Blueberry plant named ‘FCM14-052’

Abstract

The new blueberry plant variety FCM14-052 is provided. FCM14-052 is a commercial variety intended for the hand harvest fresh market. The new blueberry plant originated from a cross of FL01-06 (female parent, not patented) by FL06-556 (pollen parent, U.S. Pat. No. 27,771). FCM14-052 selected because it flowered and fruited more than most genotypes in a low latitude, zero chill evergreen production system and had large fruit with a small picking scar. FCM14-052 also produces significant numbers of flower buds in a zero chill climate, resulting in a concentrated harvest window.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of blueberry plant named FCM14-052 substantially as illustrated and described herein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 depicts a mature plant of FCM14-052 grown in Tala, Jalisco, Mexico and photographed on Oct. 2, 2017.

(2) FIG. 2 depicts a young plant of FCM14-052 grown Tala, Jalisco, Mexico and photographed on Mar. 21, 2016.

(3) FIG. 3 depicts fruit of FCM14-052 grown in Tala, Jalisco, Mexico photographed on Dec. 28, 2015.

(4) FIG. 4 depicts early fruit clusters of FCM14-052 grown in Tala, Jalisco, Mexico and photographed on Oct. 2, 2017.

(5) FIG. 5 depicts a mature plant of FCM14-052 grown in Tala, Jalisco, Mexico and photographed on Sep. 26, 2018.

(6) FIG. 6 depicts an early fruit cluster of FCM14-052 grown in Tala, Jalisco, Mexico and photographed on Sep. 26, 2018.

(7) FIG. 7 depicts a budding plant with early fruit clusters of FCM14-052 grown in Tala, Jalisco, Mexico and photographed on Sep. 26, 2018.

(8) FIG. 8 depicts early fruit clusters of FCM14-052 grown in Tala, Jalisco, Mexico and photographed on Sep. 26, 2018.

(9) FIG. 9 depicts fruit of FCM14-052 grown in Tala, Jalisco, Mexico and photographed on Sep. 26, 2018.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(10) The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of FCM14-052. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions of the original selection. Dimensions, sizes, colors, and other characteristics are approximations and averages set forth as accurately as possible. All measurements are the average of five observations. The plant history was taken on mature plants approximately 2 years of age, and the descriptions relate to plants grown in the field in Tala, state of Jalisco, Mexico unless otherwise noted (observations on fall leaf color and some other traits were collected on plants grown in Lowell, Oreg.). Descriptions of fruit characteristics were made on fruit grown in Tala, State of Jalisco, Mexico. Color designations are from The Pantone Book of Color (by Leatrice Eiseman and Lawrence Herbery, Harry N. Abrams, Inc., Publishers, New York 1990) unless noted otherwise. Where the Pantone color designations differ from the colors in the photographs, the Pantone colors are accurate.

VARIETY

(11) Classification: a. Family.Ericaceae. b. Genus.Vaccinium. c. Species.Corymbosum. d. Common name.Southern Highbush Blueberry. Parentage: a. Female parent.FL01-06 (not patented). b. Male parent.FL06-556 (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,771). Market class: Commercial blueberry variety intended for the hand harvest fresh market.

PLANT

(12) General: a. Parentage.Female parent FL01-06 (not patented) Male parent FL06-556 (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,771). b. Plant height.Average of 132.8 cm. c. Plant width.Average of 127.4 cm. d. Growth habit.Round. e. Growth.Vigorous. f. Productivity.Medium, average of 2.1 kilos per plant, per season on a 2 year old plant, compared to 1.86 kilos per plant per season for the commercial variety Biloxi (not patented). g. Cold hardiness.Not determined, likely USDA zone 7 given southern highbush parentage. h. Chilling requirement.Not determined, estimated at less than 400 hours less than 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Capable of fruiting well with zero chill hours when maintained in an evergreen state of growth. i. Leafing.Excellent leafing. j. Twigginess.Medium. k. Resistance/susceptibility to root rot (phytopthora cinnamomii).Does not appear to be overly susceptible. l. Resistance/susceptibility to stem blight (botryosphaeria sp.).Does not appear to be overly susceptible. m. Resistance/susceptibility to phomopsis twig blight (Phomopsis vaccinii).Not evaluated. n. Resistance/susceptibility to botrytis (botrytis cinerea).Does not appear to be overly susceptible. o. Resistance/susceptibility to leaf spot (septoria spp.).Does not appear to be overly susceptible. p. Resistance/susceptibility to leaf rust (naohidemyces vaccinii).Moderately susceptible to leaf rust. q. Resistance/susceptibility to bud mites (acalatus vaccinii).Not evaluated.

STEM

(13) General: a. Suckering tendency.Medium. b. Mature cane color.Pantone color Maple Sugar 15-1316. c. Mature cane length.Average of 109.4 cm. d. Mature cane width.Average of 20.5 mm. e. Bark texture.Rough. f. Fall color on new shoots.Pantone color Forest Green 17-0230. g. Surface texture of new wood.Smooth. h. Internode length on strong, new shoots.Average of 24.1 mm. i. Average number of buds per fruiting lateral.Average of 6.4.

FOLIAGE

(14) General: a. Time of beginning of leaf bud burst.Not observed in Tala, Mexico. In Lowell, Oreg., late February to early March. b. Leaf color (top side).Pantone color Black Forest 19-0315. c. Leaf color (under side).Pantone colors Mistletoe 16-0220 Fall leaf color Pantone color Chive 19-0323. d. Leaf arrangement.Alternate. e. Leaf shape.Elliptic. f. Leaf margins.Entire. g. Leaf venation.Anastomosing. h. Leaf apices.Attenuate. l. Leaf bases.Obtuse. j. Leaf length.Average of 61.5 mm. k. Leaf width.Average of 30.6 mm. l. Leaf length/width ratio.2.0 medium. m. Leaf nectaries.Absent. n. Pubescence of upper side.Absent. o. Pubescence of lower side.Absent. p. Cross sectional profile.Plane. q. Longitudinal profile.Entire. r. Attitude.Ascending. Petioles: a. Length.Average of 6.828 mm. b. Width.Average of 1.22 mm. c. Color.Pantone color Tarragon 15-0326. d. Surface texture.Smooth.

FLOWERS

(15) General: a. Time of beginning of flowering.In Tala, Mexico approximately 110-120 days after pruning. b. Time of 50% anthesis.In Tala, Mexico approximately 140-150 days after priming. c. Flower shape.Urceolate. d. Flower fragrance.Faint. e. Immature flower color.Pantone color Frozen Dew 13-0513. f. Pollen staining.95% viable stained with acetocarmine red. g. Self-compatibility.Medium, 42% of self-pollinated flowers reaching maturity. Corolla: a. Color.Pantone color Angora 12-0605. b. Length.Average of 8.26 mm. c. Width.Average of 7.32 mm. d. Aperture width.Average of 3.78 mm. e. Anthocyanin coloration of corolla at time of anthesis.In Tala, Mexico: low. f. Corolla ridges.Present, distinct. g. Protrusion of stigma.Average of 0.66 mm. Inflorescence: a. Length.Average of 17.1 mm. b. Diameter.Average of 33.4 mm. c. Length of peduncle.Average of 15.2 mm. d. Surface texture of peduncle.Smooth. e. Color of peduncle.Pantone color Leaf Green 15-0332. f. Length of pedicel.Average of 5.1 mm. g. Surface texture of pedicel.Smooth. h. Color of pedicel.Pantone Green Oasis 15-0538. l. Number of flowers per cluster.Average of 6.6. J. Flower cluster density.Low (loose). Calyx (with sepals): a. Diameter.Average of 5.1 mm. b. Color (sepals).Pantone color Mistletoe 16-0220. c. Calyx surface.Smooth. Stamen: a. Length.Average of 5.17 mm. b. Number per flower.9.6. c. Filament color.Pantone color Green Banana 14-0434. Pistil: a. Length.Average of 9.77 mm. b. Ovary color (exterior).Pantone color Forest Green 17-0230. c. Style.Length Average of 8.98 mm. Anther: a. Length.Average of 6.7 mm. b. Number.9.6. c. Color.Pantone colors Nugget 16-1148 & Green Banana 14-0434. Pollen: a. Abundance.Abundant. b. Color.Pantone color Cornsilk 13-0932.

FRUIT

(16) General: a. Time of fruit ripening.Approximately October 15 in Tala, Mexico, depending on timing of previous pruning. b. Time of 50% maturity.Approximately October 31 in Tala, Mexico, depending on timing of previous pruning. In Lowell, Oreg.: June 12. c. Fruit development period.Approximately 60 days from fruit set to ripe. d. Mean harvest date.Approximately December 25 in Tala, Mexico when plants were pruned the previous June. Dependent on timing of previous pruning. e. Mean date last pick.Last pick occurred on approximately January 1 in Tala, Mexico. Dependent on timing of previous pruning. f. Cluster density.Medium. g. Berries per cluster.Average of 7. h. Unripe fruit color.Pantone color Lettuce Green 13-0324. i. Ripe berry color.Pantone color Lavender Gray 17-3910. j. Berry skin color after polishing.Pantone color Ebony 19-4104. k. Berry surface wax abundance.Medium-low. l. Berry flesh color.Pantone color hemp 14-0721. m. Berry weight.Average of 3.6 g per berry. n. Berry height from calyx to scar.Average of 15.55 mm. o. Berry diameter.Average of 19.73 mm. p. Calyx aperture.Average of 8.46 mm. q. Calyx depth.Average of 0.37 mm. r. Pedicel length.Average of 6.83 mm. s. Pedicel surface texture.Smooth. t. Berry detachment force.Medium, 1.5 Newtons. u. Berry shape.Oblate. v. Fruit stem scar.Small, dry. w. Berry flavor.Mild aromatic, sweet with low acidity. x. Sweetness when ripe.Medium-high. y. Firmness when ripe.Very firm, 181.56 gr/mm. (1) Acidity when ripe.Medium-low, 1.132. (2) Storage quality.Good. (3) Suitability for mechanical harvesting.Not well suited. (4) Self-fruitfulness.High. (5) Uses.Fresh market fruit production.

SEED

(17) General: a. Seed abundance in fruit.Medium, From 3 to 10 seeds per fruit under bad pollination and controlled cross. b. Seed color.Pantone color Biscuit 16-336. c. Seed dry weight.Average 0.41 mg. d. Seed length.Average of 2.03 mm.

COMPARISON BETWEEN PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

(18) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Comparison Table State of State of expression expression of Denomination of Characteristic for of similar candidate variety similar variety comparison variety FCM14-052 Biloxi (not Concentration of Very Concentrated patented) production extended Biloxi Yield High Medium Biloxi Fruit firmness Medium Very firm Biloxi Plant vigor Very vigorous Vigorous Biloxi Fruit size Small Medium-Large Biloxi Fruit color Light blue Medium light or medium dark blue