Southern highbush blueberry plant named ‘TH-1241’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Vaccinium plant named ‘TH-1241’, characterized by a combination of early season ripening and short fruit development period; large berries with good color and flavor; highly vigorous growth; and a medium chilling requirement of about 350-450 hours, or more, below about 45° F.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of the Vaccinium plant named ‘TH-1241’ 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 ‘TH-1241’ 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 ‘TH-1241’. Photographs were taken of plants grown outdoors in Alapaha, Ga. during different years.

(2) The photograph labeled FIG. 1 depicts 3-year old plants of ‘TH-1241’ during flowering. Photographs were taken in March 2021.

(3) The photograph labeled FIG. 2 was taken in March 2021 and shows a close-up of flowering branches of ‘TH-1241’.

(4) The photograph labeled FIG. 3 depicts 3-year old ‘TH-1241’ plants during fruit ripening showing large berries. Photographs were taken in May 2021.

(5) The photograph labeled FIG. 4 depicts a close-up view of ‘TH-1241’ fruit as it matures showing the large berry size and good color taken in May 2021.

(6) The photographs labeled FIGS. 5A-5B depict close-up views of ‘TH-1241’ fruit. FIG. 5A is a close-up view of fruit of ‘TH-1241’ in a 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 ripe fruit of ‘TH-1241’ in a human hand taken in May 2021.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(8) 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 ‘TH-1241’.

(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 ‘TH-1241’. 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 2017-2021 from horticulture farms and nurseries in Alapaha, Ga. from 3 to 6-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 ranges from about 78° F. to 82° F. Botanical classification: Vaccinium corymbosum ‘TH-1241’. Commercial classification.—Fruit-bearing shrub. Parentage.—Cross of Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Star’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,675) and ‘Bladen’ (non-patented cultivar). Growth and propagation: Propagation type.—Vegetative by softwood cuttings. Growth rate.—Highly vigorous. Root description.—Fibrous. Plant description: Growth habit.—Plant is strongly upright, with dominant vertical growth. Open canopy with little tendency to spreading. Two to 4 main canes arising from the original crown with strong vertical growth, followed by multiple branching of shoots from those canes about 20 to 35 cm above ground. Usage.—Commercial fruit production primarily. Productivity.—Medium to high yielding. Yields of about 4 to 8 lbs per plant each year on plants 4 years old or older grown under well fertilized and irrigated field conditions. Frost protection may be useful to reach yield potential in some years. Size of plant.—Plant is about 1.5 to 1.8 m tall by about 4 years. The plant crown, or base, is narrow, typically about 10 to 20 cm in diameter. Upper portion of plant canopy reaches about 1.0 to 1.4 m in diameter by about 4 years. Cold hardiness.—Similar to southern highbush varieties such as Star (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,675) 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 ‘Rebel’ and ‘Star’. 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 less than the female parent ‘Star’ (400 to 500 hours of chilling required) and much less than the male parent ‘Bladen’ (non-patented variety; 650 to 700 hours of chilling required). Leafing.—Plants tend to break sufficient leaf buds simultaneously with, or shortly after, anthesis. Canes.—Main cane base diameter about 15 to 25 mm, color most near Grey 201C; two-year-old cane diameter about 10 to 15 mm, color transitioning from Yellow Green 145A to Greyed Orange 166B; current season wood diameter about 3 to 8 mm, color Yellow Green 145A; one-year-old shoots have the same color as current season shoots, Yellow Green 145A. Fruiting wood.—Moderate number of twigs (5 to 10 common) of about 15 to 25 cm in length, with internode lengths of about 20 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 138B. Leaf arrangement.—Alternate, simple. Leaf shape.—Nearly elliptic. Leaf margins.—Nearly entire. Leaf venation.—Pinnate with slight netting. Leaf apices.—Broadly acuminate. Leaf bases.—Acute. Leaf dimensions.—Length: about 55 to 75 mm; width: about 25 to 35 mm. Petioles.—Small, about 4.0 to 5.0 mm long, about 1.0 to 1.5 mm wide; Color: Yellow Green 145C. Texture.—Leaf margins, nearly entire; both upper and lower leaf surfaces, glaucous. Flowers: Date of 50% anthesis.—3-year average March 7 in southeast Georgia. Flower shape.—Urceolate; average inflorescence length is about 5.0 to 10.0 mm. Flower bud.—Number: high to very high, averaging about 4 to 7 buds per fruiting shoot; anthocyanin coloration is medium to strong. Flowers per cluster.—About 5 to 8 common. Flower fragrance.—Light cinnamon and/or rose fragrance often observed. Corolla color.—White N155D; streaks of Red Purple 63B can often be observed prior to full corolla expansion and flower opening. Corolla length.—About 8.0 to 9.0 mm. Corolla width.—About 7.0 to 8.0 mm. Corolla aperture width.—About 4.5 to 5.0 mm. Flower peduncle.—Length about 5.0 to 10.0 mm; Color: Yellow Green 145C; streaks of Red Purple 63B often observed around the time of flowering. Flower pedicel.—Length about 4.5 to 5.5 mm; Color: Yellow Green 145C to Green 138C; streaks of Greyed Purple 186B often observed around the time of flowering. Calyx (with sepals).—Diameter: about 8.0 to 9.0 mm; Color: sepals primarily Green 138C, with occasional streaks of Greyed Purple 186B; calyx center Green 138B. Stamen.—Length: about 6.5 to 7.5 mm; number per flower: about 10; filament color: Green White 157C. Style.—Length: about 9.0 to 10.0 mm; Color: Yellow Green 145B. Pistil.—Length: about 11.0 to 12.0 mm; ovary color: Green 138C. Anther.—Length: about 3.0 to 3.5 mm; number: 10; Color: Greyed Orange 165B. Pollen.—Abundance: high; Color: Yellow White 158A to 158B. Compatibility.—The cultivar has a moderate degree of self-compatibility. Fruit: Date of 50% maturity.—3-year average April 30 in southeast Georgia. Fruit development period.—About 54 days in southeast Georgia. Berry color.—With wax Violet Blue 98D; with wax removed Black 203C. Berry flesh color.—White 155C. Berry surface wax abundance.—High. Berry weight.—1.sup.st harvest: about 2.8 to 3.2 g; 2.sup.nd harvest: about 2.2 to 2.6 g. Berry size.—Height from calyx to scar: about 15 to 17 mm; diameter: about 18 to 21 mm. Berry shape.—Semi-spherical to semi-disk shaped. Fruit stem scar.—Small to medium, dry, with occasional small tear upon harvest. Calyx.—Depth medium, less than about 1.0 mm; width medium, about 8.0 to 11.0 mm; sepals often present, turned mostly inwards and flat, occasional semi-erect, about 1.0 to 1.5 mm. Berry firmness.—Medium to good firmness. Berry flavor and texture.—Aromatic, slightly sweet, mildly acid flavor; occasional “peachy” flavor experiences; smooth texture. Storage quality.—Good (10-12 days). Suitability for mechanical harvesting.—Not likely suitable. Uses.—Primarily intended for fresh fruit for shipping and processing markets. Seed: Seed abundance in fruit.—Low to medium, with less than about 10 fully developed seeds/berry. Seed color.—Greyed Orange 164A. Seed dry weight.—About 34.4 mg per 100 seed. Seed size.—About 1.0 to 1.5 mm long.