Blueberry plant variety named ‘DrisBlueNineteen’

Abstract

A new and distinct variety of blueberry plant named DrisBlueNineteen, particularly selected as an early-season evergreen blueberry variety that needs no apparent chilling requirement to produce a large volume of high quality fruit, is disclosed.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of blueberry plant designated DrisBlueNineteen as shown and described herein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) This new blueberry plant variety is illustrated by the accompanying photographs. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs are of plants that are four years old.

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a section of a current season one-year-old cane of variety DrisBlueNineteen.

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates leaves of variety DrisBlueNineteen. The upper leaf surfaces are shown on the top and the lower leaf surfaces are shown on the bottom.

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates a cluster of flowers and flower buds of variety DrisBlueNineteen.

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates a top (calyx basin) view of whole fruit of variety DrisBlueNineteen.

(6) FIG. 5 illustrates a bottom (fruit-pedicel junction) view of whole fruit of variety DrisBlueNineteen.

(7) FIG. 6 illustrates cross-sections (right two columns) and longitudinal sections (left two columns) of the fruit of variety DrisBlueNineteen.

(8) FIG. 7 illustrates plants bearing flowers of variety DrisBlueNineteen.

(9) FIG. 8 illustrates plants bearing fruit of variety DrisBlueNineteen.

(10) FIG. 9 illustrates plants bearing flowers and fruit of variety DrisBlueNineteen.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(11) The following description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of DrisBlueNineteen. The data which define these characteristics is based on observations taken in Santa Cruz County, Calif., Ventura County, Calif., and Hillsborough County, Fla. from 2013 to 2017. This description is in accordance with UPOV terminology. Color designations, color descriptions, and other phenotypical descriptions may deviate from the stated values and descriptions depending upon variation in environmental, seasonal, climatic and cultural conditions. DrisBlueNineteen has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The botanical description of DrisBlueNineteen was taken from four-year-old plants, unless noted otherwise. The indicated values represent averages calculated from measurements of several plants. Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (2007 edition), Descriptive terminology follows the Plant Identification Terminology, An Illustrated Glossary, 2.sup.nd edition by James G. Harris and Melinda Woolf Harris, unless where otherwise defined. Classification: Family.Ericaceae. Botanical.Vaccinium corymbosum L. Common name.Blueberry. Variety name.DrisBlueNineteen. Parentage: Female parent.The proprietary blueberry plant DrisBlueSeven (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,605). Male parent.The proprietary blueberry plant 193C 4 (unpatented). Plant: Height.138.17 cm. Width.182.3 cm. Length/width ratio.0.8. Growth habit.Semi-upright. Internode length.15.49 mm. One-year-old canes (young canes).Length: 55 cm. Diameter at the base: 9 mm. Diameter at the tip: 8 mm. Internode length on the upper half: 3.7 cm. Color: RHS 146B (Moderate yellow-green). Five-year-old canes (mature canes).Length: 40 cm. Diameter at the base: 31 mm. Diameter at the tip: 19 mm. Five-year-old cane surface texture: Rough. Five-year-old cane color: RHS 199B (Light olive brown). Leaves: Length.80.6 mm. Width.40.3 mm. Length/width ratio.2.0. Shape.Ovate. Margin.Entire. Color on upper side.RHS N189 (Greyed green). Color of lower side.RHS 191A (Greyish yellow-green). Shape of the leaf apex.Cuspidate. Shape of the leaf base.Cuneate. Petiole.Length: 3.1 mm. Diameter: 1.30 mm. Petiole color: RHS 144D (Light yellow-green). Flowers: Inflorescence length.Medium. Length of flower (excluding peduncle).9.55 mm. Diameter of flower.7.78 mm. Length/width ratio.1.2. Flower bud.Length: 10.54 mm. Width: 3.69 mm. Number of flowers per bud: 8. Flower bud anthocyanin color: RHS 31A (Orange-red). Pedicel.Length: 6.27 mm. Diameter: 0.99 mm. Corolla.Shape: Urceolate. Anthocyanin coloration of corolla tube: Absent. Ridges on corolla tube: Present. Petal width (ridge to ridge): 4.12 mm. Diameter of corolla aperture: 3.36 mm. Corolla color: RHS NN155B (White). Reproductive organs.Style length (including stigma): 7.83 mm. Style color: RHS 141D (Strong yellow-green). Ovary color: RHS 141A (Deep yellowish green). Anther color: RHS N167A (Brownish orange). Flowering interval on one-year shoot.January to May. Flowering interval on current season's shoot.November to January. Pollinator requirement.Insect pollinators such as honeybees or bumblebees are recommended. Fruit: Length.13.02 mm. Diameter.15.87 mm. Length/width ratio.0.8. Shape in longitudinal section.Round. Attitude of sepals.Semi-erect. Type of sepals.Straight. Calyx basin.Diameter: 6.14 mm. Depth: 3.48 mm. Diameter/depth ratio: 1.8. Weight.2.1 g. Number of berries per cluster.8. Peduncle (stalk of a fruit cluster) length.101.67 mm. Diameter of pedicel (stalk of a single fruit).1.08 mm. Seed.Length: 1.77 mm. Width: 0.82 mm. Length/width ratio: 2.2. Color of unripe fruit.RHS 138C (Moderate yellow-green). Color of fruit skin (with bloom).RHS 102B (Moderate blue). Color of fruit skin (after removal of bloom).RHS 103A (Greyish purplish blue). Intensity of fruit bloom.Medium. Color of fruit flesh.RHS 146C (Moderate yellow-green). Fruit firmness.Firm. Fruit acidity.Low. Fruit sweetness.Medium. Fruiting type.On one-year-old and current season's shoots. Ripening interval on one-year-old shoot.January to May. Ripening interval on current season's shoot.November to January. Market use of fruit.Fresh market. Fruit storage life.Following harvest, fruit have been stored for 21 days when maintained under cooled temperatures that are standard for blueberry storage. Yield.4.5 kg/plant to 5.5 kg/plant of fruit per season from 48-month-old plants when grown in Ventura County, Calif. Resistance to abiotic stress, pests, and diseases: Drought.Susceptible. Heat.Moderately resistant. Blueberry bud mite (Acalitus vaccinii).Moderately susceptible. Aphids.Moderately susceptible. Botryosphaeria stem blight.Susceptible.

COMPARISONS TO PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL BLUEBERRY VARIETIES

(12) DrisBlueNineteen differs from the proprietary female parent and commercial blueberry plant variety DrisBlueSeven (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,605) in that fruit of DrisBlueNineteen mature earlier and have a lighter blue color compared to fruit of DrisBlueSeven. Further, plants of DrisBlueNineteen have a more upright growth habit and are more vigorous than plants of DrisBlueSeven. Additionally, DrisBlueNineteen has a fruiting type of fruiting on one-year-old and current season's shoots, whereas DrisBlueSeven has a fruiting type of fruiting on one-year-old shoots.

(13) DrisBlueNineteen differs from the proprietary male parent 193C 4 (unpatented) in that DrisBlueNineteen has higher consistent yield and produces firmer fruit when compared to 193C 4.

(14) DrisBlueNineteen differs from the commercial blueberry plant variety Biloxi (unpatented) in that DrisBlueNineteen has a more upright plant habit, larger and more uniform berry size, and improved post-harvest performance when compared to Biloxi.