Blueberry plant variety named 'DRISBLUESEVENTEEN'

Abstract

A new and distinct variety of blueberry plant named DrisBlueSeventeen, particularly selected for its mid-range chill requirement suitable for production in latitudes ranging from 30 to 40 degrees, its productiveness, as well as its extremely large, firm fruit with a balanced sweet/tart flavor and an attractive appearance, is disclosed.

Claims

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

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] 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 seven years old.

[0018] FIG. 1 illustrates a section of a cane of variety DrisBlueSeventeen.

[0019] FIG. 2 illustrates leaves of variety DrisBlueSeventeen.

[0020] FIG. 3 illustrates flowers of variety DrisBlueSeventeen.

[0021] FIG. 4 illustrates whole fruit of variety DrisBlueSeventeen.

[0022] FIG. 5 illustrates whole fruit and cross-sections of the fruit of variety DrisBlueSeventeen.

[0023] FIG. 6 illustrates plants of variety DrisBlueSeventeen.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

[0024] The following description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of DrisBlueSeventeen. The data which define these characteristics is based on observations taken in Santa Cruz County, Calif. from 2008 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. DrisBlueSeventeen has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The botanical description of DrisBlueSeventeen was taken from 7-year-old plants, unless indicated 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. [0025] Classification: [0026] Family.Ericaceae. [0027] Botanical.Vaccinium corymbosum L. [0028] Common name.Blueberry. [0029] Variety name.DrisBlueSeventeen. [0030] Parentage: [0031] Female parent.The proprietary blueberry plant 136D 2. [0032] Male parent.The proprietary blueberry plant 8B 4. [0033] Plant: [0034] Height.133.0 cm. [0035] Width.198.0 cm. [0036] Length/width ratio.0.7. [0037] Growth habit.Semi-upright. [0038] One-year-old canes (young canes).Length: 36 cm. Diameter at the base: 6 mm. Diameter at the tip: 2 mm. Internode length on the upper half: 15.0 mm. Color: RHS 145B (Medium yellow-green). One-year-old cane texture: Smooth. [0039] Five-year-old canes (mature canes).Length: 73 cm. Diameter at the base: 25 mm. Diameter at the tip: 7 mm. Five-year-old cane texture: Rough. Five-year-old cane color: RHS 199D (Light greyed-brown). [0040] Flower bud anthocyanin color.RHS N59C (Dark red-purple). [0041] Leaves: [0042] Length.68.2 mm. [0043] Width.35.1 mm. [0044] Length/width ratio.1.9. [0045] Internode length.14.98 mm. [0046] Shape.Elliptic. [0047] Margin.Entire. [0048] Color on upper side.RHS 139A (Dark green). [0049] Leaf arrangement.Alternate. [0050] Leaf venation pattern.Reticulate. [0051] Leaf vein color.RHS 151B (Strong greenish yellow). [0052] Shape of the leaf apex.Cuspidate. [0053] Shape of the leaf base.Cuneate. [0054] Leaflet texture of upper side.Smooth. [0055] Leaflet texture of lower side.Smooth. [0056] Leaflet color of lower side.RHS N138C (Light green). [0057] Petiole.Length: 3.6 mm. Diameter: 1.45 mm. Petiole texture: Slightly pubescent. Petiole color: RHS 139D (Medium green). [0058] Flowers: [0059] Length (excluding peduncle).9.60 mm. [0060] Diameter.7.85 mm. [0061] Length/width ratio.1.2. [0062] Presence of flower fragrance.Faint. [0063] Flower bud.Length: 7 mm. Width: 4 mm. Number of flowers per bud: 6. [0064] Pedicel.Length: 3.30 mm. Diameter: 1.09 mm. Pedicel color: RHS 142C (Light green). [0065] Corolla.Shape: Urceolate. Anthocyanin color of corolla tube: RHS N59C (Dark red-purple). Ridges on tube: Present. Petal width (ridge to ridge): 4.08 mm. Petal color: RHS 157C (Green-white). Diameter of corolla aperture: 3.88 mm. [0066] Reproductive organs.Style length (including stigma): 7.01 mm. Ovary color: RHS 191B (Medium greyed-green). Anther color: RHS N172D (Medium greyed-orange). Pollen color: RHS 4D (Light yellow). [0067] Flowering interval on one-year shoot.March to April. [0068] Pollinator requirement.Insect pollinators such as honeybees or bumblebees are recommended. [0069] Fruit: [0070] Length.15.06 mm. [0071] Diameter.18.99 mm. [0072] Length/width ratio.0.8. [0073] Shape in longitudinal sections.Round. [0074] Attitude of sepals.Semi-erect. [0075] Type of sepals.Incurving. [0076] Calyx basin.Diameter: 6.51 mm. Depth: 2.48 mm. Diameter/depth ratio: 2.6. [0077] Weight.3.4 g. [0078] Number of berries per cluster.6.20. [0079] Peduncle length.44.27 mm. [0080] Diameter of pedicel.1.09 mm. [0081] Seed.Length: 1.84 mm. Width: 0.99 mm. Length/width ratio: 1.9. Seed color: RHS N172C (Medium greyed-orange). [0082] Color of unripe fruit.RHS 144A (Medium yellow-green). [0083] Color of skin (after removal of bloom).RHS 95A (Dark violet-blue). [0084] Color of flesh.RHS 145C (Light yellow-green). [0085] Fruit firmness.Firm. [0086] Fruiting type.On one-year-old shoots. [0087] Ripening interval on one-year-old shoot.June to July. [0088] Approximate date of first fruit pick.June 1. [0089] Approximate date of last fruit pick.August 15. [0090] Market use of fruit.Fresh market. [0091] Shipping and storage characteristics.Following harvest, fruit have been stored for 21 days when maintained under cooled temperatures that are standard for blueberry storage. [0092] Yield.5000 kg/ hectare to 10,000 kg/ hectare of fruit per season from 60-month-old plants when grown in Santa Cruz County, Calif. [0093] Resistance to abiotic stress, pests, and diseases: [0094] Heat.Moderately susceptible. [0095] Spotted-wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii).Moderately susceptible. [0096] Botrytis fruit rot (Botrytis cinerea).Moderately resistant. [0097] Botryosphaeria stem blight.Moderately susceptible. [0098] Phomopsis stem blight.Moderately susceptible.

COMPARISONS TO PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL BLUEBERRY VARIETIES

[0099] DrisBlueSeventeen differs from the proprietary female parent 136D 2 (unpatented) in that fruit of DrisBlueSeventeen are larger and have better appearance compared. to fruit of 136D 2.

[0100] DrisBlueSeventeen differs from the proprietary male parent 8B 4 (unpatented) in that fruit of DrisBlueSeventeen are larger and have better appearance compared to fruit of 8B 4.

[0101] DrisBlueSeventeen differs from commercial blueberry plant variety DrisBlueOne (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,449) in that flowers of DrisBlueSeventeen have a small size of corolla tube, whereas flowers of DrisBlueOne have a large size of corolla tube. Flowers of DrisBlueSeventeen have strong anthocyanin coloration of corolla tube, whereas flowers of DrisBlueOne have absent or very weak anthocyanin coloration of corolla tube. Further, fruit of DrisBlueSeventeen have a dark blue color of skin after removal of bloom, whereas fruit of DrisBlueOne have a medium blue color of skin after removal of bloom. Additionally, fruit of DrisBlueSeventeen are high in sweetness, whereas fruit of DrisBlueOne are medium in sweetness.

[0102] DrisBlueSeventeen differs from commercial blueberry plant variety DrisBlueFive (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,489) in that plants of DrisBlueSeventeen have medium vigor, whereas plants of DrisBlueFive have strong vigor. Fruit of DrisBlueSeventeen have a small size of corolla tube, whereas fruit of DrisBlueFive have a medium size of corolla tube. Further, fruit of DrisBlueSeventeen have strong anthocyanin coloration of corolla tube, whereas fruit of DrisBlueFive have absent or very weak anthocyanin coloration of corolla tube. Additionally, fruit of DrisBlueSeventeen have a round shape in longitudinal section, whereas DrisBlueFive have an oblate shape in longitudinal section.