U.S. patent number PP20,515 [Application Number 12/072,773] was granted by the patent office on 2009-12-01 for blueberry plant named `centra blue`.
This patent grant is currently assigned to The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited. Invention is credited to Narandra Patel.
United States Patent |
PP20,515 |
Patel |
December 1, 2009 |
Blueberry plant named `Centra Blue`
Abstract
A new and distinct rabbiteye blueberry variety is described. The
variety results from selection among a population of seedlings
derived from crossing the blueberry varieties known as `Centurion`
(not patented) and `Rahi` (not patented). The fruit of this new
variety has an attractive appearance characterised by outstanding
fruit quality with a good bloom and little grittiness, and an
exceptionally late fruiting season. The new variety appears
suitable for the late fresh fruit market and has been named `Centra
Blue`.
Inventors: |
Patel; Narandra (Hamilton,
NZ) |
Assignee: |
The New Zealand Institute for Plant
and Food Research Limited (Auckland, NZ)
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Family
ID: |
39717508 |
Appl.
No.: |
12/072,773 |
Filed: |
February 28, 2008 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20080209600 P1 |
Aug 28, 2008 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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60903966 |
Feb 28, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
PLT/157 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01H
6/368 (20180501); A01H 5/08 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A01H
5/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;PLT/157 |
Primary Examiner: Kruse; David H
Assistant Examiner: Hwu; June
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Greenlee Winner and Sullivan PC
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A new and distinct variety of rabbiteye blueberry plant
substantially as herein described in the specification and
illustrations.
Description
Genus and species of plant named: Vaccinium ashei.
Variety denomination: Centra Blue.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The new variety was selected from a population of seedlings derived
from crossing the blueberry varieties `Centurion` (not patented)
and `Rahi` (not patented). The new variety was created during the
course of a planned plant-breeding program and was assigned the
breeder code, F130. The new variety has since been named `Centra
Blue`.
The new variety was determined to be distinct from the parent
varieties `Centurion` and `Rahi` by its later harvest period and
larger fruit size.
Asexual reproduction of the new variety by cuttings (softwood and
hardwood) shows that the unique combination of characteristics of
the variety come true to form and are established and transmitted
through succeeding propagation. True to type plants of the new
variety may also be produced by in vitro propagation. The variety
has been asexually reproduced at Ruakura, Waikato, New Zealand.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The fruit of this new variety has an attractive appearance
characterised by outstanding fruit quality with a good bloom and
little grittiness, and an exceptionally late fruiting season. The
new variety appears suitable for the late fresh fruit market and
has been named `Centra Blue`.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS
The accompanying photographs show typical specimens of the plant,
foliage and fruit of the new variety as depicted in colours as
nearly true as is reasonably possible to make the same in a colour
illustration of this character.
FIG. 1 shows fruit of the variety `Centra Blue` on the plant in the
field.
FIG. 2 shows typical later season fruit colour development of the
variety `Centra Blue` on the plant in the field.
FIG. 3 shows plants of the variety `Centra Blue` in a research
plot.
FIG. 4 shows fruit of the variety `Centra Blue` in transverse
section.
FIG. 5 shows the pedicel scar on fruit of the variety `Centra Blue`
compared with fruit of `Rahi` and `Centurion`.
FIG. 6 shows flowers of the variety `Centra Blue` in longitudinal
section.
FIG. 7 shows mature leaves of the variety `Centra Blue` compared
with leaves of `Rahi`.
DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION
The following is a detailed description of the new variety.
The observations, unless otherwise specified, were made in the 2007
2008 season (February 2007 February 2008) on nine year old plants
grown at Hamilton, New Zealand.
All dimensions in millimetres, weights in grams (unless otherwise
stated).
Colour terminology is in accordance with The Royal Horticultural
Society Colour Charts (R.H.S.C.C.) 2001 edition. Plant and foliage:
This hexaploid plant is generally semi-upright, of medium vigour
compared to `Rahi` and `Centurion`. Plants have been observed to be
less tall in their development compared with other commercial
varieties, for instance, `Rahi` (not patented). The average plant
height was measured at 1.48 meters compared to 2.11 meters for
`Rahi` and 1.63 meters for `Centurion` (not patented).
The mature leaf is lanceolate in shape and typically averages 75.5
81 mm in length and approximately 40 mm in width. Leaves are
generally with a minor serration, with crenate margins, with
moderate and uniform glossiness on the upper surface and absent
glaucescence on the upper surface. The petiole length averages 4.6
mm. The colour of the leaf is green, within the range near
R.H.S.C.C. Green 137C to 137A on the upper surface; within the
range near Yellow--R.H.S.C.C. Green 148B to 148C on the lower
surface.
The average cane diameter of immature canes is 7.03 mm and average
cane diameter of mature canes is 15.05 mm. Surface texture of
immature canes is smooth while the surface texture of mature canes
is peeling. The colour of immature canes is near R.H.S.C.C.
Red-Purple 59B. The colour of the bark of mature canes is near
R.H.S.C.C. Greyed-orange 165A with the colour of the cane surface
beneath the bark near R.H.S.C.C. Greyed-Orange 164B.
The average internode length on flowering shoots is 15.45 mm. The
apex of the leaf is broadly acuminate and the leaf base is cuneate.
Inflorescence: The average number of flower buds per branch is 11
with observed range 7 18. The number of buds per branch was counted
on the fruiting (terminal) part of the branch averaging 40 cm in
length.
Flowers are generally clustered and the diameter of the typical
flower averages 5.4 mm. The main colour of the petals on fully open
mature flowers is near R.H.S.C.C. White 155C.
The average size of inflorescence is 17.13 mm long with an average
of 6 flowers per cluster. The flower type is a raceme and flower
shape is urceolate with five lobes and an average corolla aperture
diameter of 3.03 mm. Fragrance was not recorded. The average style
length (including stigma but not ovary) is 9.87 mm. Fruit: The
fruit are of large size compared to typical Rabbiteye blueberry
varieties, averaging approximately 2.4 g (observed range 1.8 2.9
g). Fruit was observed to be bigger than `Centurion` (not
patented), `Maru` (not patented), `Powderblue` (not patented) and
`Rahi` (not patented). Berry size is considered of medium size if
compared to `Nui` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,699) and `Duke` (not
patented).
Generally fruit is oblong to round and the fruit length averages
approximately 16.0 mm (observed range 14.8 16.8 mm).
Unripe fruit is green, within the range near R.H.S.C.C.
Yellow-Green 146C to near R.H.S.C.C. Green 146D.
Ripe fruit has an attractive medium intensity of bloom. Fruit
colour is light blue with the bloom intact, near R.H.S.C.C.
Violet-Blue 98B, and blue black with the bloom removed. Skin colour
when bloom is completely removed is near R.H.S.C.C. Blue 103A to
near R.H.S.C.C. Black 202A.
The pedicel scar is very small, approximately 2.0 mm, similar to
`Centurion` and `Powderblue` and smaller than `Maru`, and `Rahi`.
Scar is generally dry.
The fruit sweetness (Brix level) averaged 11.4% (observed range 9.6
13.8 Brix). The fruit acidity measured as titratable acidity (mg/g)
averaged 3.8 mg/g and ranges between 3.3 4.8 mg/g.
Seed size is approximately 1.9 mm with an average number of seeds
per fruit of 53 (observed range approximately 30 75).
Fruit is generally firm, similar to `Centurion` and `Maru` and
firmer than `Powderblue` and `Rahi`.
Yield is high, averaging approximately 10.5 Kg (observed range 8.1
14.4 Kg) per plant and superior to production from `Centurion` and
`Rahi` plants of similar age under New Zealand growing
conditions.
The average diameter of the fruit calyx aperture is 3.94 mm. The
fruit flesh colour is near R.H.S.C.C. white 155C to near R.H.S.C.C.
greyed white 156D. Events:
The time of vegetative bud burst observed in 2007 was the 7.sup.th
September.
Time of beginning flowering recorded in 2007 was the 28.sup.th of
September, with the 50% of flowering the 3.sup.rd October and the
bud swell the 22.sup.nd of August.
The flowering time of `Centra Blue` was later than all the other
rabbiteye comparator varieties. Date of 50% of flowering recorded
for the comparator varieties in 2007 was the following: the
18.sup.th September for `Powderblue`, the 21.sup.st September for
`Maru`, the 25.sup.th September for `Centurion` and the 28.sup.th
September for `Rahi`.
Maturity period: very late; In 2006 fruit commenced ripening on
trial plants at Ruakura, Hamilton, New Zealand in the first week of
February 2006; ripe fruit were seen on the Jan. 24, 2006 on plants
in trials in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand. The main harvest period is
expected to be in March, and is anticipated to be a reasonably long
duration compared with other varieties. The time of fruit ripening
occurs after that in New Zealand for `Maru` (not patented),
`Centurion` (not patented) `Powderblue` (not patented) and `Rahi`
(not patented).
The fruit production observed on the nine year old plants grown at
the HortResearch Ruakura Research Centre, Hamilton, New Zealand in
2008 was earlier than the one recorded in 2007. During the summer
2007 `Centra Blue` had the 50% of blue fruit the 1.sup.st of March
while in 2008 was the 15.sup.th of February. For the comparator
variety the 50% of production in 2008 was recorded during the
following dates: 15.sup.th of January for `Centurion` and
`Powderblue` and the 17.sup.th January for `Maru`. Disease and
pests: The plant does not seem to be susceptible to rust
(Pucciniastrum vaccinii). Additional description: The main harvest
period is generally late compared to other rabbiteye varieties and
it is of long duration under the New Zealand growing
conditions.
Chilling requirement of Centra Blue has been estimated between 500
700 hours.
Self compatibility of Centra Blue has not been tested by self
crossing the variety. However pollinators with a similar late
flowering timing are recommended. The average age of plants
described and illustrated was four years old for Centra Blue and
Centurion and five years old for Rahi.
* * * * *