L. plant named ‘RYOKU NH-12’
A new and distinct variety of Vaccinium corymbosum L. plant named ‘RYOKU NH-12’, characterized by having more compact plant size, comparatively early fruit ripening time, comparatively large and uniform fruit size, firmer and lower dehiscent fruits, sweeter fruits, better taste balance of sweetness and acidity, and better taste of fruits, as compared to other Vaccinium corymbosum L. varieties.
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The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosed herein is: Vaccinium corymbosum L.
The novel variety of the Vaccinium corymbosum L. disclosed herein has been given the variety denomination: ‘RYOKU NH-12’.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONSThis application claims priority to Japanese Plant Breeders' Rights Application No. 31724, filed Jan. 4, 2017, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a new and distinct hybrid variety of northern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) named ‘RYOKU NH-12’. This novel variety was found by open pollination of ‘Spartan’, ‘Duke’ and ‘Denies Blue’ in the tests conducted for the period from 2004 to 2008 in Matsumoto-City, Nagano-prefecture, Japan. As stated below, ‘RYOKU NH-12’ has apparently different characteristics from those of the ‘Spartan’ and ‘Duke’, both being widely planted and important varieties in the Chubu district of Japan.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONBlueberry variety ‘RYOKU NH-12’ exhibits outstanding and distinguishing characteristics when grown under normal horticultural conditions in the area from Nagano-prefecture to the north of the Kanto in Japan, including:
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- (1) more compact plant size;
- (2) comparatively early fruit ripening time (50% fruit ripening around late June of each year in Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan);
- (3) comparatively large and uniform fruit size;
- (4) firmer and lower dehiscent fruits;
- (5) sweeter fruits with better taste balance of sweetness and acidity; and
- (6) better taste of fruits.
The accompanying colored photographs (
A. Distinctive Characteristics of ‘RYOKU NY-12’
As described above, ‘RYOKU NH-12’ was obtained by the open pollination of ‘Spartan’, ‘Duke’ and ‘Denies Blue’. On Apr. 15, 2004, about 1,000 seeds obtained from the mixed fruits of ‘Spartan’, ‘Duke’ and ‘Denies Blue’, all of which were harvested in a field in Matsumoto-City, Nagano-prefecture, Japan, seeded in plant seeding trays, and then transplanted to pots. The resulting seedlings (about 300) were planted in cultivation pots on May 1, 2005. Fructification of the planted seedlings was started from Jun. 20, 2008 (on Year 3), and about 20 plant individuals were selected based on the characteristics, including larger fruit size, better taste balance of sweetness and acidity, higher yield per plant, earlier ripening time, large and uniform fruits, etc. For the about 20 plant individuals selected, test plots (each including about 20 cuttings per plant individual) were formed, where these plants were asexually propagated by cutting means. During the period from Jul. 20, 2010 to Dec. 25, 2016 and for 3 generations, the plants were propagated and examined for their characteristics based on the growth, and yield and fruits quality in each test plot. For 10 test plots, the characteristics of the plants were observed for the period between the flowering time and the ripening time yearly for 4 years, and since neither variant nor off-type plant was observed for the period, the characterization of ‘RYOKU NH-12’ was finished on Dec. 25, 2016 and the breeding was completed.
‘RYOKU NH-12’ is a blueberry clone distinguishable from the important blueberry varieties ‘Spartan’ and ‘Duke’, both of which are widely planted in the Chubu district of Japan, due to its characteristics including more compact plant size, comparatively early fruit ripening time, comparatively large and uniform fruit size, firmer and lower dehiscent fruits, sweeter fruits with better taste balance of sweetness and acidity, and better taste fruits. 20 plants of ‘RYOKU NH-12’ had been propagated by cutting means in Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan, and all the resulting plants were phenotypically indistinguishable from the original plant variety ‘RYOKU NH-12’. In addition, comparing to ‘Spartan’ and ‘Duke’, the claimed plant ‘RYOKU NH-12’ has more compact plant size, about 1 week earlier fruit ripening time (on average, around June 25 to July 1 of each year in Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan), larger and more uniform fruit size, and firmer and sweeter fruit when compared to its related variety ‘Spartan’, and has more compact plant size, lower dehiscent fruits, sweeter fruits, a better balance of sweetness and acidity, and better tasting of fruits when compared to the ‘Duke’ variety (see Table 1 below).
The following data defining characteristics of ‘RYOKU NH-12’ were collected from the asexual propagation carried out in Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan. The plant history was taken on a plot of 10 four-year-old plants growing in Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan. ‘RYOKU NH-12’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions, and the measurements provided might therefore vary if grown in different environments. Where averages are given, the sample size was 10.
B. Phenotypic Description of Vaccinium corymbosum L. (‘RYOKU NH-12’)
Characteristics of ‘RYOKU NH-12’ are further specifically described as follows:
- 1. Plant:
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- Plant vigor.—Medium.
- Growth habit.—Semi-upright.
- Plant size.—Small.
- Plant height.—1.3 m on average for 4-year old plant.
- Plant spread.—0.8 m on average for 4-year old plant.
- Color of bark of plant.—Dark Red, 187-B (The R.H.S. Colour Chart).
- Cold hardiness.—Survived in winter frost (below −10° C.) with minimum damage.
- Ease of propagation.—Propagated from each of the dormant wood cutting and the softwood stem cutting, where the rooting percentage was greater than 70% and comparable to the other varieties.
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- 2. Trunk and branches:
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- Suckering tendency.—Medium suckering tendency.
- Surface texture (of 6-month-old shoots).—Medium smoothness.
- Surface texture (of 3-year-old and older wood).—Medium smoothness.
- Color of new twigs observed in the field.—Orangish yellow green.
- Internode length.—16.2 mm on average.
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- 3. Leaves:
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- Length including petiole.—54.0 mm on average.
- Width of leaf at widest point.—33.0 mm on average.
- Shape.—Ovate.
- Leaf margin.—Entire.
- Color.—Upper surface of leaves: Dark Yellowish Green, 139-A. Lower surface of leaves: Strong Yellow Green, 143-A (The R.H.S. Colour Chart).
- Pubescence.—Upper Surface of leaves: Absent. Lower Surface of leaves: Absent. Margin: Absent.
- Timing of vegetative bud burst.—Medium.
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- 4. Flowers:
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- Shape.—Campanulate.
- Color of opened flower.—Pale Yellow Green, 157-C (The R.H.S. Colour Chart).
- Flowering period.—Mean date of 50% opening of flowers in Matsumoto-City, Nagano-prefecture, Japan is May 1 (2 days earlier than ‘Spartan’ variety).
- Corolla.—Diameter: 7.4 mm on average. Length (from pedicel attachment point to corolla tip excluding the pedicel): 10.8 mm on average. Color: light green white. Anthocyanin coloration in corolla tube — Absent or very weak.
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- 5. Reproductive organs:
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- Pollen.—Color: Yellow.
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- 6. Fruit:
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- Mean date of 50% harvest in Matsumoto-City, Nagano-prefecture.—July 1 on average.
- Diameter of calyx aperture on mature berry.—5.9 mm on average.
- Size and shape of calyx lobe on mature berry.—Medium in size, outcurving, and having deep calyx basin.
- Detachment force for ripe berries (easy, medium, hard).—Easy.
- Fruit cluster density (sparse, medium, dense).—Medium.
- Fruiting type.—On one-year old shoots only.
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- 7. Berry:
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- Cluster (tight, medium, loose).—Medium.
- Weight (on well-pruned plants).—3.79 g on average.
- Height.—14.9 mm on average.
- Width.—20.4 mm on average.
- Shape.—Oblate.
- Skin of fruit, with bloom.—Light Purplish Blue, 98-D (The R.H.S. Colour Chart).
- Intensity of fruit bloom.—Medium.
- Skin of fruit, without bloom.—Greyish Purplish Blue, 103-A (The R.H.S. Colour Chart).
- Immature berry color, with bloom.—Medium green.
- Immature berry color, without bloom.—Yellow green.
- Flesh color.—Light Yellow Green, 150-D (The R.H.S. Colour Chart).
- Peel color.—Medium blue.
- Color of seeds.—Moderate Orange, N167-C (The R.H.S. Colour Chart).
- Pedicel scar.—Medium. 2.92 mm on average.
- Firmness.—Medium.
- Intensity of fruit sweetness.—High, Bx 14.5.
- Intensity of fruit acidity.—High, pH 2.59.
- Texture.—Somewhat soft pulp, very juicy, medium seeds.
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- 8. Use: ‘RYOKU NH-12’ produce northern highbush blueberries suitable for fruit-picking farms, fresh fruit markets and processed fruit market, etc.
- 9. Resistance to disease, insects, and mites: ‘RYOKU NH-12’ grew vigorously and showed excellent bush survival in the field. It appears to be tolerant to stem blight (Botryosphaeria spp.) and root rot (Phytophthora cinnamoni), with very few young plants dying soon after planting. The response of ‘RYOKU NH-12’ to the various fungal species that cause summer leaf spots is typical of other northern highbush varieties, and fungicide applications may be needed after harvest in order to reduce foliar diseases and to retain leaves until autumn and make maximum flower bud set. Similarly, susceptibility to typical blueberry insect and mite pathogens, such as spotted wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii), blueberry gall midge (Dasineura oxycoccana) and blueberry bud mite (Acalitus vaccini), is similar to other northern highbush cultivars.
Claims
1. A new and distinct variety of Vaccinium corymbosum L. plant named ‘RYOKU NH-12’, as described and illustrated herein.
Type: Grant
Filed: Dec 21, 2017
Date of Patent: Jul 30, 2019
Patent Publication Number: 20180199482
Assignee: NIPPON RYOKUSAN CO., LTD. (Matsumoto-shi)
Inventor: Shigetaka Sakurai (Matsumoto)
Primary Examiner: Annette H Para
Application Number: 15/732,725