush blueberry plant named ‘TH-931’

Abstract

The new variety TH-931 is provided. The new and distinct variety ripens around late May in south Georgia and early June in middle Georgia. The fruit of the new variety TH-931 are very large and firm. The new variety TH-931 exhibits high yields with an estimated chilling requirement of about 400 to 500 hours at or below approximately 7 C. The asexually reproduced variety is reliably propagated vegetatively.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of southern highbush blueberry plant named TH-931, as illustrated and described herein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying photographic illustrations show typical specimens in full color of the foliage, flowering, and fruit of the new variety TH-931. The colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type. The age of the plants depicted in the photographs is between five and six years old. The observations for TH-931 presented here have only been made in a temperate climate. Therefore, dormancy occurs and fruiting is only on one year old shoots. The environment is not conducive to seeing flowering and fruiting on current season shoots.

(2) FIG. 1 is a photograph of the new variety TH-931 during flowering in Alapaha, Ga.

(3) FIG. 2 is a close up photograph of the new variety TH-931 during flowering in Alapaha, Ga.

(4) FIG. 3 is a photograph of the new variety TH-931 during fruit ripening in Alapaha, Ga.

(5) FIG. 4 is close up photographs of new variety TH-931 fruit clusters.

(6) FIGS. 5 and 6 are photographs of harvested fruit of the new variety TH-931

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(7) Throughout this specification, color names beginning with a small letter signify that the name of that color, as used in common speech, is aptly descriptive. Color names beginning with a capital letter designate values based upon The R.H.S. Colour Chart, 5.sup.th edition published in 2007 by The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England.

(8) The following is a detailed description of the botanical and pomological characteristics of the new variety TH-931. Where dimensions, sizes, colors, and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations and averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The descriptions reported herein are largely from four to six year old specimen plants grown in Alapaha and Griffin, Ga., with supplemental irrigation. Plant: Size.1.5 to 1.8 m tall by 4 years. Plants grown under highly productive soil and fertility conditions have exceeded 1.8 m tall in 4 years. The plant crown, or base, is medium, typically 25 to 35 cm in diameter. Upper portion of plant canopy reaches 1.3 to 1.5 m in diameter by 3 to 4 years. Growth habit.Mostly upright to semi-spreading, with 3 to 5 main canes arising from the crown within 10 cm of the soil surface. Growth.Moderately vigorous. Productivity.High to very high crop yield, averaging 13 to 21 lbs of fruit per plant each year for plants 4 years and older grown under well fertilized and irrigated field conditions. Hardiness.Has been grown in Alaphaha, Ga., USDA hardiness zone 8a; and in Griffin, Ga., USDA hardiness zone 8a; similar to other southern highbush varieties such as Camellia (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,151). Chilling requirement.400 to 500 hours, more or less, of temperatures at or below 7 C. to induce normal leafing and flowering during the spring under conventional dormant production systems. The chill requirement is more than the male parent Millennia (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,816; 250 to 350 hours of chilling required), and more similar to the female parent TH-622 (non-patented breeding selection; 450 to 550 hours of chilling required). Leafing.Plants tend to break sufficient leaf buds simultaneously with, or shortly after, anthesis. Fruiting wood.5-10 twigs 15 to 25 cm in length, with internode lengths of 15 to 20 mm common. Canes.Diameter: Main cane base diameter 30 to 50 mm, two year old cane diameter 15 to 20 mm, current season wood diameter 5 to 10 mm. Color: Main cane color most near Brown N200B, two year old cane transitions from Greyed Orange 165B to Grey 201B. Yellow Green 145C in current season wood. Disease and pest resistance.No exceptional disease and pest resistance or susceptibility observed. Typical for southern highbush Camellia cultivars. Foliage: Leaf color.Healthy mature leaves. Top side: Green 137A to Green N137A. Under side: Green 138C. Leaf arrangement.Alternate, simple. Leaf shape.Elliptic. Leaf surface.Glaucous, upper and lower. Leaf margins.Nearly entire. Leaf venation.Pinnate with slight netting. Leaf apices.Broadly acute. Leaf bases.Acute. Leaf dimensions.Length: 50.0 to 60.0 mm. Width: 30.0 to 35.0 mm. Petioles.Small. Length: 3.5 to 4.5 mm. Width: 1.5 to 2.0 mm. Color: Yellow-Green 145B. Flowers: Date of 50% anthesis.March 16 in southeast Georgia; March 27 in middle Georgia (5 year average). Flower shape.Urceolate. Flower bud number.Medium to high, averaging 3 to 6 buds per fruiting shoot. Vegetative bud burst.Beginning flowering for TH-931 on 1 year old shoots is March 5 to 15 on average. Leaf bud burst occurs nearer 50% flowering, or March 15 to 20 on average for first leaf buds. Flowers per cluster.5 to 7. Flower fragrance.None. Corolla tube.Color: White NN 155B to White 155C. Length: 9.0 to 10.0 mm. Width: 7.0 to 8.0 mm. Aperture width: 4.0 to 4.5 mm. Anthocyanin Coloration: medium to strong in early stages of bud development, but mostly absent in nearly open or entirely open corollas. Flower peduncle.Length: 8.0 to 10.0 mm. Color: Yellow Green 145B. Flower pedicle.Length: 0.5 to 2.0 mm. Color: Green 138B. Calyx (with sepals).Diameter: 7.0 to 8.0 mm. Color: Green 138B. Stamen.Length: 4.0 to 4.5 mm. Number per flower: 10. Filament color: Green White 157B. Style.Length: 8.0 to 9.0 mm. Color: Yellow Green 145B. Pistil.Length: 12.0 to 14.0 mm. Ovary color (exterior): Green 138B. Anther.Length: 4.5 to 5.5 mm. Number: 10. Color: Greyed-Orange 165B. Pollen.Abundance: High. Color: Yellow-White 158B. Self-compatibility.The cultivar has a moderate degree of self-compatibility. Fruit: Date of 50% maturity.May 21 in southeast Georgia; June 3 in middle Georgia (5 year average). Fruit development period.66 to 68 days. Fruit bloom intensity.Medium to strong. Berry color.With wax: Violet Blue 97B. With wax removed: Black 202A. Berry surface wax abundance.Medium to high. Berry flesh color.Green White 157B. Berry weight.First harvest: 3.5 to 5.0 g. Second harvest: 2.5 to 3.5 g. Berry size.Height from calyx to scar: 15.0 to 18.0 mm. Diameter: 18.0 to 23.0 mm. Berry shape.Nearly spherical. Fruit stem scar.Medium, dry, with no tearing upon harvest. Calyx.Depth shallow, 1.5 to 2.5 mm; width 5.0 to 7.0 mm; sepals occasionally present, inward when present, <1 mm. Berry firmness.Good to very good. Berry flavor and texture.Flavor sharply (high) acidic flavor, mild sweetness; smooth texture. Storage quality.Very good. Suitability for mechanical harvesting.Not likely suitable. Uses.Primarily to be used as fresh fruit for shipping and processing markets. Infructescence (fruit clusters).Medium density or looseness. Seed: Seed abundance in fruit.Medium to high, with 10 to 20 (or more) fully developed seeds per berry. Seed color.Greyed-Orange 165B. Seed dry weight.55.6 mg per 100 seed. Seed size.1.8 to 2.1 mm long.