The new variety ‘T-1101’ ripens around late May in southern Georgia and mid June in middle Georgia. The fruit of the new variety ‘T-1101’ are very large, firm, have good flavor and scar. The new variety ‘T-1101’ is vigorous with an estimated chilling requirement of about 400 to 450 hours at or below approximately 7° C. The asexually reproduced variety is reliably propagated vegetatively.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: ‘T-1101’ is a rabbiteye blueberry plant that is aVaccinium ashei.

Variety denomination: The new rabbiteye blueberry plant claimed is of the variety denominated ‘T-1101’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the discovery of a new and distinct cultivar of rabbiteye blueberry plant botanically known as aVaccinium asheiand herein referred to as ‘T-1101’, as herein described and illustrated.

The new blueberry plant variety ‘T-1101’ was selected in Griffin, Ga. in 2007. The new variety ‘T-1101’ ripens around late May in southern Georgia. The fruit of the new variety ‘T-1101’ are large, with favorable firmness and good flavor. The new variety ‘T-1101’ has good yield and is vigorous with an estimated chilling requirement of about 400-450 hours at or below 7° C.

Pedigree and history: ‘T-1101’ was selected in 2007 in Griffin, Ga., originating from seed of open pollinated ‘Vernon’ fruit collected by Dr. Scott NeSmith in 2004. The maternal parent, ‘Vernon’, is a 2004 release and the subject of U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,291. The paternal parent is unknown. ‘T-1101’ was first asexually propagated by softwood cutting in Griffin, Ga. commencing in 2007. The new ‘T-1101’ selection has been tested in plantings in Alapaha and Griffin, Ga. since 2009. This new variety has also recently been asexually propagated by tissue culture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed in the original plant and in asexually propagated plants of the new variety, propagated by softwood cuttings, growing in Alapaha and Griffin Ga., and are determined to be the unique firmly fixed combination of characteristics of the new blueberry plant variety ‘T-1101’:1. Large berry size;2. Favorable scar;3. Good berry flavor;4. Favorable berry firmness.

The new variety ‘T-1101’ can be compared to the rabbiteye blueberry varieties ‘T-959’ which is the subject of U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,135), ‘Vernon’ (the subject of U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,291), and ‘Alapaha’ (the subject of U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,266).

Comparison: The selection ripens with ‘Vernon’ and ‘Alapaha’ in the early Georgia rabbiteye season. ‘T-1101’ has large, firm berries with good flavor as compared to ‘T-959’, ‘Vernon’ and ‘Alapaha’ standards growing in Alapaha and Griffin, Ga. over a 4-year period (Tables 1 and 2). Table 3 describes berry weight, firmness and Brix for ‘T-1101’ as compared to the ‘Alapaha’, ‘Vernon’, and ‘T-959’ rabbiteye blueberry cultivars for the years 2012-2013. ‘T-1101’ had larger berry weight than ‘Alapaha’ and ‘Vernon’ and comparable berry weight to ‘T-959’. ‘T-1101’ had the highest Brix compared with ‘Vernon’ and ‘T-959’. Table 4 describes the berry weight and yield for ‘T-1101’ compared to ‘Vernon’ for the years 2013 to 2014. Over the two year period of observation, ‘T-1101’ had greater average yield per bush than ‘Vernon’. ‘T-1101’ is slightly to moderately susceptible to fruit splitting.

The major attraction of ‘T-1101’ is its large berry size, allowing for more efficient hand harvesting than exhibited by other rabbiteye varieties. ‘T-959’ and ‘T-1101’ can be used for pollinating each other.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

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 Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 5thedition (hereinafter R.H.S.) published by The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England.

The following is a detailed description of the botanical and pomological characteristics of the new variety ‘T-1101’. 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 observations of specimen plants grown in Alapaha and Griffin, Ga., with supplemental irrigation. The observed plants were about 4 to about 5 years old.

PLANT

Size: 1.6 to 2.2 m tall by about 4 years of age. The plant crown, or base, is narrow, typically 15 to 30 cm in diameter. Upper portion of plant canopy exceeds 1.2 to 1.5 m in diameter by 4 years.Growth habit: Strongly upright, with 3 to 5 main canes arising from a narrow crown, and multiple branching of shoots from those canes at 15 cm or more above the soil surface.Growth: Highly vigorous.Productivity: High crop and yield, averaging 15 to 20 lbs of fruit per plant each year for plants 4 years and older grown under well fertilized and irrigated field conditions.Hardiness: Similar to other rabbiteye cultivars such as ‘Vernon’ and ‘T-959’.Chilling requirement: 400-450 hours of temperatures at or below 7° C. (about 45° F.) to induce normal leafing and flowering during the spring under conventional production systems. The chill requirement is less than the maternal parent ‘Vernon’ (500-550 hours of chilling required).Leafing: Plants tend to break sufficient leaf buds simultaneously with, or shortly after, anthesis.Canes:Diameter.—20 to 35 mm for base of main canes that are about 4 years old and older. 10 to 15 mm in about 2 year old wood. 5 to 10 mm in current season wood.Color.—Greyed-Green RHS 197C for base of canes that are about 4 years old and older. Yellow-Green RHS 144B transitioning to Greyed-Brown RHS 199B in about 2 year old wood. Yellow-Green RHS 144B in current season wood.Disease resistance: No exceptional disease resistance or susceptibility observed; typical for rabbiteye ‘Vernon’ and ‘T-959’. The variety shows a tendency for some fruit cracking during maturity following certain rain conditions.

FOLIAGE

FLOWERS

FRUIT

Date of 50% maturity: May 28 in southern Georgia and June 16 in middle Georgia (4 year average).Fruit development period: 74 to 84 days.Berry color:With wax.—Violet-Blue RHS 97C.With wax removed.—Black RHS 202A.Berry surface wax abundance: High.Berry flesh color: White RHS NN155A.Berry weight:First harvest.—2.3 g to 3.6 g.Second harvest.—2.0 g to 2.8 g.Berry size:Height from calyx to scar.—13.0 to 17.0 mm.Diameter.—16.0 to 21.0 mm.Berry shape: Semi-spherical.Fruit stem scar: Medium, dry, no tearing at harvest.Calyx: Depth 4.0 to 5.0 mm; width 6.0 to 8.0 mm; sepals generally not present.Berry firmness: Very good.Berry flavor and texture: Flavor is good, texture is good; firm skin and berry flesh.Berry cluster: Depends upon fruit set, typically four to six.Storage quality: Very good.Suitability for mechanical harvesting: Likely very suitable.Uses: Can be used as fresh fruit for shipping, but also customer-pick and processing markets.Harvest date averages: First harvest date is May 20thin South Georgia. Second harvest date is May 28thin South Georgia and June 16thin Middle Georgia.

Seed abundance in fruit: Medium to high, with 15 or more fully developed seeds per berry.Seed color: Greyed-Orange RHS 165B.Seed dry weight: 49.3 mg per 100 seeds.Seed size: 1.4 to 1.8 mm long; 0.7 to 1.0 mm wide for fully developed seeds.