Blueberry plant, 'NS 14-5'

Abstract

A new and distinct variety of blueberry plant, which is denominated varietally as NS 14-5 is described, and which produces a fruit having a very large fruit size, a high fruit sweetness, a medium firmness fruit, a high fruit acidity, and displaying a small dry picking scar with a calyx depicting a strong star shape, and a high yield, when grown under the ecological conditions prevailing near Yanchep Springs, Yanchep, Western Australia.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of blueberry plant, substantially as illustrated and described, and which is characterized principally as to novelty by producing a fruit having a very large fruit size, a high fruit sweetness, a medium firmness fruit, a high fruit acidity, and displaying a small dry picking scar with a calyx depicting a strong star shape, and a high yield, when grown under the ecological conditions prevailing near Yanchep Springs, Yanchep, Western Australia.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The accompanying drawings which are provided are color photographs of the new blueberry plant NS 14-5.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a color photograph, which shows the leaves, flowers, and fruit of the new blueberry plant NS 14-5. This photograph depicts several ripe and unripe fruit, the ripe fruit being sufficiently mature for harvesting and shipment, and further shows flowers at different stages of development, and still further shows typical shoot-bearing leaves, and the ventral and dorsal colorations thereof.

[0011] FIG. 2 is a color photograph, which shows the new blueberry plant NS 14-5. This photograph depicts a mature bush with ripe and unripe fruit, the ripe fruit being sufficiently mature for harvesting and shipment, the very large fruit size, and several leaves showing the dorsal and ventral colorations thereof.

[0012] FIG. 3 is a color photograph, which shows the new blueberry plant NS 14-5. This photograph depicts a mature bush with ripe and unripe fruit, the ripe fruit being sufficiently mature for harvesting and shipment and the semi-upright growth habit of the bush.

[0013] FIG. 4 is a color photograph, which shows the fruit of the new blueberry plant NS 14-5. This photograph depicts a cross-sectional view of a ripe fruit, the fruit being sufficiently mature for harvesting and shipment, the very large fruit size, the color of the ripe fruit flesh, and the color of the seeds.

[0014] FIG. 5 is a color photograph, which shows the interior of the flowers of the new blueberry plant NS 14-5. This photograph depicts flowers with the petals removed, showing the sepals, the pistil, and the filament and anthers, which comprise the stamen.

[0015] FIG. 6 is a color photograph, which shows the flowers of the new blueberry plant NS 14-5. This photograph depicts a mature bush with flowers that are fully mature, including the sepals and the petals of the flowers.

[0016] The colors in the attached photographs are as nearly true as reasonably possible in a color representation of this type. Due to chemical development, processing and printing, the leaves and fruit depicted in these photographs may or may not be accurate when compared to the actual specimens. For this reason, future color references should be made to the color plates (Royal Horticultural Society 6.sup.th Edition, hereinafter R.H.S.), and the color descriptions as provided, hereinafter.

NOT A COMMERCIAL WARRANTY

[0017] The following detailed description has been prepared solely to comply with the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112, and does not constitute a commercial warranty (either expressed or implied), that the present, new variety will, in the future, display the botanical, horticultural, or other characteristics as set forth, hereinafter. Therefore, this disclosure may not be relied upon to support any future legal claims including, but not limited to, breach of warranty and merchantability, or fitness for any particular purpose, or non-infringement which is directed, in whole, or in part, to the present, new variety.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] Referring more specifically to the botanical details of this new and distinct variety of blueberry plant, the following has been observed during the 2016 growing season under the ecological conditions prevailing at the farm of the inventor, and which is located near Yanchep Springs, Yanchep, Western Australia. [0019] Plant: [0020] Plant vigor.Considered to be medium for the variety. [0021] Plant growth habit.Considered to be semi-upright. [0022] Size of plant.On average, about 1.2 meters by 1.0 meters. [0023] Internode lengthone-year-old shoots.On average, about 12.0 to 18.0 mm. This is considered to be medium for the variety. [0024] Color, one-year-old shoots.Medium Yellow Green (RHS 139D). [0025] Fruiting type.One-year-old shoots only. [0026] Leaves: [0027] Leaf length.On average, about 70.4 mm. This is considered to be a very long length for the variety. [0028] Leaf width.On average, about 32.8 mm. This is considered to be a broad width for the variety. [0029] Leaf ratio, length/width.On average, about 2.15. [0030] Color of leaf, dorsal surface.Medium Yellow Green (RHS 138B). [0031] Color of leaf, ventral surface.Medium Yellow Green (RHS 137C). [0032] Color of leaf, vein.Strong Yellow Green (RHS N144D). [0033] Venation pattern of leaf.Reticulate pinnate. [0034] Leaf apex texture.Glabrous. [0035] Leaf apex shape.Acuminate. [0036] Leaf base shape.Cuneate. [0037] Leaf shape.Elliptic. [0038] Leaf marginal edge.Entire. [0039] Leaf arrangement of plant.Alternate. [0040] Vegetative bud burst, date.February, when grown under the ecological conditions prevailing near Yanchep Springs, Yanchep, Western Australia. The present, new variety is considered to be evergreen. [0041] Flowers: [0042] Inflorescence length, excluding peduncle.Considered to be medium for the variety. [0043] Flower bud, coloration.The presence of anthocyanin is considered to be strong in the flower buds for the variety. [0044] Beginning of flowering on one-year-old shoots.April when grown under the ecological conditions prevailing near Yanchep Springs, Yanchep, Western Australia. [0045] Beginning of flowering on current year's shoots.Flowering does not occur on current year's shoots. [0046] Corolla shape.Urceolate. [0047] Corolla ridges.Present. [0048] Corolla tube size.10.0 by 10.0 mm. This is considered to be medium to large for the variety. [0049] Corolla tube, coloration.The presence of anthocyanin is considered to be absent to very weak on the corolla tube. [0050] Calyx diameter.On average, about 8.0 mm. This is considered to be large for the variety. [0051] Calyx basin depth.Considered to be deep for the variety. [0052] Attitude of sepals.Considered to be erect. [0053] Type of sepals.Considered to be straight. [0054] Reproductive organs: [0055] Pollination requirements.The variety is self-fertile. [0056] Pistil length.On average, about 8.59 mm. [0057] Pistil color.Light Yellow Green (RHS 145B). [0058] Fruit: [0059] Unripe fruit, intensity of green color.Considered to be light for the variety. [0060] Ripe fruit skin, color.Bluish Black (RHS 203D). [0061] Ripe fruit, size.On average, about 21.44 mm. This is considered to be very large for the variety. [0062] Berry shape, longitudinal section.Oblate. [0063] Sweetness, when ripe.Considered to be high for the variety. [0064] Firmness, when ripe.Considered to be medium for the variety. [0065] Acidity, when ripe.Considered to be high for the variety. [0066] Cluster density.Considered to be medium for the variety. [0067] Storability of the fruit.Considered to be excellent for the variety. [0068] Market use.Considered First Grade fresh market fruit. [0069] Beginning of fruit ripening on one-year-old shoots.July, when grown under the ecological conditions prevailing near Yanchep Springs, Yanchep, Western Australia. [0070] Beginning of fruit ripening on current year's shoots.Generally, there is no ripening on the current year's shoots. [0071] Harvesting date.October, when grown under the ecological conditions prevailing near Yanchep Springs, Yanchep, Western Australia. [0072] Resistance to insects and diseases.No particular susceptibilities were noted. The present, new variety has not been tested to expose or detect any susceptibilities or resistances to any known plant and/or fruit diseases.

[0073] Although the new variety of blueberry plant possesses the described characteristics when grown under the ecological conditions prevailing near Yanchep Springs, Yanchep, Western Australia, it should be understood that the usual variations of the magnitude and characteristics incident to changes in growing conditions, fertilization, pruning, pest control, frost, climatic variables and horticultural management are to be expected.