Patent Application
20190215999
None.
Latin name of the genus and species: Genus—Vaccinium. Species—corymbosum.
Variety denomination: The new blueberry plant claimed is of the variety denominated ‘FC13-122’.
The present invention relates to the discovery of a new and distinct cultivar of northern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L. hybrid) plant, referred to as ‘FC13-122’, as herein described and illustrated. The new blueberry plant variety ‘FC13-122’ is a commercial variety intended for the hand harvest fresh fruit market. The variety has moderate plant vigor, upright growth habit, ripens mid-season, and produces very large, uniform fruit. ‘FC13-122’ was selected for its above average fruit quality compared to other mid-season varieties. The fruit is larger and firmer than any standard commercial variety in the same harvest window.
‘FC13-122’ has a more upright growth habit compared to the parents ‘ZFO6-050’ (not patented) and ‘ZFO6-013’ (not patented) that have a semi-sprawling growth habit. ‘FC13-122’ differs from the female parent ‘ZFO6-050’ (not patented) in that it has moderate vigor and larger fruit where ‘ZFO6-050’ (not patented) has low vigor and smaller fruit. ‘FC13-122’ differs from the male parent ‘ZFO6-013’ (not patented) in that it has a higher yield and larger, firmer fruit.
Pedigree and History: The new blueberry plant originated from a cross of ‘ZFO6-050’ (female parent, not patented) and ‘ZFO6-013’ (male parent, not patented) made in Lowell, Oreg., USA in 2010 and was selected in the same location in 2013.
The new blueberry variety ‘FC13-122’ was initially propagated by softwood cuttings in 2013 from the original seedling in Lowell, Oreg., USA and planted in a replicated plot of nine plants in fall 2014. The plants established in Oregon were successfully used to establish in vitro culture lines in 2017.
‘FC13-122’ was selected in 2013 because of its high-quality fruit—firm, crisp, light blue color, and very large size. After two additional years of evaluation in Lowell, Oreg., ‘FC13-122’ was determined to be sufficiently cold hardy and adaptable to commercial management strategies, and have a competitive yield for the harvest season. Plants of ‘FC13-122’ propagated from softwood cuttings or in vitro are phenotypically stable and exhibit the same characteristics as the original plant.
The new blueberry plant variety ‘FC13-122’ 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.
‘FC13-122’ is distinguished by an upright growth habit, moderate vigor, very large fruit, high number of berries per cluster, and long inflorescence. The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of the new blueberry plant variety ‘FC13-122’:
1) Mid-season ripening
2) Very large, uniform fruit size
3) Firm fruit texture
4) Excellent long-term cold storage performance
The accompanying photographic illustration shows typical specimens in full color of the foliage and fruit of the new variety ‘FC13-122.’ The colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type.
The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with the photographic and printing technology utilized. The color values cited in the detailed botanical description accurately describe the colors of the new blueberry.
The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘FC13-122’. The data that define these characteristics were 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 3 years of age, and the descriptions relate to plants grown in the field located at 39252 Jasper-Lowell Road, Lowell, Oreg., USA. Descriptions of fruit characteristics were made on fruit grown at the field described above. Color designations are from “The Pantone Book of Color” (by Leatrice Eiseman and Lawrence Herbery, Harry N. Abrams, Inc., Publishers, New York 1990). Where the Pantone color designations differ from the colors of the photographs, the Pantone colors are accurate.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/709,364 filed on Jan. 11, 2018, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety as though fully set forth.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62709364 | Jan 2018 | US |
