Patent Grant
PP27623
Latin name of the family, genus, and species:
Family—Ericaceae.
Genus—Vaccinium.
Species—corymbosum hybrid.
Variety denomination: The new blueberry plant claimed is of the variety denominated ‘FF04-14’.
The present invention relates to the discovery of a new and distinct cultivar of southern highbush blueberry known as a Vaccinium corymbosum hybrid referred to as ‘FF04-14’, as herein described and illustrated.
The new blueberry plant variety ‘FF04-14’ was selected in Lowell, Oreg. in 2006. Plants of ‘FF04-14’ is a commercial variety intended for the hand harvest fresh market. The variety is vigorous, highly branched and leafy and produces a high yield of large fruit. ‘FF04-14’ has an estimated chilling requirement of 300-500 hours, but also produces high fruit yields in an evergreen production system with zero chill hours when the plants are not allowed to enter dormancy.
Pedigree and History: The new blueberry plant originated from a cross of ‘FL00-45’ (female parent, unpatented) by ‘FL97-130’ (pollen parent, unpatented). The new blueberry plant variety ‘FF04-14’ has been planted in replicated trials since 2008.
The new variety can be compared to commercial variety ‘Springhigh’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,404) in that ‘FF04-14’ has larger fruit that ripens later.
The new variety can be compared to commercial variety ‘Jewel’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,807) in that ‘FF04-14’ has larger, firmer fruit that ripens slightly later.
The new blueberry plant variety ‘FF04-14’ 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.
The new blueberry plant variety ‘FF04-14’ 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.
The following traits have been repeatedly observed in Lowell, Oreg., and are determined to be the unique characteristics of the new blueberry plant variety ‘FF04-14’:
The accompanying photographic illustration shows typical specimens in full color of the foliage and fruit of the new variety ‘FF04-14’. The colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type.
The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘FF04-14’. 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. Plants of ‘FF04-14’ have also been observed near Delano, Calif., Tala, Jalisco, Mexico, and Colima City, Colima, Mexico. Where descriptions differ significantly between Lowell, Oreg. and other locations, reference has also been made to 2 year old plants in Colima, Mexico, and 3 year old plants in Delano, Calif. Color designations are from “The Pantone Book of Color” (by Leatrice Eiseman and Lawrence Herbert, Harry N. Abrams, Inc., Publishers, New York, 1990). Where the Pantone color designations differ from the colors in the photographs, the Pantone colors are accurate.
The variety FF04-14 has never been evaluated side by side with the parents, ‘FL97-130’ and ‘FL00-45’, which are unreleased varieties that have since been discarded. The following indirect comparisons are made based on observations of the parents made in Gainesville, Fla.
In comparison to the characteristics observed for ‘FL97-130’, ‘FF04-14’ has fruit similar to FL97-130 in many ways. The fruit size of ‘FF04-14’ is very large, with medium dark color, a mild or subacid flavor, and a large picking scar. The vigor of ‘FF04-14’ greater than FL97-130, being above average in comparison to the below average rating described for FL97-130 Like FL97-130, FF04-14 has a round, twiggy bush with strong evergreen tendencies.
In comparison to the characteristics observed for ‘FL00-045’ above, ‘FF04-14’ has much darker fruit color than was described for ‘FL00-45’. Like ‘FL00-045’,‘FF04-14’ makes large numbers of berry buds and has high yield. ‘FF04-14’ also has very large fruit with good firmness and a large picking scar, similar to ‘FL00-45’. However, ‘FF04-14’ ripens later than ‘FL00-45’, which can be described as ripening at the same time as the cultivar ‘Farthing’. In contrast, ‘FF04-14’ ripens later, at a time closer to the cultivars ‘Jewel’ or ‘Camellia’.
In comparison to other known cultivars, FF04-14 exhibits the following characteristics:
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PP11807 | Lyrene | Mar 2001 | P2 |
| PP16404 | Lyrene | Apr 2006 | P3 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20150223376 P1 | Aug 2015 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61965614 | Feb 2014 | US |
