Blueberry plant named 'Gumbo'

Abstract

The most distinctive features of the southern highbush blueberry Gumbo are its early ripening, high yield, excellent fruit quality attributes, and excellent plant vigor under field and high density growth conditions.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of southern highbush blueberry plant, substantially as illustrated and described herein.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

[0009] FIG. 1 shows a four year old Gumbo plant and berries during ripening in May of 2014.

[0010] FIG. 2 shows ripening berry clusters in May of 2014.

[0011] The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

[0012] The following is a detailed description of the botanical and pomological characteristics of the subject blueberry, Gumbo. 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. Gumbo has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Color terminology follows The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart. London (R.H.S.) (4.sup.th edition, 2001),

[0013] The descriptions reported herein are from four- to five-year-old specimens grown in McNeill, Miss. in soil amended with pine bark and with supplemental irrigation. The plants used for these observations were planted in 2011, and descriptive data were collected in 2015 and 2016.

PLANT

[0014] Size: [0015] Height.Approximately 1.4 to 1.8 m by about 4 years of age. Four year-old Gumbo plants in South Mississippi reach a height of 1.3 to 1.6 mat the center of the plant. [0016] Width at the base or crown.Approximately 0.3 to 0.4 m. [0017] Width at the top of the bush.Approximately 0.9 to 1.1 m. [0018] Growth habit: Moderately spreading with several canes arising from the crown. [0019] Growth: Very high vigor. Grows moderately well in in heavy Coastal plains soils where many southern highbush blueberry cultivars die out after 3 years. [0020] Productivity: Medium in plants gown in soils amended in soils with pine bark and supplemental irrigation. [0021] Hardiness: Similar to other southern highbush cultivars like Star and Santa Fe. [0022] Chilling requirements: Approximately 350-400 hours of temperature at or below 45 F. (about 7 C.) to induce normal leafing and flowering during the spring. [0023] Leafing: Plants readily break numerous leaf buds simultaneously with flowering. [0024] Canes: Canes 3 years old and older can be 11 to 18 mm in diameter. Color is Grey Brown 198B. 2 year old wood is 6 to eight mm in diameter, color is Yellow-Green 153D. Current season shoot is 2 to 3 mm in diameter, color is Yellow-Green 153D. [0025] Surface texture.Canes less than 3 years old are smooth. Canes 3-4 years old can become rough with some growth fissures and flaking bark. As canes become older, they become nearly smooth again. [0026] Diseases: More tolerant to septoria leaf spot than Star and Santa Fe.

FOLIAGE

[0027] Leaf color: Healthy mature leaves. [0028] Top side.About Green 137A. [0029] Under side.About Yellow-Green 147C. [0030] Leaf arrangement: Alternate, simple. [0031] Leaf shape: Elliptic. [0032] Leaf margins: Nearly entire, slightly crenate near base. [0033] Leaf venation: Reticulate. [0034] Vein color.About yellow-green 153A. [0035] Leaf apices: Acuminate. [0036] Leaf bases: Acute to acuminate. [0037] Leaf dimensions: [0038] Length.53 to 71 mm. [0039] Width.24 to 34 mm. [0040] Leaf surface: Smooth with moderate wax. [0041] Petioles: Small. [0042] Length.Approximately 3.0 to 4.5 mm. [0043] Color.About Yellow-Green 152D.

FLOWERS

[0044] Date of 50% anthesis: March 17 (8 year average in south MS). Blooming or flowering season for Gumbo begins around March 3.sup.rd (10%) in south Mississippi, reaching 50% bloom on March 17.sup.th on average. Plants are 90% or more in bloom by March 27.sup.th. [0045] Flower shape: Urceolate. [0046] Flower bud number: Medium to High. [0047] Flowers per cluster: Approximately 5 to 8. [0048] Flower fragrance: Yes. Gumbo flowers have a slight rose to fruity fragrance if stored in an enclosed plastic bag for 15 minutes after harvesting the blossoms. [0049] Corolla: [0050] Color.About White 155D open flower. [0051] Length.Approximately 8.5 to 9.5 mm. [0052] Width.Approximately 6.8 to 7.0 mm. [0053] Aperture width.Approximately 3.0 to 4.2 mm. [0054] Flower peduncle: [0055] Length.Approximately 8 to 10 mm. [0056] Color.About Yellow-Green 145B. [0057] Flower pedicle: [0058] Length.Approximately 3-4 mm. [0059] Color.About Yellow-Green 145B. [0060] Calyx (with sepals): [0061] Diameter.5.0 to 5.5 mm; color Green 137B. [0062] Stamen.Length 6.5 to 7.0 mm; number per flower 10; color yellow-green 145 C. [0063] Style.Length 8.0 to 9.0 mm; color Yellow-Green 145A. [0064] Pistil.Length 11.0 to 12.0 mm; ovary color (exterior) Green 137D. [0065] Anther.Length 4.0 to 4.5 mm; number 10; color Greyed-Orange 167A. [0066] Pollen.Abundance Medium; color Yellow-Orange 14D. The cultivar has a low to moderate degree of self-compatibility. It should be grown with another cultivar such as Star (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,675) or Santa Fe (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,788).

FRUIT

[0067] Date of 50% maturity: May 22 (year average in south MS). In south Mississippi, Gumbo on average has 10% ripe berries on May 11th, 50% on May 22.sup.nd, and 90% ripe berries by Jun 1.sup.st. [0068] Fruit development period: Fruit development period 60 to 65 days. [0069] Berry color: With Wax Violet-Blue 97C; with wax removed greyed-Purple 187A to Black 202A. [0070] Berry surface wax abundance: High. [0071] Berry flesh color: Yellow-green 145C to Green-White 157A. [0072] Berry weight: 1.sup.st harvest 2.1 to 2.5 g; 2.sup.nd harvest 1.6 to 2.2 g. [0073] Berry shape: Gumbo berry shape is nearly spherical. [0074] Fruit stem scar: Small, dry, no tearing. [0075] Berry firmness: Good. [0076] Berry flower and texture: Mild flavor, excellent texture. [0077] Storage quality: Good to very good. [0078] Suitability for mechanical harvesting: Unknown, but berries are readily removed from pedicels by hand with gentle force. [0079] Uses: Primarily used as fresh fruit for shipping. [0080] Seed: [0081] Seed abundance in fruit.Low to medium. [0082] Seed color.Greyed-Orange 165B. [0083] Seed dry weight.48 mg per 100 seed. [0084] Seed size.Length 1.0 to 1.3 mm for fully developed seeds.