Patent Grant
PP29436
Latin name of the, genus, and species:
Genus—Vaccinium.
Species—corymbosum hybrid.
Variety denomination: The new blueberry plant claimed is of the variety denominated ‘FCM12-038’.
None.
The present invention relates to the discovery of a new and distinct cultivar of southern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L. hybrid) plant, referred to as ‘FCM12-038’, as herein described and illustrated. The new blueberry plant variety ‘FCM12-038’ was selected near Colima, state of Colima, Mexico in 2012. ‘FCM12-038’ is a commercial variety intended for the hand harvest fresh market. The variety has medium vigor, ripens very early and produces a large berry with good firmness, and a small picking scar on fruit derived from the current season's growth. ‘FCM12-038’ was selected for use in an evergreen production system in areas where zero effective chilling hours may be accumulated. The growing region of Colima, Mexico where ‘FCM12-038’ was originally selected is at a low latitude (˜19.5° N) with a sub-tropical climate. In this region, temperatures rarely fall below 45° F. (the maximum temperature at which blueberry buds accumulate chill units to break dormancy) and day lengths only vary from between 10.8 hours in December to 13.2 hours in June. Under these conditions, many traditional low-chill blueberry varieties (developed in latitudes 25°-35°) do not produce flower buds or flowers. In the case of blueberry varieties that do flower under these conditions, the flowers are produced primarily on current season's growth that is often referred to as a ‘primocane’ in the blueberry industry. The ‘primocane’ inflorescences tend to be very elongated in form compared to the inflorescence produced at higher latitudes from dormant buds, and the fruit often does not abscise well from the pedicel, resulting in a large picking scar which greatly limits shelf life. The blueberry industry in this area is dominated by the variety ‘Biloxi’ (not patented). ‘Biloxi’ (not patented) is one of the few traditional low chill varieties that grows well and produces fruit with a good picking scar in this growing environment. However, ‘Biloxi’ (not patented) often produces an excessive proportion of small, unmarketable fruit. ‘FCM12-038’ was exceptional because it flowered and fruited more than most genotypes but also had large, firm fruit with a small picking scar. ‘FCM12-038’ also flowers very quickly after pruning, resulting in earlier fruit production than ‘Biloxi’ (non patented).
Pedigree and History: The new blueberry plant originated from a cross of ‘FF03-158’ (female parent, unpatented) by ‘FL01-06’ (pollen parent, unpatented).
The cross that produced ‘FCM12-038’ (denominated by the cross code ‘X08-123’) was made in Lowell, Oreg., USA in 2008.
The new blueberry plant variety ‘FCM12-038’ was initially propagated by softwood cuttings in 2012 in Lowell, Oreg., USA. Rooted plants from these cuttings were field planted in Tala, Jalisco, Mexico and also shipped to Lowell, Oreg., USA in 2013. Additional plants have been propagated via softwood cuttings from the plants established in Tala, Mexico in 2014. The plants sent to Lowell, Oreg. were also propagated via softwood cuttings in 2014 and successfully used to establish in vitro culture lines in 2014.
The seedling family that produced ‘FCM12-038’ was initially grown in 50 cell propagation trays and shipped to Mexico in March, 2011, after the plants had reached sufficient size to be field planted. They were planted in a commercial blueberry field near Colima City, state of Colima, Mexico and evaluated for fruit production and quality beginning in December 2011. ‘FCM12-038’ was selected in 2012 because it flowered prolifically in a zero chill, evergreen production system and produced fruit with large size, firm texture, and a small picking scar. After being selected in Colima, ‘FCM12-038’ was propagated by softwood cuttings and a ten plant plot was established in Tala, state of Jalisco, Mexico (near Guadalajara). The ten plant plot was evaluated for fruit quality and yield in comparison to the standard varieties ‘Biloxi’ (not patented) and ‘Ventura’ (U.S. Pat. No. 24,606) beginning in December, 2013. After two harvest seasons of evaluation, the yield and fruit quality of ‘FCM12-038’ were deemed sufficiently good to warrant launching it as a commercial variety.
The new blueberry plant ‘FCM12-038’ as it grows in Tala, Mexico is distinguished by an upright growth habit, moderate vigor, widely spaced internodes, wide leaves with a rounded base, urceolate flowers, very early flowering and fruiting following pruning, and firm, large fruit with a moderately dark color and flattened shape. The new blueberry plant ‘FCM12-038’ consistently produces larger fruit than the standard variety ‘Biloxi’ (not patented), which is a very desirable characteristic.
Plants of ‘FCM12-038’ propagated from softwood cuttings or in vitro are phenotypically stable and exhibit the same characteristics as the original plant. The parents ‘FF03-158’ (not patented) and ‘FL01-06’ (not patented) have not been evaluated in the same environment of Mexico that ‘FCM12-038’ was selected in. However, in California, USA ‘FF03-158’ (not patented) had fruit with a texture that was softer and more mealy than fruit of ‘FCM12-038’ grown in Mexico. The fruit of ‘FF03-158’ grown in California, USA were also lighter blue in color than fruit of ‘FCM12-038’ grown in Mexico. Similarly, the blueberry plant ‘FL01-06’ grown in California, USA had a plant with shorter internodes and produced fruit that were more round in shape than fruit of ‘FCM12-038’.
The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘FCM12-038’. 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. All measurements are the average of five observations. The plant history was taken on mature plants approximately 2 years of age, and the descriptions relate to plants grown in the field in Tala, state of Jalisco, Mexico unless otherwise noted (observations on fall leaf color and some other traits were collected on plants grown in Lowell, Oreg.). Descriptions of fruit characteristics were made on fruit grown in Tala, State of Jalisco, Mexico. Color designations are from “The Pantone Book of Color” (by Leatrice Eiseman and Lawrence Herbery, Harry N. Abrams, Inc., Publishers, New York 1990) unless noted otherwise. Where the Pantone color designations differ from the colors in the photographs, the Pantone colors are accurate.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20170099757 P1 | Apr 2017 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62284550 | Oct 2015 | US |
