Southern highbush blueberry plant named ‘TH-929’

The new variety ‘TH-929’ is provided. The new and distinct variety ripens around the second week of May in southern Georgia. The fruit of the new variety ‘TH-929’ are very large, firm, and have good flavor. The new variety ‘TH-929’ is vigorous with an estimated chilling requirement of about 500 to 550 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: ‘TH-929’ is a southern highbush blueberry plant that is aVaccinium corymbosumL.

Variety denomination: The new southern highbush blueberry plant claimed is of the variety denominated ‘TH-929’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the discovery of a new and distinct cultivar of southern highbush blueberry plant botanically known as aVaccinium corymbosumL. and herein referred to as ‘TH-929’, as herein described and illustrated.

The new blueberry plant variety ‘TH-929’ was selected in Griffin, Ga. in 2005. The new variety ‘TH-929’ ripens around the second week of May in southern Georgia. The fruit of the new variety ‘TH-929’ are large and have good flavor. The new variety ‘TH-929’ is vigorous with an estimated chilling requirement of about 500-550 hours at or below approximately 7° C.

Pedigree and history: ‘TH-929’ was selected in 2005 at the Georgia Experiment Station in Griffin, Ga., originating from a cross of ‘TH-622’ X ‘Millennia’ made by Dr. D. Scott NeSmith in 2002. The female parent (‘TH-622’) is a non-patented breeding line, and the male parent, ‘Millennia’, is the subject of U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,816. The new variety was first asexually propagated in Griffin, Ga. by softwood cuttings. Asexual propagation by softwood cuttings has also been performed in Alapaha, Ga. The selection has been tested in plantings at Alapaha and Griffin, Ga. established in Fall 2007. In 2010, the variety was entered into preliminary trials at sites in California. In 2012 ‘TH-929’was entered into growing trials in Peru and Mexico. The new blueberry plant variety ‘TH-929’ has been shown to maintain its distinguishing characteristics through successive asexual propagation by softwood cuttings in Griffin and Alapaha, Ga. Plants from softwood cuttings have been directly planted in the ground.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed in Alapaha and Griffin Ga., and are determined to be the unique characteristics of the new blueberry plant variety ‘TH-929’:1. Very large berry size;2. Excellent berry flavor;3. Excellent fruit firmness.

The new variety ‘TH-929’ can be compared to the southern highbush blueberry varieties ‘Star’ (the subject of U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,675), and ‘Camellia’ (the subject of U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,151).

Comparison: The selection ripens after the early variety ‘Star’ in south and middle Georgia, but several days before ‘Camellia’. ‘TH-929’ has very large, firm berries with good flavor as compared to standards in Griffin and Alapaha over a 5-year period (Tables 1 and 2). Table 3 depicts berry weight, firmness and Brix for ‘TH-929’as compared to several southern highbush blueberry cultivars, including ‘Camellia’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,151), ‘TH-819’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,696), ‘Rebel’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,138), ‘Star’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,675), and ‘Suziblue’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,167). ‘TH-929’has a greater average berry firmness and Brix than all of these cultivars. It also has more protracted flowering and ripening than either ‘Star’ or ‘Camellia’.

While the major attraction of ‘TH-929’ is fruit quality, the variety does have an additional favorable attribute. Preliminary trials in regions of low latitude have indicated that ‘TH-929’ has a propensity to perform well as an evergreen or ever bearing variety. These regions receive atypical (if any) “chill hours”, and finding varieties that produce well in such regions is a challenge. Observations have revealed that ‘TH-929’ has the propensity to adapt to such conditions.

TABLE 3Berry weight, firmness, and Brix for several southern highbush blueberrycultivers and ‘TH-929’ grown in Griffin, GA during 2013.Berry firmnessSelection or cultivarBerry weight (g)(g/mm)Berry Brix (%)‘Camellia’2.5615013.3‘TH-819’1.7315013.7‘Rebel’2.5219212.5‘Star’1.7919113.5‘Suziblue’2.5419013.7‘TH-929’2.3020914.0

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

The following is a detailed description of the botanical and pomological characteristics of the new variety ‘TH-929’. 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 grown in Alapaha and Griffin, Ga., with supplemental irrigation. Plants were about 4 to about 7 years old.

PLANT

Size: 1.2 to 1.5 m tall by about 4 years of age. Plants grown under highly productive soil and fertility conditions have exceeded 1.5 m tall in 4 years. The plant crown, or base, is narrow, typically 20 to 25 cm in diameter. Upper portion of plant canopy exceeds 1.5 m in diameter by 4 to 5 years.Growth habit: Semi-spreading to semi-upright, with 3 to 5 main canes arising from the crown and multiple branching of shoots from those canes beginning 10 cm or less above ground.Growth: Highly vigorous.Productivity: Medium to high yield, averaging 8 to 12 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 southern highbush cultivars such as ‘Star’ and ‘Camellia’.Chilling requirement: 500-550 hours of temperatures at or below about 7° C. (about 45° F.) to induce normal leafing and flowering during the spring under conventional production systems. The chill requirement is less that the female parent ‘TH-622,’ but more than the male parent ‘Millenia’. ‘TH-929’ has shown a propensity for evergreen production with little or no chilling when grown under lower latitudes.Leafing: Plants tend to break sufficient leaf buds simultaneously with, or shortly after, anthesis.Canes:Diameter.—30 to 40 mm for base of canes that are about 4 years old and older. 15 to 25 mm in first major branch diameter. 10 to 15 mm in about 2 year old wood. 5 to 10 mm in current season wood.Color.—Grey RHS 201B to Grey RHS 201C for base of canes that are about 4 years old and older. Grey-green RHS 197A to Grey RHS 201B in first major branch. Yellow-green RHS 144C to Greyed-orange RHA 167B in about 2 year old wood. Yellow-green RHS 144C to Yellow-green RHS 144D in current season wood.Fruiting wood: Moderate number of twigs 15 to 25 cm in length, with internode lengths of 10-15 mm common.Disease resistance: No exceptional disease resistance or susceptibility observed; similar to southern highbush ‘Star’ and ‘Camellia.’

FOLIAGE

FLOWERS

FRUIT