Blueberry plant named ‘FF03-015’

The new blueberry plant variety ‘FF03-015’ is provided. ‘FF03-015’ is a commercial variety intended for the hand harvest, fresh market. The variety is produced from a cross of ‘FL95-52’ and ‘Sunshine Blue’, and can be distinguished by its outstanding features. The variety has good vigor, ripens very early and produces excellent yields of large berries with good flavor.

Latin name of the genus and species:

Variety denomination: The new blueberry plant claimed is of the variety denominated ‘FF03-015’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the discovery of a new and distinct cultivar of southern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosumL. hybrid) plant, referred to as ‘FF03-015’, as herein described and illustrated. The cross that produced ‘FF03-015’ was made in Florida, and seeds were subsequently sent to Oregon for germination and evaluation of the resulting seedlings. The new blueberry plant variety ‘FF03-015’ was selected in Lowell, Oreg. in 2010 because its fruit ripened early and had good flavor. ‘FF03-015’ is a commercial variety intended for the hand harvest fresh market. The variety has good vigor, ripens very early and produces excellent yields of large berries with good flavor. After being selected as a seedling in Oregon, ‘FF03-015’ was trialed in California, USA; Colima, Mexico; and Huelva, Spain. When grown under protected tunnels in an evergreen production system in Spain, ‘FF03-015’ produced excellent yields of large fruit for such an early ripening variety.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Pedigree and History: The new blueberry plant originated from a cross of ‘FL95-52’ (female parent, unpatented) by ‘Sunshine Blue’ (pollen parent, unpatented). The cross that produced ‘FF03-015’ was made in Gainesville, Fla., USA in 2000.

The newVacciniumhybrid cultivar is a selection resulting from seedlings produced in a controlled breeding program ofVacciniumat Lowell, Oreg., USA in 2010 from the controlled pollination of seed parent ‘FL95-52’ (unpatented) and pollen parent ‘Sunshine Blue’ (unpatented).

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by cutting propagation since the 2010 at Lowell, Oreg., USA has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

The new cultivar was selected as a single plant within a population of plants resulting from this controlled pollination ofVacciniumhybrids in the year 2010 in a commercial field planting environment at Lowell, Oreg. Selection criteria were a combination of good vigor, very early ripening and excellent yields of large berries with good flavor. The selection was subsequently evaluated for 5 years at Lowell, Oreg. USA.

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘FF03-015’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofVacciniumhybrid plant:1. Growth habit—Upright, round2. Timing of beginning of flowering—Flowering throughout the year, from end of February to end of May.3. Timing of fruit ripening—Start at the middle of April in Lowell, Oreg.4. Plant growth vigor—Vigorous.5. Berry color—Ripe berry color from Pantone colors Dapple Gray 16-3907 to Crown Blue 19-3926.6. Berry firmness—Low.7. Picking scar—Small with an average of 1.4 mm in diameter.8. Leaf width—Average of 24.78 mm.9. Berry size—Medium-small with a diameter average of 14.79 mm.10. Berry sweetness—Moderate.

The female parent ‘FL95-52’ has not been evaluated side by side with ‘FF03-015’ in the same environment. However, the new variety differs from the unpatented male parent ‘Sunshine Blue’ in that ‘FF03-015’ is a tall upright bush, that produces very early light blue fruit, while ‘Sunshine Blue’ is a semi-dwarf round bush, with midseason, medium dark colored fruit. The new blueberry plant variety ‘FF03-015’ has maintained its distinguishing characteristics throughout successive asexual propagations. The variety has been repeatedly asexually reproduced through softwood cuttings in Lowell, Oreg., and the clones are phenotypically identical to the original plant.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘FF03-015’. The data which defines these characteristics was 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 approximately 5 years of age, and the descriptions relate to plants grown in the field in Lowell, Oreg. Descriptions of fruit characteristics were made on fruit grown in Lowell, Oreg. Color designations are from Pantone color code source. Color designations are from The Pantone Book of Color: Over 1000 Color Standards: Color Basics and Guidelines for Design, Fashion, Furnishings . . . and More (by Leatrice Eiseman and Lawrence Herbert, Harry N. Abrams, Inc., Publishers, New York, 1990).Classification:a.Family.—Ericaceae.b.Genus.—Vaccinium.c.Species.—corymbosum.d.Common name.—Blueberry.Parentage: Female Parent — ‘FL95-52’ (unpatented). Male Parent — ‘Sunshine Blue’ (unpatented).Market class: Hand harvest, fresh market.

PLANT

FOLIAGE

FLOWERS

General:a.Time of beginning of flowering.—Flowered throughout the year, from end of February to end of May.b.Time of50%anthesis.—In Lowell, Oreg. late March.c.Flower shape.—Urceolate to cylindrical.d.Flower bud density.—Medium.e.Flower fragrance.—Mild, sweet.Corolla:a.Color.—Pantone color Snow White 11-0602.b.Length.—Average 8.2 mm.c.Width.—Average 7.29 mm.d.Aperture width.—Average 3.99 mm.e.Anthocyanin coloration of corolla.—Low.f.Corolla ridges.—Present.g.Protrusion of stigma.—Average 0.14 mm below lip of corolla.Inflorescence:a.Length.—Average 2.26 cm.b.Diameter.—Average 2.33 cm.c.Length of peduncle.—Average 12.04 mm.d.Surface texture of peduncle.—Smooth.e.Color of peduncle.—Pantone colors Herbal Garden 15-0336 to Green Banana 14-0434 with some Red Earth 18-1444 and Redwood 18-1443.f.Length of pedicel.—Average 3.78 mm.g.Surface texture of pedicel.—Smooth.h.Color of pedicel.—Pantone colors Mellow Green 12-0426 and small amount of Crushed Berry 18-1418 on some.i.Number of flowers per cluster.—Average 6 flowers per cluster.j.Flower cluster density.—Moderate to high.Calyx (with sepals):a.Diameter.—Average 4.14 mm.b.Color(sepals).—Pantone colors Lettuce Green 13-0324 to Herbal Garden 15-0336.Stamen:a.Length.—Average 7.08 mm.b.Number per flower.—10.c.Filament color.—Pantone color Celery Green 13-0532.d.Style.—Length — Average 7.98 mm.e.Color.—Golden Ochre 16-1346.Pistil:a.Length.—Average 10.47 mm.b.Ovary color(exterior).—Pantone colors Spinach Green 16-0439 to Grasshopper 18-0332 with small amount of Crushed Berry 18-1418 on some.Anther:a.Length.—Average 4.83 mm.b.Number.—2.c.Color.—Pantone colors Baked Clay 18-1441 to Raw Sienna 17-1436.Pollen:a.Abundance.—Moderate.b.Color.—Pantone color Pale Banana 12-0824.c.Self-compatibility.—Good.

FRUIT

General:a.Time of fruit ripening.—Start at the middle of April in Lowell, Oreg.b.Time of50%maturity.—Middle of June.c.Fruit development period.—63 days.d.Cluster density.—Average of 5 berries per cluster.e.Unripe fruit color.—Pantone colors Celery Green 13-0532, Holly Berry 17-1633, Maroon 18-1619.f.Ripe berry color.—Pantone colors Dapple Gray 16-3907 to Crown Blue 19-3926.g.Berry surface wax abundance.—Moderate wax that rubs easily.h.Berry flesh color.—Pantone colors Pastel Yellow 11-0616 to Antique white 11-0105 to Vanilla 12-0712.i.Berry weight.—Average 1.74 g.j.Berry height from calyx to scar.—Average 13.06 mm.k.Berry diameter.—Average 14.79 mm.l.Berry shape.—Variable. Round, with some slightly oblate and others slightly spheroid.m.Fruit stem scar.—Average 1.4 mm in diameter.n.Sweetness when ripe.—Moderate.o.Firmness when ripe.—Low.p.Acidity when ripe.—Moderate.q.Storage quality.—Good.r.Suitability for mechanical harvesting.—Low.s.Self-fruitfulness.—Good.t.Uses.—Fresh Hand harvest.

COMPARISON BETWEEN PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

The new variety ‘FF03-015’ is different from ‘FF04-014’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,623 P3), another evergreen cultivar in that ‘FF03-015’ present an upright growth habit vs ‘FF04-014’ that is more round shape. ‘FF03-015’ is also early producer of lighter or waxier, smaller berries than ‘FF04-014’.