Southern highbush blueberry plant named ‘TH-1125’

Abstract

The new variety TH-1125 ripens around early May in south Georgia. The fruit of the new variety TH-1125 are large, firm and have good flavor. The new variety TH-1125 is vigorous with an estimated chilling requirement of about 250 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-1125, 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-1125. The colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type.

(2) FIGS. 1A and 1B show photographs of six year old plants of the new variety TH-1125 during flowering at Alapaha, Ga.

(3) FIG. 2 is a photograph of six year old plants of the new variety TH-1125 during fruit ripening at Alapaha, Ga.

(4) FIG. 3 is a close up photograph of fruit clusters of the new variety TH-1125.

(5) FIGS. 4A and 4B are photographs of harvested berries of the new variety TH-1125; with photograph 4B showing a bisected berry.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(6) 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.

(7) The following is a detailed description of the botanical and pomological characteristics of the new variety TH-1125. 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 specimen plants grown in Alapaha and Griffin, Ga., with supplemental irrigation. Plants were about 3 to about 6 years old. Plant: Size.1.2 to 1.6 m tall by 3 years. Plants grown under highly productive soil and fertility conditions have exceeded 2.0 m tall in 4 years. The plant crown, or base, is very narrow, typically 15 to 25 cm in diameter. The upper portion of the plant canopy exceeds 1.0 m in diameter by 3 to 4 years. Growth habit.Strongly upright, vertical growth, with 2 to 4 main canes arising from the crown, and multiple branching of shoots from those canes above ground. Growth.Moderately vigorous. Productivity.Medium crop and yield, averaging 5 to 7 lbs of fruit per plant each year for plants 3 years and older grown under well-fertilized and irrigated field conditions. Hardiness.Not fully determined. Has been grown at locations in GA, having USDA hardiness zones 8a and 8b and in an area in Peru that does not experience freezing temperatures. Chilling requirement.250 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 less than the male parent, Palmetto (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,756; 400 to 450 hours of chilling required), and the female parent, Camellia (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,151; 500 to 550 hours of chilling required). TH-1125 has shown a propensity for evergreen production with little or no chilling when grown under lower latitude locations. Leafing.Plants tend to break sufficient leaf buds simultaneously with or shortly after anthesis. Fruiting wood.Twigs 10 to 15 cm in length with internode lengths of 15 to 25 mm common. Canes.Diameter: Main cane base diameter 20 to 30 mm, two-year-old cane diameter 10 to 15 mm, current season wood diameter 4 to 8 mm. Color: Main cane color most near Brown RHS N200C to Grey RHS 201C for base of canes, two-year-old cane transitions from Yellow Green RHS 145A to Greyed Orange RHS 177B. Yellow Green RHS 145A in current season wood. Disease and pest resistance.None observed. Foliage: Leaf color.Healthy mature leaves. Top side: Green RHS 137C to RHS 138A. Under side: Yellow Green RHS 147C. Leaf arrangement.Alternate, simple. Leaf shape.Elliptic. Leaf surface.Glaucous, both upper and lower surfaces. Leaf margins.Nearly smooth. Leaf venation.Reticulate. Leaf apices.Broadly acute. Leaf bases.Acute. Leaf dimensions.Length: 60.0 to 70.0 mm. Width: 30.0 to 35.0 mm. Petioles.Small. Length: 3.0 to 5.0 mm. Width: 1.5 to 2.0 mm. Color: Yellow Green RHS 145B. Vegetative buds: Typically begin to burst in mid to late February in Southeast GA. Flowers: Date of 50% anthesis.February 22 to February 28 in southeast Georgia (5 year average). Flowers begin to open in early to mid-February in Southeast GA. Flower shape.Urceolate. Flower bud number.Medium, averaging 3 to 5 buds per fruiting shoot. Flowers per cluster.4 to 7 common. Flower fragrance.None. Corolla tube.Color: White RHS NN155C (open flower). Length: 9.5 to 11.5 mm. Width: 7.0 to 7.5 mm. Aperture width: 3.0 to 4.0 mm. Anthocyanin: Medium prior to flower opening (RHS 63C to 62B), but generally absent when corollas are fully expanded. Flower peduncle.Length: 8.5 to 12.0 mm. Color: Yellow Green RHS 145C. Flower pedicle.Length: 3.0 to 4.5 mm. Color: Green RHS 138C. Calyx (with sepals).Diameter: 6.5 to 7.5 mm. Color: Green RHS 137C. Stamen.Length: 7.0 to 7.5 mm. Number per flower: 10. Filament color: Yellow Green RHS 145D. Style.Length: 8.5 to 9.5 mm. Color: Yellow Green RHS 145B. Pistil.Length: 10.5 to 12.0 mm. Ovary color (exterior): Green RHS 138B. Anther.Length: 4.0 to 4.8 mm. Number: 10. Color: Greyed Orange RHS 165B. Pollen.Abundance: Medium to high. Color: Yellow White RHS 158A. Self-compatibility.The cultivar has a moderate degree of self-compatibility. Fruit: Date of 50% maturity.April 22 to 28 in southeast Georgia (5 year average). Fruit development period.57 to 62 days. Fruit bloom intensity.Medium to strong. Fruiting.One year old shoots and current shoots depending upon climate where plant is grown. Berry color.With wax: Violet Blue RHS 97B to RHS 98D. With wax removed: Black RHS 203C. Berry surface wax abundance.Medium to high. Berry flesh color.Yellow Green RHS 145D. Berry weight.First harvest: 2.8 to 3.5 g. Second harvest: 1.8 to 2.2 g. Berry size.Height from calyx to scar: 12.0 to 14.0 mm. Diameter: 17.0 to 21.0 mm. Berry shape.Semi-disk shape. Fruit stem scar.Small to medium, dry, with little or no tearing upon harvest, scar size typically ranges from 0.8 mm to 1.2 mm. Calyx.Depth shallow, 1.0 to 2.0 mm; width 6.0 to 9.0 mm; sepals typically not highly visible, slightly turned outward and flat to semi-erect when present, <1 mm. Berry firmness.Very firm. Berry flavor and texture.Flavor moderately acidic flavor, semi-sweet; crisp texture. Berry acidity.Fruit acidity is medium to high. Storage quality.Very good. Berries remain firm and retain good quality for about 20 to 28 days in proper storage. Suitability for mechanical harvesting.Unknown. Uses.Primarily to be used as fresh fruit for shipping and processing markets. Seed: Seed abundance in fruit.Medium with 10 to 20 fully developed seeds per berry. Seed color.Greyed Orange RHS 165B. Seed dry weight.44.1 mg per 100 seed. Seed size.1.8 to 2.1 mm long.