Blueberry plant named ‘Ridley 1602’

Abstract

The new blueberry plant variety Ridley 1602 is provided. The variety a selection resulting from seedlings from the controlled pollination of seed parent Ridley 1403 (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,432) with pollen parent Ridley 4609 (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 59,468). The variety can be distinguished by its outstanding features of strong plant growth vigor, upright to semi-upright plant growth habit, low chilling requirement, very early to early time of flowering and fruit ripening, large to very large, sweet, firm, crisp fruit suited to handling, desirable tasting berries and small picking scar.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of blueberry plant named Ridley 1602, substantially as illustrated and described herein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying photographic illustration shows typical specimens in full color of the foliage and fruit of the new variety Ridley 1602 in plants that are approximately 2 years old. The colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type.

(2) FIG. 1 is a photograph of the new variety Ridley 1602, demonstrating the plant's upright growth habit.

(3) FIG. 2 is a photograph of the fruit of the new variety Ridley 1602.

(4) FIG. 3 is a photograph of the flowers of the new variety Ridley 1602.

(5) FIG. 4 is a photograph of the leaves of the new variety Ridley 1602.

(6) FIG. 5 is a photograph of the leaves, fruit, new shoot and fruit cluster of the new variety Ridley 1602.

(7) FIG. 6 is a photograph of fruit of the variety Ridley 1602.

(8) FIG. 7 is a photograph of fruit cross section of the variety Ridley 1602.

(9) The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with the photographic and printing technology utilized. The color values cited in the detailed botanical description accurately describe the colors of the new blueberry.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(10) The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of Ridley 1602. The data which defines these characteristics was collected from asexual reproductions of the original selection. Dimensions, sizes, colors, and other characteristics are approximations and averages set forth as accurately as possible. The plant history was taken on plants approximately 3 years of age, and the descriptions relate to plants grown in the field in Tabulam, New South Wales, Australia. Descriptions of fruit characteristics were made on fruit grown in Tabulam, New South Wales, Australia. Color designations are from Tabulam, New South Wales, Australia.

(11) Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 2015 edition. Classification: a. Family.Ericaceae. b. Genus.Vaccinium. c. Species.Corymbosum. d. Common name.Southern Highbush Blueberry. Parentage: Female Parent Ridley 1403 (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,432). Male Parent Ridley 4609. Market class: A fruiting plant intended for use as fresh fruit for shipping, hand pick, customer pick, machine harvest and processing markets and as a home garden plant.

PLANT

(12) General: a. Parentage.Female Parent Ridley 1403 (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,432). b. Male parent.Ridley 4609. c. Plant height.1.7 m. d. Plant width.1.5 m. e. Growth habit.Upright to semi-upright. f. Growth.Strong to very strong vigor. g. Productivity.6 to 7 kg per season from 3-4 year old plants planted at 3.0 m0.9 m density. h. Cold hardiness.Has not been grown in all environments including harsh winter environments. i. Cold tolerance.Cold tolerance is expected to be low. j. Chilling requirement.Has not been grown in all environments and is typically grown as an evergreen crop where chilling hours are not important. Ridley 1602 is classed as low chill, typical of Southern Highbush Blueberry varieties with an estimated chilling requirement of 250 hours (not tested). k. Tolerance to disease.Moderate resistance to root disease (Phytophthora spp) and good resistance to blueberry rust. l. Leafing.Vegetative bud burst is very early when grown as an evergreen in Australia. m. Twigginess.Low.

STEM

(13) General: a. Suckering tendency.Plants typically have 5-7 major canes per plant from a base 30 cm in diameter on 6 year old plants. b. Mature cane color.Color greyed orange 198C. c. Mature cane length.0.8-1.0 m. d. Mature cane width.1.2 cm. e. Bark texture.Medium roughness (typical of species). f. Surface texture of new wood.Smooth. g. Internode length on strong, new shoots.20-30 mm. h. Fruiting wood.To 15 cm in length.

FOLIAGE

(14) General: a. Time of beginning of leaf bud burst.Very early. b. Leaf color (top side).Yellow green 147A. c. Leaf color (under side).Yellow green 147C. d. Leaf arrangement.Alternate. e. Leaf shape.Elliptic. f. Leaf margins.Entire. g. Undulation of margin.Weak. h. Leaf venation.Reticulate. i. Leaf apices.Acuminate. j. Leaf bases.Obtuse. k. Leaf length.60-65 mm. l. Leaf width.33-40 mm. m. Leaf length/width ratio.Medium. n. Leaf nectaries.Absent. o. Pubescence of upper side.Absent. p. Pubescence of lower side.Absent. q. Cross sectional profile.Flat. r. Longitudinal profile.Straight. s. Attitude.Semi-upright to horizontal. Petioles: a. Length.1.0 to 3.0 mm. b. Width.2.0 mm. c. Color.Yellow green 146C-147C.

FLOWERS

(15) General: a. Time of beginning of flowering.Very early to early (late March-early May to at Lindendale, NSW Australia). b. Time of 50% anthesis.Early July at Lindendale, NSW Australia. c. Flower shape.Urceolate. d. Flower bud density.Medium density. e. Flower fragrance.Weak. Corolla: a. Color.White NN155D. b. Length.9-12 mm. c. Width.7-9 mm. d. Aperture width.3-5 mm. e. Anthocyanin coloration of corolla.Absent, occasional in bud stage. f. Corolla ridges.Present. g. Protrusion of stigma.Usually absent. Inflorescence: a. Length.40 to 70 mm. b. Diameter.20-30 mm. c. Length of peduncle.15 mm. d. Surface texture of peduncle.Smooth. e. Color of peduncle.146C. f. Length of pedicel.7-10 mm. g. Surface texture of pedicel.Smooth. h. Color of pedicel.147C. i. Number of flowers per cluster.9-12. j. Flower cluster density.Medium. Calyx (with sepals): a. Diameter.9-11 mm. b. Color (sepals).Green 138C to yellow green 147C. Stamen: a. Length.4-5 mm. b. Number per flower.Approximately 10. c. Filament color.Yellow green 144D. Pistil: a. Length.10-13 mm. b. Style.Length 5-6 mm. c. Ovary color (exterior).Yellow green 144D-147C. Anther: a. Length.3.0-3.5 mm. b. Number.Approximately 10. c. Color.Grayed orange 167C-D. Pollen: a. Abundance.Medium. b. Color.Grayed orange 167C-D. c. Self-compatibility.60% fruit set with own pollen in tests at Lindendale, NSW Australia.

FRUIT

(16) General: a. Time of fruit ripening.Very early to early (early June to mid August at Tabulam, NSW Australia). b. Time of 50% maturity.Early August. c. Fruit development period.65 days. d. Cluster density.Medium, 7-10 berries per cluster. e. Unripe fruit color.Green 138A. f. Ripe berry color.Black 202A without bloom. g. Berry surface wax abundance.Strong. h. Berry flesh color.Greyed green 194C, lightening to 194D, then 193D. i. Berry weight.4.4-4.8 g. j. Berry height from calyx to scar.18-20 mm. k. Berry diameter.24 mm. l. Berry shape.Oblate. m. Fruit stem scar.Small (dry). n. Sweetness when ripe.High to very high. o. Firmness when ripe.Very firm. p. Acidity when ripe.Medium to high. q. Storage quality.Good, lasted 10 weeks at 2 degrees Celsius in tests. Not tested with modified atmosphere storage yet. r. Suitability for mechanical harvesting.Very firm fruit firmness, strong blush and fruit shape suited to mechanical harvesting. Shake requirement and season compactness not yet tested. s. Self-fruitfulness.60% fruit set with own pollen in tests at Lindendale, NSW Australia. t. Uses.Fresh fruit for shipping, customer pick and processing markets and as a home garden plant.

SEED

(17) General: Seed abundance in fruit.Abundant. Seed color.Greyed orange 164A. Seed dry weight.Not yet recorded. Seed length.1.5-2.0 mm.

COMPARISON BETWEEN COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

(18) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Ridley 4514 (U.S. Plant Ridley Pat. No. 1105 (not Organ Context Ridley 1602 27,163P3) patented) Plant vigour strong to strong to very strong very strong strong Plant growth habit upright to upright upright semi-upright One-year- colour green green green old shoot One-year- length of medium medium medium old shoot internode Leaf length long medium to long to very long long Leaf width broad broad very broad Leaf shape elliptic elliptic elliptic Leaf colour of green green green upper side Leaf intensity of medium medium medium green colour on upper side (varieties with green leaf colour only) Leaf margin entire entire entire Flower anthocyanin weak weak weak bud coloration Flower shape of urceolate urceolate urceolate corolla Flower size of corolla medium medium medium tube Flower anthocyanin absent or absent or very absent or colouration of very weak weak very weak corolla tube Flower ridges on present present present corolla tube Fruit density medium medium medium cluster Unripe intensity of light light light fruit green colour Fruit size large to very large to very large large large Fruit shape in oblate oblate oblate longi- tudinal section Fruit attitude of erect erect erect sepals Fruit diameter of large to very medium to medium to calyx basin large large large Fruit depth of calyx deep deep medium basin Fruit intensity of strong strong strong bloom Fruit colour of skin dark blue dark blue dark blue Fruit Firmness very firm firm firm to very firm Fruit Sweetness high to very medium to high high high Fruit Acidity medium to weak medium to high high Time of vegetative very early late very early bud burst Time of beginning of very early to very early very early flowering early Time of beginning of very early to early very early fruit ripening early