Blueberry plant named 'Ridley 0808'

Abstract

The new blueberry plant variety Ridley 0808 is provided. Ridley 0808 is a commercial variety intended for use as fresh fruit for shipping, hand pick, customer pick, machine harvest and processing markets and as a home garden plant. The variety is produced from a cross of M09-48-01 (not patented) and M08-38-01. (not patented), which can be distinguished by its outstanding features.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of blueberry plant named Ridley 0808, substantially as illustrated and described herein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] The accompanying photographic illustration shows typical specimens in full color of the foliage and fruit of the new variety Ridley 0808. The colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type.

[0027] FIG. 1 is a photograph of the new variety Ridley 0808, demonstrating the plant's upright growth habit.

[0028] FIG. 2 is a photograph of the fruit of the new variety Ridley 0808.

[0029] FIG. 3 is a photograph of the flowers of the new variety Ridley 0808.

[0030] FIG. 4 is a photograph of the leaves of the new variety Ridley 0808.

[0031] FIG. 5 is a photograph of the leaves, fruit, new shoot and fruit cluster of the new variety Ridley 0808.

[0032] FIG. 6 is a photograph of fruit of the variety Ridley 0808.

[0033] FIG. 7 is a photograph of fruit cross section of the variety Ridley 0808.

[0034] 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

[0035] The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of Ridley 0808. The data which define these characteristics were 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 plants at 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. Except where otherwise designated, color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 2015 edition. [0036] Classification: [0037] a. Family.Ericaceae. [0038] b. Genus.Vaccinium. [0039] c. Species.Hybrid. [0040] d. Common name.Southern Highbush Blueberry. [0041] Parentage: Female Parent M09-48-01 (not patented). Male Parent M08-38-01. (not patented). [0042] 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:

[0043] General: [0044] Parentage.Female Parent M09-48-01 (not patented). Male Parent M08-38-01 (not patented). [0045] Plant height.1.8 m. [0046] Plant width.1.5 m. [0047] Growth habit.upright. [0048] Growth.strong. [0049] Productivity.7 kg per season from 3-4 year old plants planted at 3.0 m 0.9 m density. [0050] Cold hardiness.Has not been grown in all environments including harsh winter environments. [0051] Cold tolerance.Cold tolerance is expected to be low. [0052] Chilling requirement.Has not been grown in all environments and is typically grown as an evergreen crop where chilling hours are not important. Ridley 0808 is classed as low chill, typical of Southern Highbush Blueberry varieties with an estimated chilling requirement of 250 hours (not tested). [0053] Tolerance to disease.Moderate resistance to root disease (phytophthora spp) and good resistance to blueberry rust. [0054] Leafing.Vegetative bud burst is medium to late when grown as an evergreen in Australia. [0055] Twigginess.Low.

STEM

[0056] General: [0057] Suckering tendency.Plants typically have 5-7 major canes per plant from a base 30 cm in diameter on 6 year old plants. [0058] Mature cane color.Color greyed orange 198C. [0059] Mature cane length.0.8-1.0 m. [0060] Mature cane width.1.2 cm. [0061] Bark texture.Medium roughness (typical of species). [0062] Fall color on new shoots.Top side (7489CP/7418CP), Under side (7489CP/7490CP) (Pantone color bridge plus). [0063] Surface texture of new wood.Smooth. [0064] Internode length on strong, new shoots.25-40 mm. [0065] Fruiting wood.To 15 cm in length.

FOLIAGE

[0066] General: [0067] Time of beginning of leaf bud burst.Medium to late. [0068] Leaf color (Top side).Yellow green 147A. [0069] Leaf color (Under side).Yellow green 147C. [0070] Leaf arrangement.Alternate. [0071] Leaf shape.Elliptic. [0072] Leaf margins.Entire. [0073] Undulation of margin.Weak. [0074] Leaf venation.Reticulate. [0075] Leaf apices.Acuminate. [0076] Leaf bases.Obtuse. [0077] Leaf length.54-58 mm. [0078] Leaf width.34-38 mm. [0079] Leaf length/width ratio.Medium. [0080] Leaf nectaries.Absent. [0081] Pubescence of upper side.Absent. [0082] Pubescence of lower side.Absent. [0083] Cross sectional profile.Flat. [0084] Longitudinal profile.Straight. [0085] Attitude.Semi-upright to horizontal. [0086] Petioles: [0087] Length.1.0 to 3.0 mm. [0088] Width.2.0 mm. [0089] Color.Yellow green 146C-147C.

FLOWERS

[0090] General: [0091] Time of beginning of flowering.Very late (late September to-early November at Tabulam, NSW Australia). [0092] Time of 50% anthesis.Mid to late October at Tabulam, NSW Australia. [0093] Flower shape.Urceolate. [0094] Flower bud density.Medium density. [0095] Flower fragrance.Weak. [0096] Corolla: [0097] Color.White NN155D. [0098] Length.9-12 mm. [0099] Width.7-9 mm. [0100] Aperture width.3-5 mm. [0101] Anthocyanin coloration of corolla.Present, medium intensity. [0102] Corolla ridges.Present. [0103] Protrusion of stigma.Usually absent. [0104] Inflorescence: [0105] Length.40 to 90 mm. [0106] Diameter.30-50 mm. [0107] Length of peduncle.15 mm. [0108] Surface texture of peduncle.Smooth. [0109] Color of peduncle.Yellow green 146C. [0110] Length of pedicel.7-10 mm. [0111] Surface texture of pedicel.Smooth. [0112] Color of pedicel.Yellow green 147C. [0113] Number of flowers per cluster.9-12. [0114] Flower cluster density.Medium. [0115] Calyx (with sepals): [0116] Diameter.9-11 mm. [0117] Color (sepals).Green 138C to yellow green 147C. [0118] Stamen: [0119] Length.4-5 mm. [0120] Number per flower.Approximately 10. [0121] Filament color.Yellow green 144D. [0122] Pistil: [0123] Length.10-13 mm. [0124] Style length.5-6 mm. [0125] Ovary color (exterior).Yellow green 144D 147C. [0126] Anther: [0127] Length.3.0-3.5 mm. [0128] Number.Approximately 10. [0129] Color.Grayed orange 167C-D. [0130] Pollen: [0131] Abundance.Medium. [0132] Color.Grayed orange 167C-D. [0133] Self-compatibility.60% fruit set with own pollen in tests at Lindendale, NSW Australia.

FRUIT

[0134] General: [0135] Time of fruit ripening.Very late (early October to-mid November at Tabulam, NSW Australia). [0136] Time of 50% maturity.Mid to late October. [0137] Fruit development period.65 days. [0138] Cluster density.Medium, 7-10 berries per cluster. [0139] Unripe fruit color.Green 138A. [0140] Ripe berry color.Black 202A. [0141] Berry surface wax abundance.Strong. [0142] Berry flesh color.Grayed green 194C, lightening to 194D, then 193D. [0143] Berry weight.2.5-3.0 g. [0144] Berry height from calyx to scar.14-17 mm. [0145] Berry diameter.20 mm. [0146] Berry shape.Oblate. [0147] Fruit stem scar.Small (dry). [0148] Sweetness when ripe.Very high. [0149] Firmness when ripe.Very firm. [0150] Acidity when ripe.Medium to high. [0151] Storage quality.Good, lasted 10 weeks at 2 degrees Celcius in tests. Not tested with modified atmosphere storage yet. [0152] 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. [0153] Self-fruitfulness.60% fruit set with own pollen in tests at Lindendale, NSW Australia. [0154] Uses.Fresh fruit for shipping, customer pick and processing markets and as a home garden plant.

SEED

[0155] General: [0156] Seed abundance in fruit.Abundant. [0157] Seed color.Greyed orange 164A. [0158] Seed dry weight.not recorded. [0159] Seed length.1.5-2.0 mm.

COMPARISON BETWEEN PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

[0160]

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Ridley 1607 (filed as U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/605,029 on July 28, C00-09 (U.S. Plant Organ Context Ridley 0808 2017) Pat. No. 22,778) Plant Vigor strong strong to very strong strong Plant growth habit upright upright to semi-upright upright to semi-upright One-year-old shoot Color green green green One-year-old shoot length of internode medium-long medium medium Leaf Length medium to long long long Leaf Width broad broad broad Leaf Shape elliptic elliptic elliptic Leaf color of upper side green green green Leaf intensity of green color medium medium dark on upper side (varieties with green leaf color only) Leaf margin entire entire entire Flower bud anthocyanin coloration medium weak weak Flower shape of corolla urceolate urceolate urceolate Flower size of corolla tube medium medium medium to large Flower anthocyanin coloration absent or very weak absent or very weak absent or very weak of corolla tube Flower ridges on corolla tube present present present Fruit cluster density medium medium medium Unripe fruit intensity of green color light light light Fruit size medium to large medium to large very large Fruit shape in longitudinal oblate oblate oblate section Fruit attitude of sepal erect erect erect Fruit diameter of calyx basin large to very large latge to very large large Fruit depth of clayx basin deep deep deep Fruit intensity of bloom strong strong medium to strong Fruit color of skin dark blue dark blue dark blue Fruit firmness very firm very firm very firm Fruit sweetness very high high to very high high Fruit acidity medium to high medium low Time of vegetative bud burst medium to late early late Time of beginning of flowering very late late to very late late Time of beginning of fruit very late late to very late late ripening