Southern highbush blueberry plant named ‘TH-1008’

Abstract

The new variety TH-1008 is provided. The new and distinct variety flowers in early March in south Georgia, requiring frost protection for acceptable yields. The fruit of the new variety TH-1008 are ripen in early May in south Georgia and are very large, firm, and have good flavor. The new variety TH-1008 is compact with an estimated chilling requirement of about 200 to 300 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-1008, as illustrated and described herein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) The accompanying photographic illustrations show typical specimens in full color of the foliage, flowering, and fruit of the new variety TH-1008. The colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type.

(2) FIG. 1 is a photograph of plants of the new variety TH-1008 during flowering in Alapaha, Ga.

(3) FIG. 2 is a close up photograph of flowers of the new variety TH-1008.

(4) FIG. 3 is a photograph of a plant of the new variety TH-1008 during fruit ripening in Alapaha, Ga.

(5) FIG. 4 is a close up photograph of fruit clusters of the new variety TH-1008.

(6) FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are photographs of harvested fruit of the new variety TH-1008.

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-1008. 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, Ga. with supplemental irrigation. Plant: Size.1.2 to 1.4 m tall by 3 years. Plants grown under highly productive soil and fertility conditions have exceeded 1.5 m tall in 4 years. The plant crown, or base, is narrow, typically 10 to 15 cm in diameter. Upper portion of plant canopy reaches 1.2 to 1.5 m in diameter by 3 to 4 years. Growth habit.Compact and semi-spreading, with 2 to 4 main canes arising from the crown, and multiple branching of shoots from those canes 10 to 15 cm above ground. Growth.Compact and moderately vigorous. Productivity.Medium to high crop yield, averaging 5 to 9 lbs of fruit per plant each year for plants 4 years and older grown under well fertilized and irrigated field conditions. Frost protection is required to reach yield potential due to early flowering. Hardiness.Has been grown in Alapaha, Ga. and Griffin, Ga., USDA hardiness zone 8a; similar to other early ripening southern highbush varieties such as Suziblue and Rebel. Chilling requirement.Very low to mid chill, requiring only 200 to 300 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 Emerald (100 to 150 hours of chilling required), but less than the female parent TH-687 (400 to 500 hours of chilling required). Leafing.Plants tend to break sufficient leaf buds simultaneously with, or shortly after, anthesis. Fruiting wood.Moderate number of twigs 10 to 15 cm in length, with internode lengths of 15 to 25 mm common. Canes.Diameter: Main cane base diameter 15 to 25 mm, two year old cane diameter 10 to 15 mm, current season wood diameter 3 to 5 mm. Color: Main cane color most near Brown N200D, two year old cane transitions from Yellow Green 145B to Greyed Orange 165A. Yellow Green 145B in current season wood. Disease and pest resistance.No exceptional disease and pest resistance or susceptibility observed. Typical for early season southern highbush Suziblue and Rebel cultivars. Foliage: Leaf color.Healthy mature leaves. Top side: Green 137B. Under side: Green N138C. Leaf arrangement.Alternate, simple. Leaf shape.Elliptic. Leaf surface.Glaucous. Leaf margins.Entire and smooth. Leaf venation.Arcuate, slightly to moderately reticulated. Leaf apices.Broadly acute. Leaf bases.Acute. Leaf dimensions.Length: 60.0 to 75.0 mm. Width: 35.0 to 40.0 mm. Petioles.Length: 3.5 to 5 mm. Width: 1.5 to 2.2 mm. Color: Yellow-Green 145C. Flowers: Date of 50% anthesis.March 1 in southeast Georgia (3 year average). Flower shape.Urceolate. Flower bud number.High, averaging 4 to 6 buds per fruiting shoot. Flowers per cluster.5 to 9 common. Flower fragrance.Slight cut flower fragrance. Corolla.Color: White NN 155B to White NN 155C (open flower). Length: 8.0 to 10.0 mm. Width: 7.0 to 8.0 mm. Aperture width: 3.0 to 4.0 mm. Flower peduncle.Length: 7.0 to 8.0 mm. Color: Green 138D. Flower pedicle.Length: 3.0 to 5.0 mm. Color: Green 138D. Calyx (with sepals).Diameter: 7.0 to 9.0 mm. Color: Green 138D. Stamen.Length: 6.0 to 7.0 mm. Number per flower: 10. Filament color: Green White 157B. Style.Length: 9.0 to 10.0 mm. Color: Yellow Green 145B to 145C. Pistil.Length: 10.0 to 11.0 mm. Ovary color (exterior): Green 138C. Anther.Length: 4.0 to 5.0 mm. Number: 10. Color: Greyed-Orange 166C. Pollen.Abundance: Low to medium. Color: White NN 155A. Self-compatibility.The cultivar has a moderate degree of self-compatibility. Fruit: Date of 50% maturity.May 10 in southeast Georgia (3 year average). Fruit development period.70 days. Berry color.With wax: Blue 100D. With wax removed: Black 203C. Berry surface wax abundance.High to very high. Berry flesh color.Green White 157A. Berry weight.First harvest: 3.1 to 3.6 g. Second harvest: 1.9 to 2.4 g. Berry size.Height from calyx to scar: 14.0 to 17.0 mm. Diameter: 16.0 to 20.0 mm. Berry shape.Semi-spherical to disk shape. Fruit stem scar.Small to medium, dry, with no tearing upon harvest. Calyx.Depth shallow, 2.0 to 3.0 nun; width 5.0 to 7.0 mm; sepals usually present, semi-erect or inward when present, 1.0 to 2.0 mm. Berry firmness.Good to very good. Berry flavor and texture.Semi-sweet, mildly acidic flavor; 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. Seed: Seed abundance in fruit.Low to medium, with 5 to 10 fully developed seeds per berry. Seed color.Greyed-Orange 165B. Seed dry weight.72.0 mg per 100 seed. Seed size.1.8 to 2.1 mm long.