Blueberry plant named ‘Echo’

Abstract

Echo is a new and distinct repeat flowering, ornamental blueberry (Vaccinium section Cyanococcus L.) cultivar that originated from seed produced from the cross of the female blueberry plant Perpetua (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,209) and the male blueberry plant ORUS 55-1 (unpatented). Echo is a blueberry clone distinguished by its ornamental characteristics that include a spreading bush habit with glossy leaves, repeat flowering and fruiting, and small, mild flavored dark blue fruit.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of blueberry plant, substantially as illustrated and described, characterized by its ability to flower on new growth without any chilling; attractive combination of flowers and fruit in late summer and fall; dark green, glossy, attractive leaves; edible, dark blue fruit; and vigorous and compact, spreading, plant habit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) This new blueberry plant is illustrated by the accompanying color photographs that show typical specimens of the flower clusters in bloom (FIG. 1), ripe fruit on a four-year-old plant (FIG. 2), and the entire plant with a ripening crop in late August (2.sup.nd crop) (FIG. 3); the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

(2) The following detailed description of Echo is based on observations taken from 2013 to 2016 in trials planted in 2012 in Corvallis and Aurora, Oreg. The measurements/observations for one trait always being made on samples from the same location. 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. Echo has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Color terminology follows The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart. London (R.H.S.) (5.sup.th edition, 2007).

(3) Table 1 shows most the bush characteristics of the new cultivar. Characteristics include plant size, height of plant, canopy diameter, growth habit, plant vigor, twigginess, suckering, tendency towards evergreenness, surface texture 1 year-old-wood, surface texture 3 year-old-wood, color new wood, color rough bark 1 year-old-wood, color rough bark 3 year-old-wood, internode length and winter hardiness in Aurora, Oreg. (45 16 49 N/122 44 50 W).

(4) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Characteristic Echo Plant size Small; comparable to Perpetua Height of plant 0.88 m Canopy diameter 0.90 m Growth habit Upright and spreading compared to Perpetua Plant vigor Moderate vigor, comparable to Perpetua Twigginess Moderate Suckering None Tendency towards evergreenness Deciduous but holds leaves into winter Surface texture new wood Smooth, slightly pubescent Surface texture 1 year-old-wood Smooth, slightly pubescent Surface texture 3 year-old-wood Rough Color new wood Gray-Red group 180A Color rough bark 1 year-old-wood Gray-Red group 178B Color rough bark 3 year-old-wood Greyed-Orange group 177A Internode length 1.84 cm Winter tolerance in Aurora, Oregon Excellent (45 16 49 N/122 44 50 W)

(5) Table 2 shows the foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Characteristics include leaf length, leaf width, leaf shape, leaf margin, leaf color upper leaf surface, leaf color lower leaf surface, pubescence upper leaf surface, pubescence lower leaf surface, pubescence leaf margins, and leaf venation.

(6) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Characteristic Echo Leaf length 4.72 cm Leaf width 1.89 cm Leaf shape Elliptic Leaf margin Entire Leaf color upper leaf surface Green group 139A Leaf color lower leaf surface Green group 138B Pubescence upper leaf surface None visible Pubescence lower leaf surface None visible Pubescence leaf margins None visible Leaf venation Net Shape of leaf apex Acuminate Shape of leaf base Acute Petiole length 1.84 mm Petiole diameter 1.23 Petiole color Yellow-Green Group (145B)

(7) Table 3 shows the flower characteristics of the new cultivar. Characteristics include fragrance, pedicel length flowerspring, peduncle length flowerspring, flower shape, pollen abundance, pollen color, flower length, corolla length, corolla diameter, style length, calyx diameter, corolla aperture, calyx surface, corolla color, corolla texture, calyx color, pistil color, pedicel color, peduncle color, flowering cluster, spring flowering period (mean date 5%), spring flowering period (mean date 50%), summer flowering period (mean date 5%), number flowers per cluster, Fruit set when pollinated with bulk pollen of other cultivars, Fruit set when pollinated with own pollen (selfed), stigma location (distance from corolla aperture to stigma), pollen abundance, pollen color, calyx aperture, calyx lobes, calyx depth and flower arrangement.

(8) TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Characteristic Echo Fragrance None Pedicel length flower - spring 4.90 mm Peduncle length flower - spring 7.66 mm Flower shape Urceolate Pollen abundance High Pollen color Yellow group 10D Flower length 8.8 mm Corolla length 7.6 mm Corolla diameter 5.0 mm Style length 7.1 mm Calyx diameter 4.5 mm Corolla aperture 3.4 mm Calyx surface Smooth Corolla color White group 155A Corolla texture Smooth Calyx color Yellow-Green group 146B Pistil color Yellow-Green group 145A Pedicel color Yellow-Green group 146C Peduncle color Yellow-Green group 145A Flowering cluster Loose Spring flowering period (mean date ~5%) Mar. 18 Spring flowering period (mean date ~50%) Apr. 1 Summer flowering period (mean date ~5%) Jul. 7 Number flowers per cluster 7.3 Fruit set when pollinated with bulk 95.4% pollen of other cultivars Fruit set when pollinated with own pollen 55.2% Stigma location Below corolla aperture, inside corolla Pollen abundance High Pollen color Yellow group 10D Calyx aperture 2.48 mm Calyx lobes 2.26 mm Calyx depth 1.75 mm Flower arrangement Monopodial branching

(9) Table 4 shows the mature fruit characteristics of the new cultivar. Characteristics include berry cluster, berry peduncle length, berry pedicel length, berry detachment from pedicel, berry weight, berry height, berry width, berry height/width ratio, berry shape, berry skin color on plant, berry skin color after harvest, berry skin color after polishing, berry wax, berry flesh color, pedicel scar, berry firmness, berry flavor, berry texture, color of dried seeds, length of well-developed dried seed, width of well-developed dried seed, weight of well-developed dried seed, productivity and size of 1.sup.st (spring) vs 2.sup.nd (summer) crop.

(10) TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Characteristic Echo Berry cluster Loose Berry peduncle length 26.73 mm Berry pedicel length 5.71 mm Berry detachment from pedicel Slight resistance to pull Berry weight 0.75 g Berry height 12.21 mm Berry width 11.94 mm Berry height/width ratio 1.12 Berry shape Subglobose First ripe (5%) fruit first (spring) crop May 24 First ripe (5%) fruit first (spring) crop Aug. 19 Berry skin color on plant when ripe Violet-Blue group N92C Berry skin color after harvest Violet-Blue group N92C Berry skin color after polishing Blue group 103A harvested fruit Berry wax Present Berry flesh color Green group 139D Pedicel scar 1.59 mm Berry firmness Moderately firm Berry flavor Mild Berry texture Firm, do not notice seeds Color of dried seeds Greyed-Orange group 177C Length of well-developed dried seed 1.76 mm Width of well-developed dried seed 0.84 mm Weigh of well-developed dried seed 0.40 mg Productivity Moderate; comparable to Perpetua Size of 1st (spring) vs 2nd crop is larger than first 2nd (summer) crop

(11) Resistance to diseases and insects: In a minimal spray program with dormant sprays only, Echo has had no fungal or bacterial disease symptoms and no indication of problems with gall midge. Echo plants have not yet shown symptoms or tested positive for Blueberry shock virus; if it was an extremely susceptible (e.g. Bluegold (unpatented)), it would be showing symptoms and testing positive after 5 years in the field, however, it is too soon to characterize it as slow to get the virus.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

(12) Echo differs from the female parent Perpetua (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,209), which is also the closest comparable commercial cultivar, in that its fruit appear longer as they have a greater length to width ratio, the fruit are a much darker violet-blue and the plants are broader and more spreading than upright with grey-red vs olive-green bark and the leaves are narrower and smaller.

(13) Echo differs from the male parent ORUS 55-1 (unpatented) in that the fruit are much more blue than black and the plant is more compact with glossy leaves.