Blueberry plant variety named ‘DrisBlueSixteen’

Abstract

A new and distinct variety of blueberry plant named DrisBlueSixteen, particularly selected for its ability to flower in summer and fruit in fall on current season's growth, average to - large fruit size, good fruit flavor, and its very erect plants that fruit on exposed tops of canes, is disclosed.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of blueberry plant designated DrisBlueSixteen 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 3.5 years old, unless otherwise specified.

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

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates leaves of variety DrisBlueSixteen. The upper leaf surfaces are shown on the left side and the lower leaf surfaces are shown on the top and right sides.

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates flowers of variety DrisBlueSixteen.

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates whole fruit of variety DrisBlueSixteen. The view of the whole fruit is from the calyx end of fruit.

(6) FIG. 5 illustrates cross-sections (right two columns) and longitudinal sections (left two columns) of the fruit of variety DrisBlueSixteen.

(7) FIG. 6 illustrates whole fruit and cross-sections (right two columns) and longitudinal sections (left two columns) of the fruit of variety DrisBlueSixteen. The first and third fruit on the top row (counting from left to right) have their bloom removed.

(8) FIG. 7 illustrates plants of variety DrisBlueSixteen.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(9) The following description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of DrisBlueSixteen. The data which define these characteristics is based on observations taken in Santa Cruz County and Ventura County, Calif. from 2009 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. DrisBlueSixteen has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The botanical description of DrisBlueSixteen was taken from 3.5-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.DrisBlueSixteen. Parentage: Female parent.The proprietary blueberry plant 127D 2 (unpatented). Male parent.The proprietary blueberry plant DrisBlueOne (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,449). Plant: Height.143.4 cm. Width.125.3 cm. Length/width ratio.1.1. Growth habit.Upright. Internode length.12.16 mm. One-year-old canes (young canes).Length: 114.6 cm. Diameter at the base: 12.6 mm. Diameter at the tip: 3.5 mm. Internode length on the upper half: 27.9 mm. Color: RHS 143D (Light green). Five-year-old canes (mature canes).Length: 137.3 cm. Diameter at the base: 25.8 mm. Diameter at the tip: 2.6 mm. Five-year-old cane surface texture: Rough. Five-year-old cane color: RHS 198B (Light greyed-green). Leaves: Length.75.2 mm. Width.37.9 mm. Length/width ratio.2.0. Shape.Elliptic. Margin.Entire. Color on upper side.RHS 139A (Dark green). Color of lower side.RHS 191A (Medium greyed-green). Shape of the leaf apex.Acute. Shape of the leaf base.Cuneate. Petiole.Length: 4.8 mm. Diameter: 2.12 mm. Petiole color: RHS 144B (Medium yellow-green). Flowers: Inflorescence length.Short. Length of flower (excluding peduncle).16.39 mm. Diameter of flower.8.63 mm. Length/width ratio.1.9. Flower bud.Length: 12.30 mm. Width: 4.02 mm. Number of flowers per bud: 5.90. Flower bud anthocyanin color: RHS 68B (Light red-purple). Pedicel.Length: 5.61 mm. Diameter: 1.39 mm. Pedicel color: RHS 145B (Light yellow-green). Peduncle.Peduncle color: RHS 147D (Moderate yellow-green). Corolla.Shape: Urceolate. Anthocyanin coloration of corolla tube: Absent. Ridges on corolla tube: Present. Petal width (ridge to ridge): 5.66 mm. Diameter of corolla aperture: 4.08 mm. Corolla color: RHS 155B (White). Sepal.Sepal color: RHS 144D (Light yellow-green). Reproductive organs.Style length (including stigma): 9.42 mm. Style color: RHS 141D (Medium green). Ovary color: RHS 196B (Light greyed-green). Pollen color: RHS 5C (Light yellow). Anther color: RHS N167A (Dark greyed-orange). Flowering interval on one-year shoot.June to December. Flowering interval on current season's shoot.June to December. Pollinator requirement.Insect pollinators such as honeybees or bumblebees are recommended. Fruit: Length.12.40 mm. Diameter.14.06 mm. Length/width ratio.0.9. Shape in longitudinal section.Oblate. Attitude of sepals.Erect. Type of sepals.Reflexed. Calyx basin.Diameter: 6.52 mm. Depth: 3.39 mm. Diameter/depth ratio: 1.9. Weight.2.5 g. Number of berries per cluster.5.9. Peduncle (stalk of a fruit cluster) length.15.90 mm. Diameter of pedicel (stalk of a single fruit).1.46 mm. Seed.Length: 1.74 mm. Width: 1.16 mm. Length/width ratio: 1.5. Seed color: RHS 165B (Medium greyed-orange). Color of unripe fruit.RHS 138D (Light green). Color of fruit skin (with bloom).RHS 97B (Medium violet-blue). Color of fruit skin (after removal of bloom).RHS N186A (Dark greyed-purple). Intensity of fruit bloom.Medium. Color of fruit flesh.RHS 145B (Medium yellow-green). Fruit firmness.Medium. Fruit acidity.Medium. Fruit sweetness.Medium. Fruiting type.On one-year-old and current season's shoots. Ripening interval on one-year-old shoot.March to May. Ripening interval on current season's shoot.August to December. 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.6000 kg/hectare to 15,000 kg/hectare of fruit per season from 48-month-old plants when grown in Santa Cruz County, Calif. Resistance to abiotic stress, pests, and diseases: Drought.Moderately resistant. Heat.Susceptible. Spotted-wing drosophila (drosophila suzukii).Moderately susceptible. Botryosphaeria stem blight.Susceptible.

COMPARISONS TO PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL BLUEBERRY VARIETIES

(10) DrisBlueSixteen differs from the proprietary female parent 127D 2 (unpatented) in that fruit of DrisBlueSixteen mature earlier and without chilling required when compared to fruit of 127D 2.

(11) DrisBlueSixteen differs from the proprietary male parent DrisBlueOne (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,449) in that fruit of DrisBlueSixteen mature earlier, are larger, and have a less concentrated harvest season when compared to fruit of DrisBlueOne.

(12) In addition, DrisBlueSixteen differs from commercial blueberry plant variety DrisBlueOne (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,449) in that plants of DrisBlueSixteen have an upright growth habit, whereas plants of DrisBlueOne have a semi-upright growth habit. Leaves of DrisBlueSixteen are narrow, whereas leaves of DrisBlueOne are broad. Further, unripe fruit of DrisBlueSixteen have a light intensity of green color, whereas unripe fruit of DrisBlueOne have a medium intensity of green color. Additionally, fruit of DrisBlueSixteen have a medium intensity of bloom, whereas fruit of DrisBlueOne have a strong intensity of bloom.

(13) DrisBlueSixteen differs from commercial blueberry plant variety DrisBlueSeven (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,605) in that plants of DrisBlueSixteen have an upright growth habit, whereas plants of DrisBlueSeven have a semi-upright growth habit. Fruit of DrisBlueSixteen have a reflexed type of sepals, whereas fruit of DrisBlueSeven have an incurving type of sepals. Further, fruit of DrisBlueSixteen are medium in firmness, whereas fruit of DrisBlueSeven are very firm in firmness. Additionally, DrisBlueSixteen 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.