Blueberry hybrid plant named ‘T-885’

[0001] This invention was made in parts with U.S. Government support on behalf of U.S. Department of Agriculture, Hatch Act Grant No. GEO 01663. The U.S. Government has certain rights in this invention.

[0002] Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: ‘T-885’ is a new blueberry hybrid plant that is a Vaccinium sp. hybrid.

[0003] Variety denomination: The new blueberry hybrid plant claimed is a new cultivar denominated ‘T-885’.

[0004] The present invention relates to the discovery of a new and distinct cultivar of blueberry hybrid plant botanically known as a Vaccinium sp. hybrid and herein referred to as ‘T-885’, as herein described and illustrated. The blueberry plant contains mostly rabbiteye germplasm.

[0005] The new blueberry plant variety ‘T-885’ was selected while growing in a cultivated area in Griffin, Ga. in 2005. The new variety ‘T-885’ ripens around the first week of June in southern Georgia. The fruit of the new variety ‘T-885’ are generally small to medium size. The new variety's fruit ripens progressively and not all at once, creating multiple colored fruit clusters. The new variety ‘T-885’ is highly vigorous with an estimated chilling requirement of about 500 to 550 hours at or below approximately 7° C.

[0006] Pedigree and history—The new blueberry plant variety ‘T-885’ was selected in 2005 at the Georgia Experiment Station in Griffin, Ga. It originated from a cross of ‘Climax’ X US 1056. ‘Climax’ (unpatented) is an older standard rabbiteye cultivar (V. ashei), while US 1056 is an unpatented breeding line with a complex pedigree containing V. ashei, V constablaei, V. corymbosum, and V. darrowii. The selection has been asexually propagated by softwood cuttings in Alapaha and Griffin Ga. The new cultivar has been tested in plantings at Alapaha and Griffin, Ga. since 2006.

[0007] The new ‘T-885’ blueberry plant has been shown to maintain its distinguishing characteristics through successive asexual propagations by softwood cuttings. Plants from softwood cuttings have been directly planted in the ground.

[0008] ‘T-885’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

[0009] The following traits have been repeatedly observed in ‘T-885’ plants growing in Alapaha and Griffin Ga., and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘T-885’ plants:

• • [0010] 1. Excellent plant vigor;
  • [0011] 2. Firm fruit;
  • [0012] 3. Fruit ripening progresses through several colors.

[0013] The new variety ‘T-885’ has been compared to the rabbiteye blueberry varieties ‘Climax’, and ‘Premier’ (unpatented).

[0014] Comparison to ‘Climax’ and ‘Premier’: The new variety ‘T-885’ has limited commercial production value, but rather features unique multi-colored berries and non-glaucous foliage, making it an attractive plant for ornamental purposes. The new variety is a vigorous blueberry plant having fruit that ripen around the time of the older rabbiteye blueberry standard cultivars, ‘Climax’ and ‘Premier’, which are both considered to be vigorous cultivars with early ripening berries. Comparison fruit and plant data are listed in Tables 1 and 2 as follows.

[0015]

TABLE 1
Average fruit and plant ratings of ‘T-885’ and two rabbiteye (Climax and
Premier) standard cultivars over a 2 year period (2008-2009) at Alapaha,
GA. Rating scales are based on a 1 to 10 score, with 1 being the least
desirable and 10 being the most desirable for a commercial blueberry
variety. Values in rows followed by the same lower
case letter are not significantly different.
Berry and plant attribute	T-885	Climax	Premier
Berry size	6.8	b	6.8 b	7.8 a
Berry scar	7.0	b	7.8 a	7.8 a
Berry color	4.5	b	7.0 a	7.8 a
Berry firmness	7.0	ab	7.6 a	6.8 b
Berry flavor	7.0	a	7.3 a	7.8 a
Crop load	5.0	ab	6.0 a	4.0 b
Plant vigor	8.8	a	6.7 b	9.3 a
Date of 50% flowering	March 23	March 14	March 21
Date of 50% ripening	June 5	June 3	June 3

[0016]

TABLE 2
Average fruit and plant ratings of T-885 and two rabbiteye (Climax and
Premier) standard cultivars over a 2 year period (2008-2009) at Griffin,
GA. Rating scales are based on a 1 to 10 score, with 1 being the least
desirable and 10 being the most desirable for a commercial blueberry
variety. Values in rows followed by the same lower
case letter are not significantly different.
Berry and plant attribute	T-885	Climax	Premier
Berry size	6.3 b	6.9	b	7.7 a
Berry scar	7.2 a	7.5	a	7.5 a
Berry color	4.0 b	7.2	a	7.5 a
Berry firmness	6.5 b	8.0	a	6.8 b
Berry Flavor	7.0 a	7.2	a	7.2 a
Crop load	6.0 a	5.5	a	3.5 b
Plant vigor	8.0 a	7.6	ab	7.0 b
Date of 50% flowering	March 28	March 23	March 28
Date of 50% ripening	June 24	June 17	June 16

[0022] 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^th edition published by The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England.

[0023] The following is a detailed description of the botanical and pomological characteristics of the new variety ‘T-885’. 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. The descriptions reported herein are largely from specimen plants that were about 3 to about 4 years old grown in Alapaha and Griffin, Ga., with supplemental irrigation.

• [0024] Parentage: ‘Climax’×U.S. 1056.
• [0025] Size: 1.0 to 1.2 m tall by about 3 years of age with an upper canopy of 1 m wide.
• [0026] Growth habit: Upright to semi-spreading with 2 to 5 canes arising from the crown with immediate branching.
• [0027] Growth: Highly vigorous.
• [0028] Productivity: Medium, averaging 4 to 6 lbs per plant each year for 3 to 4 year old plants grown in bark beds with supplemental irrigation.
• [0029] Hardiness: Similar to other rabbiteye cultivars such as ‘Climax’ and ‘Premier’.
• [0030] Chilling requirement: 500 to 550 hours of temperatures at or below about 7° C. (about 45° F.) to induce normal leafing and flowering during the spring.
• [0031] Leafing: Plants readily break numerous leaf buds simultaneously with anthesis.
• [0032] Canes:
  • • [0033] Diameter.—25 to 35 mm in plants that are about 3 years old and older. 7 to 10 mm in about 2 year old wood. 3 to 4 mm on current season wood.
    • [0034] Color.—Greyed-Green RHS 197C in plants that are about 3 years old and older. Yellow-Green RHS 144B transitioning to about Greyed-red RHS 178B to Greyed-purple RHS 183A in about 2 year old wood. Yellow-green RHS 145A to Greyed-red RHS 178B on current season wood.

• [0035] Leaf color: Healthy mature leaves.
  • • [0036] Top side.—Green RHS 137A.
    • [0037] Under side.—Green RHS 138B.
• [0038] Leaf arrangement: Alternate, simple.
• [0039] Leaf shape: Elliptic.
• [0040] Leaf margins: Serrate to serrulate.
• [0041] Leaf venation: Reticulate.
• [0042] Leaf apices: Acute.
• [0043] Leaf bases: Acute.
• [0044] Leaf dimensions:
  • • [0045] Length.—50 to 60 mm.
    • [0046] Width.—20 to 25 mm.
• [0047] Petioles: Small.
  • • [0048] Length.—3.0 to 4.0 mm.
    • [0049] Width.—1.5 to 2.0 mm.
    • [0050] Color.—Yellow-Green RHS 145C.

• [0051] Date of 50% anthesis: March 23 (2 year average) in southeast Georgia; March 28 (2 year average) in middle Georgia.
• [0052] Flower shape: Urceolate.
• [0053] Flower bud number: High.
• [0054] Flowers per cluster: 7 to 9.
• [0055] Flower fragrance: None.
• [0056] Corolla:
  • • [0057] Color.—White N155D (open flower).
    • [0058] Length.—6.5 to 7.5 mm.
    • [0059] Width.—5.5 to 6.5 mm.
    • [0060] Aperture width.—3.0 to 3.5 mm.
• [0061] Flower peduncle:
  • • [0062] Length.—9.0 to 11.0 mm.
    • [0063] Color.—Yellow-Green RHS 146C.
• [0064] Flower pedicle:
  • • [0065] Length.—5.0 to 6.5 mm.
    • [0066] Color.—Yellow-Green RHS 146D.
• [0067] Calyx (with sepals):
  • • [0068] Diameter.—6.0 to 6.5 mm.
    • [0069] Color (sepals).—Green RHS 139C.
• [0070] Stamen:
  • • [0071] Length.—7.0 to 8.0 mm.
    • [0072] Number per flower.—10.
    • [0073] Filament color.—Yellow-Green RHS 145D.
• [0074] Style:
  • • [0075] Length.—8.0 to 10.0 mm.
    • [0076] Color.—Yellow-Green RHS 145C.
• [0077] Pistil:
  • • [0078] Length.—9.0 to 12.0 mm.
    • [0079] Ovary color (exterior).—Green RHS 137C.
• [0080] Anther:
  • • [0081] Length.—4.0 to 5.0 mm.
    • [0082] Number.—10.
    • [0083] Color.—Greyed-Orange RHS 165B.
• [0084] Pollen:
  • • [0085] Abundance.—Medium.
    • [0086] Color.—Yellow-white RHS 158A.
• [0087] Self-compatibility: The cultivar has demonstrated a low degree of self-compatibility.

• [0088] Date of 50% maturity: June 5 (2 year average) in southeast Georgia; June 24 (2 year average) in middle Georgia.
• [0089] Fruit development period: 75 to 85 days.
• [0090] Berry color: Berries are non-waxy, and progress through several colors as they ripen. Typical color transitions are Green 145B, going to Orange-red 33B, going to Red 46A, going to Greyed-purple 187B, finally going to Black 202A at maturity.
• [0091] Berry surface wax abundance: Very low to none.
• [0092] Berry flesh color: Green-white RHS 157A.
• [0093] Berry weight:
  • • [0094] First harvest.—1.0 g to 1.2 g.
    • [0095] Second harvest.—0.8 g to 1.0 g.
• [0096] Berry size:
  • • [0097] Height from calyx to scar.—10.0 to 12.0 mm.
    • [0098] Diameter.—8.0 to 10.0 mm.
• [0099] Berry shape: Spherical.
• [0100] Fruit stem scar: Medium, dry, no tearing.
• [0101] Berry firmness: Good.
• [0102] Berry flavor and texture: Initially tart, developing a slight sweetness.
• [0103] Storage quality: Average.
• [0104] Suitability for mechanical harvesting: Not suitable.
• [0105] Uses: Primarily as an edible ornamental and for home gardening.

• [0106] Seed abundance in fruit: High.
• [0107] Seed color: Greyed-Orange RHS 165B.
• [0108] Seed dry weight: 59.9 mg per 100 seeds.
• [0109] Seed size: 1.2 to 1.8 mm long.