Southern highbush blueberry plant named ‘TO-1719’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Vaccinium plant named ‘TO-1719’, characterized by a combination of early to mid-season ripening and flowering, large, firm berries with good color, and mild sweet and acid flavor; and a chill requirement of about 350 to 450 hours, or more, below about 45° F.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of the Vaccinium plant named ‘TO-1719’ as illustrated and described herein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying colored photographic illustrations show the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new cultivar of Vaccinium corymbosum ‘TO-1719’ showing the colors as true as possible. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describes the colors of the new Vaccinium corymbosum ‘TO-1719’. Photographs were taken of plants grown outdoors in Alapaha, Ga. during different years.

(2) The photograph labeled FIG. 1 depicts ‘TO-1719’ plants during flowering. Plants are 3 years old, and photo was taken in March 2021 at Alapaha, Ga.

(3) The photograph labeled FIG. 2 depicts a close-up of ‘TO-1719’ flowering branches. Photo was taken in March 2021 at Alapaha, Ga.

(4) The photograph labeled FIG. 3 depicts mature plants of ‘TO-1719’ during fruit ripening. Plants are 3 years old, and photo was taken in May 2021 at Alapaha, Ga.

(5) The photograph labeled FIG. 4 depicts a close-up view of ‘TO-1719’ fruit on the plant. Plants are 3 years old and photo was taken in May 2021 at Alapaha, Ga.

(6) The photographs labeled FIGS. 5A-5B depict close-up views of ‘TO-1719’ fruit. FIG. 5A is a close-up view of fruit of ‘TO-1719’ in a plastic container, and FIG. 5B shows a cross sectional view of the interior of the fruit taken in May 2021.

(7) The photograph labeled FIG. 6 depicts a close-up view of ‘TO-1719’ fruit in a human hand, illustrating the relative size of the fruit taken in May 2021.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(8) The following is a detailed description of the botanical and pomological characteristics of the subject blueberry clone. The following traits have been consistently observed in the original plant of this new variety and in asexually propagated progeny grown in Alapaha and Griffin, Ga., and, to the best knowledge of the inventors, their combination forms the unique characteristics of the new variety Vaccinium corymbosum ‘TO-1719’.

(9) 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 by the Royal Horticultural Society, London, England in 2007, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

(10) The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements, and values describe plants of the Vaccinium corymbosum cultivar named ‘TO-1719’. 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. Data were collected between the years of 2016-2021 from a farm in Alapaha, Ga. from 3 to 4-year-old plants (planted in the field with supplemental irrigation). In this region, the long-term average annual low temperature ranges from about 54° F. to 58° F., and the average annual high temperature for the year ranges from about 78° F. to 82° F. Botanical classification: Vaccinium corymbosum ‘TO-1719’. Commercial classification.—Fruit-bearing shrub. Parentage.—Originated from seeds collected from open-pollinated fruit of ‘TH-749’ (non-patented breeding line). Growth and propagation: Propagation type.—Vegetative by softwood cuttings. Growth rate.—Plant vigor is medium, canopy tends to stay compact. Root description.—Fibrous. Plant description: Size of plant.—Plant is about 1.2 to 1.4 m tall by about 4 years. The plant crown, or base, is medium, typically about 20 to 30 cm in diameter. Upper portion of plant canopy reaches about 1.2 to 1.5 m in diameter by about 4 years. Growth habit.—Plant has a candelabra growth habit that is semi-spreading, yet canes turn quickly upright. Three to 5 main canes arising from crown with multiple branching of shoots from those canes about 10 to 15 cm above ground. Growth.—Plants are moderately vigorous, but remain compact, with a somewhat dense canopy. Productivity.—Medium to high yielding. Yields of about 5 to 8 lbs. per plant each year on plants 4-years old or older grown under well fertilized and irrigated field conditions. Cold hardiness.—Similar to other early ripening southern highbush varieties such as Suziblue (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,167) and Rebel (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,138). Disease resistance.—No exceptional disease resistance or susceptibility observed. Typical for early season southern highbush such as ‘Suziblue’ and ‘Rebel’. Chilling requirement.—Plants are medium chill, requiring an estimated 350 to 450 hours, or more, of temperatures at or below 45° F. (7° C.) to induce normal leafing and flowering during the spring under conventional dormant production systems. The chill requirement is somewhat more than the female parent ‘TH-749’ (250 to 350 hours of chilling required). The male parent is unknown. Leafing.—Plants tend to break sufficient leaf buds simultaneously with, or shortly after, anthesis. Canes.—Main cane base diameter is about 15 to 25 mm, color most near Brown N200C; two year old cane diameter 10 to 15 mm, color transitioning from Yellow Green 145B to Greyed Orange 165A; current season wood diameter 3 to 8 mm, color Yellow Green 145A. Fruiting wood.—Moderate number of twigs (about 10 to 15 common) of about 10 to 25 cm in length, with internode lengths of about 15 to 25 mm common. Plants flower and fruit on one-year-old shoots. Foliage: Leaf color.—Healthy mature leaves.—top side of leaf color is Green N137C, under side of leaf color is Green N138C to Green 138B. Leaf arrangement.—Alternate, simple. Leaf shape.—Nearly elliptic. Leaf margins.—Slight serration on young leaves transitioning to nearly entire as leaves mature. Leaf venation.—Pinnate with slight netting. Leaf apices.—Acuminate. Leaf bases.—Acute. Leaf dimensions.—Length: about 40 to 55 mm; width: about 20 to 30 mm. Petioles.—Small, about 1.0 to 3.0 mm long, about 1.5 to 2.0 mm wide; Color: Yellow Green 145C. Texture.—Both upper and lower leaf surfaces glaucous. Flowers: Date of 50% anthesis.—3-year average March 8 in southeast Georgia. Flower shape.—Urceolate. Flower bud number.—High to very high, averaging 5 to 8 buds per fruiting shoot. Flower bud anthocyanin coloration.—Medium. Flowers per cluster.—About 6 to 9 common. Flower fragrance.—None detected. Corolla color.—White NN 155C once fully expanded (open). Corolla length.—About 6.5 to 8.0 mm. Corolla width.—About 6.5 to 7.5 mm. Corolla aperture width.—About 4.0 to 5.0 mm. Flower peduncle.—Length about 7.0 to 10.0 mm; Color: Green 138D. Flower pedicel.—Length about 2.5 to 3.5 mm; Color: Green 138C. Calyx (with sepals).—Diameter: about 6.5 to 7.5 mm; Color: sepals Green 138D; calyx center Green 138C. Stamen.—Length: about 5.5 to 6.5 mm; number per flower: about 10; filament color: Green White 157C. Style.—Length: about 7.5 to 8.5 mm; Color: Yellow Green 145B. Pistil.—Length: about 9.5 to 10.5 mm; ovary color: Green 138C. Anther.—Length: about 3.5 to 4.5 mm; number: 10; Color: Greyed Orange 165B. Pollen.—Abundance: high; Color: Yellow White 158A. Compatibility.—The cultivar has a moderate degree of self-compatibility. Fruit: Date of 50% maturity.—3-year average around May 16 in southeast Georgia. Fruit development period.—About 69 days in southeast Georgia. Berry color.—With wax Violet Blue 98D; with wax removed Black 203C. Berry flesh color.—Green White 157C. Berry surface wax abundance.—High. Berry weight.—1st harvest: about 2.0 to 2.5 g; 2nd harvest about 1.6 to 2.1 g. Berry size.—Height from calyx to scar: about 15 to 17 mm; diameter: about 17 to 19 mm. Berry shape.—Nearly spherical shape. Fruit stem scar.—Small to medium, dry, with little or no tearing upon harvest. Fruit calyx.—Depth about 1.0 to 3.0 mm; width about 5.0 to 7.0 mm; sepals most often present, turned mostly inwards and upward when present, length about 1.0 to 2.0 mm. Berry firmness.—Medium to high firmness. Berry flavor and texture.—Mildly sweet and acid flavor; texture is smooth. Storage quality.—Fair to good. Suitability for mechanical harvesting.—Not likely suitable. Uses.—Primarily to be used in home garden market. Seed: Seed abundance in fruit.—High, typically with 15 to 20 or more fully developed seeds per berry. Seed color.—Greyed Orange 166C. Seed dry weight.—50.4 mg per 100 seed. Seed size.—1.5 to 2.0 mm long.