Blueberry plant named ‘MG07876-15-003’

Abstract

The new blueberry plant variety MG07876-15-003 is provided. MG07876-15-003 is a commercial variety intended for the fresh fruit market. The variety is produced from a cross of Elliott and Caroline, which can be distinguished by its outstanding features.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of blueberry plant named MG07876-15-003, 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 MG07876-15-003. 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 MG07876-15-003, demonstrating the plant's upright growth habit at approximately 6 years of age.

(3) FIG. 2 is a photograph of the fruit of the new variety MG07876-15-003 at approximately 6 years of age.

(4) FIG. 3 is a photograph of the flowers of the new variety MG07876-15-003 at approximately 6 years of age.

(5) 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

(6) The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of MG07876-15-003. 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 parent.Elliott (not patented). Male parent.Caroline (not patented). Market class: A fruiting plant intended for the fresh fruit market.

PLANT

(7) General: a. Parentage.Elliott x Caroline. b. Plant height.0.9-1.2 m. c. Plant width.0.7-0.8 m. d. Growth habit.Upright/whippy. e. Growth (vigor).Strong to 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

(8) General: a. Suckering tendency.7-8/plant. b. Mature cane color.165A/161D-164C. c. Mature cane length.0.9 m. d. Mature cane width.1.1 cm. e. Bark texture.Medium roughness. f. Fall color on new shoots.N/A. g. Surface texture of new wood.Smooth. h. Internode length on strong, new shoots.20 mm. i. Fruiting wood.Up to 18 cm in length.

FOLIAGE

(9) General: a. Time of beginning of leaf bud burst.Approximately mid-October. b. Leaf color (top side).135B/137A. c. Leaf color (under side).145B/138D. 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.66-79 mm. l. Leaf width.35-38 mm. m. Leaf length/width ratio.Medium; 1:0.53-1:0.48. 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.4-6 mm. b. Width.1.5 mm. c. Color.Yellow-Green 144D.

FLOWERS

(10) General: a. Time of beginning of flowering.19.sup.th October. b. Time of 50% anthesis.27.sup.th October. c. Flower shape.Urceolate. d. Flower bud density.Moderate to high. e. Flower fragrance.Weak; sweet smell. Corolla: a. Length.11-13 mm. b. Width.5-6 mm. c. Aperture width.Approximately 5 mm. d. Anthocyanin coloration of corolla.Absent. e. Corolla ridges.Present. f. Protrusion of stigma.Absent. Inflorescence: a. Length.26 mm. b. Diameter.35-40 mm. c. Surface texture of peduncle.Smooth. d. Surface texture of pedicel.Smooth. e. Color of pedicel.146C/144A. f. Number of flowers per cluster.Approximately 8-10. g. Flower cluster density.Moderate. Calyx (with sepals): a. Diameter.6-7 mm. b. Color (sepals).176C/145B. Stamen: a. Length.7-8 mm. b. Number per flower.Approximately 10. c. Filament color.145D/142C. d. Style length.8-9 mm. e. Color.N144A/C. Style: a. Length.8-9 mm. b. Color.N144A/C. Pistil: a. Length.11-12 mm. b. Ovary color (exterior).144A/135B. Anther: a. Length.4-5 mm. b. Number.Approximately 10. c. Color.165B. Pollen: Self-compatibility.Yes (100%).

FRUIT

(11) General: a. Time of fruit ripening.Very late; February to March in Moondarra, Victoria, Australia. b. Time of 50% maturity.Late February. c. Fruit development period.Approximately 90-100 days. d. Cluster density.24 berries per cluster. e. Unripe fruit color.N144D. f. Ripe berry color.203C. g. Berry surface wax abundance.Moderate. h. Berry flesh color.145D. i. Berry weight.1.5-2.5 g. j. Berry height from calyx to scar.12-15 mm. k. Berry diameter.18-20 mm. l. Berry shape.Oblate. m. Fruit stem scar.Small, dry. n. Sweetness when ripe.Medium. o. Firmness when ripe.Firm. p. Acidity when ripe.Low to medium. q. Storage quality.Good. r. Suitability for mechanical harvesting.N/A. s. Self-fruitfulness.Yes. t. Uses.Fresh fruit. u. Type.On one-year-old shoots only.

SEED

(12) General: a. Seed abundance in fruit.Moderate. b. Seed color.167A/164A. c. Seed length.1 mm.

(13) TABLE-US-00001 COMPARISON BETWEEN COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS Ridley 0808 Brigitta (U.S. Plant MG07876- (not Pat. No. Organ Context 15-003 patented) 31,074) Plant Vigor Strong Medium Strong Plant Growth habit Semi- Upright Upright upright One-year- Color Green Green Green old shoot One-year- Length of Medium Medium Medium old shoot internode to long Leaf Length Long; 66-79 Long Medium to long Leaf Width Broad Broad Broad Leaf Shape Elliptic Elliptic Elliptic Leaf Color of upper Green; Green Green side 135B/137A Leaf Intensity of green Light- Medium Medium color on upper medium side (varieties with green leaf color only) Leaf Margin Entire Serrate Entire Flower Anthocyanin Medium- Medium- Medium bud coloration strong strong Flower Shape of corolla Urceolate Urceolate Urceolate Flower Size of corolla Medium Medium Medium tube Flower Anthocyanin Absent or Absent or Absent or coloration of very very very corolla tube weak weak weak Flower Ridges on corolla Present Present Present tube Fruit Density Dense Medium- Medium cluster dense Unripe Intensity of green Light- Light Light fruit color medium; N144D Fruit Size Large; Medium Medium 18-20 mm to large Fruit Shape in longi- Oblate Oblate Oblate tudinal section Fruit Attitude of sepals Erect Erect Erect Fruit Diameter of calyx Small- Small- Large to basin medium medium very large Fruit Depth of calyx Medium- Deep Deep basin deep Fruit Intensity of bloom Medium Medium Strong Fruit Color of skin Dark blue; Dark blue Dark blue 203C Fruit Firmness Firm Medium Very firm Fruit Sweetness Medium- Low- Very high high medium Fruit Acidity Low- Low- Medium medium medium to high Time of Vegetative bud Late Medium Medium burst to late Time of Beginning of Late Medium Medium flowering to late Time of Beginning of Very late Medium Medium fruit ripening to late