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-11’.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to Japanese Plant Breeders' Rights Application No. 31723, filed Jan. 4, 2017, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a new and distinct hybrid variety of northern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) named ‘RYOKU NH-11’. This novel variety was found by open pollination of ‘Chandler’, a seed parent variety, in the tests conducted for the period from 2003 to 2007 in Matsumoto-City, Nagano-prefecture, Japan. As stated below, ‘RYOKU NH-11’ has apparently different characteristics from those of the varieties ‘Chandler’ and ‘Blueray’, both being widely planted and being important varieties in the Chubu district of Japan.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Blueberry variety ‘RYOKU NH-11’ 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:
-
- (1) stronger plant vigor and more upright plant growth habit;
- (2) comparatively early fruit ripening time (on average, around July 15 of each year, in Matsumoto-city, Nagano-prefecture, Japan);
- (3) comparatively large and uniform fruit size; and
- (4) smaller and dry stem scar.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying colored photographs (FIGS. 1 to 8) show typical bush, flower, fruit and leaf characteristics for the new Vaccinium corymbosum L. plant ‘RYOKU NH-11’. Colors shown are as accurate as can be reasonably reproduced by photographic means. In some cases, the color might differ slightly from the colors of ‘RYOKU NH-11’ recited in the description.
FIG. 1 shows a tree body of ‘RYOKU NH-11’ (photographed date: Jul. 10, 2015; photographed location: Matsumoto-City, Nagano-prefecture, Japan).
FIG. 2 shows a panoramic view of the cultivation area of ‘RYOKU NH-11’ (photographed date: Sep. 7, 2012; photographed location: same as FIG. 1).
FIG. 3 shows whole flowers of ‘RYOKU NH-11’ (photographed date: May 6, 2014; photographed location: same as FIG. 1).
FIG. 4 shows broken-down parts of a flower of ‘RYOKU NH-11’ (photographed date: May 6, 2014; photographed location: same as FIG. 1).
FIG. 5 shows fruits of ‘RYOKU NH-11’ (photographed date: Jul. 20, 2012; photographed location: same as FIG. 1).
FIG. 6 shows a cross-section of the fruits of ‘RYOKU NH-11’ (photographed date: Jul. 20, 2012; photographed location: same as FIG. 1).
FIG. 7 shows an upper side of the leaves (10 sheets) of ‘RYOKU NH-11’ (photographed date: Aug. 3, 2012; photographed location: same as FIG. 1).
FIG. 8 shows a lower side of the leaves (10 sheets) of ‘RYOKU NH-11’ (photographed date: Aug. 3, 2012; photographed location: same as FIG. 1).
DETAILED BOTANICAL DESRIPTION A. Distinctive Characteristics of ‘RYOKU NY-11’
As described above, ‘RYOKU NH-11’ was obtained by the open pollination of ‘Chandler’, a seed parent (Note: the possible pollen parent might be ‘Blueray’). On Apr. 15, 2003, about 10,000 seeds of ‘Chandler’, which were cultivated in a field in Matsumoto-City, Nagano-prefecture, Japan, were seeded in plant seeding trays, and then transplanted to pots. The resulting seedlings (about 3,000) were planted in cultivation pots on May 1, 2004. Fructification of the planted seedlings were started from Jun. 20, 2007 (on Year 3), and about 200 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 200 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, 2009 to Dec. 25, 2016 and for 3 generations, the plants were propagated and examined for their characteristics based on the growth, 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 5 years, and since neither variant nor off-type plant was observed for the period, the characterization of ‘RYOKU NH-11’ was finished on Dec. 25, 2016 and the breeding was completed.
‘RYOKU NH-11’ is a blueberry clone distinguishable from the important blueberry varieties ‘Chandler’ and ‘Blueray’, both of which are widely planted in the Chubu district of Japan, due to its characteristics including stronger plant vigor, more upright plant growth habit, earlier fruit ripening time, larger and more uniform fruit size, and smaller and dry stem scar. 27 plants of ‘RYOKU NH-11’ 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-11’. In addition, comparing to ‘Chandler’ and ‘Blueray’, the claimed plant ‘RYOKU NH-11’ has a more upright plant growth habit, about 1-week earlier fruit ripening time (on average, around July 15 of each year in Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan), more uniform fruit size and smaller stem scar when compared to its related variety ‘Chandler’, and has stronger plant vigor, larger fruit size, and smaller stem scar when compared to the ‘Blueray’ variety (see Table 1 below).
The following data defining the characteristics of ‘RYOKU NH-11’ were collected from the asexual propagation carried out in Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan. The plant history was taken on a plot of 10 five-year-old plants growing in Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan. ‘RYOKU NH-11’ 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-11’)
Characteristics of ‘RYOKU NH-11’ are further specifically described as follows:
- 1. Plant:
-
- Plant vigor.—Strong, where the plant vigor is stronger than ‘Blueray’.
- Plant size.—Large.
- Growth habit.—Upright.
- Plant height.—1.7 m on average for 5-year old plant.
- Plant spread.—1.1 m on average for 5-year old plant.
- Color of bark of plant.—Deep Red, 185-A (The R.H.S. Colour Chart).
- Tendency toward evergreenness.—Absent.
- Cold hardiness.—Survived in winter frost (below −10° C.) with minimum damage.
- Ease of propagation.—At least 70% rooting percentage in each of the dormant wood cutting and softwood stem cutting, comparable to the other varieties.
- 2. Trunk and branches:
-
- Suckering tendency.—Less suckering as in ‘Chandler’.
- 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.—Yellow green.
- Internode length.—15.3 mm on average.
- 3. Leaves:
-
- Length including petiole.—69.4 mm on average.
- Width at widest point.—35.2 mm on average.
- Shape.—Elliptic.
- Leaf margin.—Entire.
- Color.—Upper surface of leaves: Moderate Green, 135-B. Lower surface of leaves: Moderate Olive Green, 137-B (The R.H.S. Colour Chart).
- Pubescence.—Upper Surface of leaves: Absent. Lower Surface of leaves: Absent. Margins: Absent.
- Timing of vegetative bud burst.—Medium.
- 4. Flowers:
-
- Shape.—Campanulate.
- Color of opened flower.—Greenish White, 157-D (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 ‘Chandler’).
- Corolla.—Diameter: 9.6 mm on average. Length (from pedicel attachment point to corolla tip excluding the pedicel): 12.3 mm on average. Color: light yellow white. Anthocyanin coloration in corolla tube — Absent or very weak.
- 5. Reproductive organs:
- 6. Fruit:
-
- Mean date of 50% harvest in Matsumoto-City, Nagano-prefecture.—July 15.
- Diameter of calyx aperture on mature berry.—7.2 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.
- 7. Berry:
-
- Cluster (tight, medium, loose).—Medium.
- Weight (on well-pruned plants).—4.51 g on average.
- Height.—15.4 mm on average.
- Width.—22.0 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.—Light green.
- Immature berry color, without bloom.—Light yellow green.
- Flesh color.—Pale Yellow Green, 149-C (The R.H.S. Colour Chart).
- Peel color.—Medium blue.
- Color of seeds.—Brownish Orange, N167-B (The R.H.S. Colour Chart).
- Pedicel scar.—Medium, 2.54 mm on average.
- Firmness.—Medium.
- Intensity of fruit sweetness.—Medium, Bx 10.8.
- Intensity of fruit acidity.—High, pH 2.80.
- Texture.—Crispy and juicy, medium seeds.
- 8. Use: ‘RYOKU NH-11’ produce northern highbush blueberries suitable for fruit-picking farms, fresh fruit markets and processed fruit markets, etc.
- 9. Resistance to disease, insects, and mites: ‘RYOKU NH-11’ 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-11’ 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.
TABLE 1
(Comparison of characteristics among varieties)
Charact. UPOV
No No. Code Characteristics Definition
1 1 QN Plant: vigor Strength of growth
(*) (+) level of plant
2 QN Plant: size Size of plant crown
3 2 QN Plant: growth habit Whole shape of
(*) G plant without
pruning during
dormant period
4 3 PQ One-year-old Color of middle part
shoot: color of shoot extended
before dormant
period
5 QN One-year-old shoot: Length of middle
length part of shoot
extended before
dormant period
6 4 QN One-year-old shoot: Length of internode
length of intemode of shoot extended
(upper half) before dormant
period
(upper half)
7 5 QN Leaf: length Length of leaf
(*) sufficiently
expanded
8 6 QN Leaf: width Maximum width of
mature leaf
9 7 QN Leaf: ratio Ratio of leaf length
length/width to maximum
width (leaf
length/leaf width)
10 8 PQ Leaf: shape Shape of mature leaf
(*)
11 QN Leaf: shape of tip Shape of lip of
(+) mature leaf
12 9 QL Leaf: color of Color of surface of
upper side mature leaf
13 10 QN Only varieties with Intensity of green
(*) green leaf color: color on surface of
Leaf, intensity of mature leaf
green color on
upper side
14 11 QL Leaf: margin Type of margin of
(*) mature leaf
15 12 QN Flower bud: Intensity of
anthocyanin anthocyanin
coloration coloration of
flower bud occurring
to one year old shoot
16 13 QN Inflorescence: Length of
length (excluding inflorescence at
peduncle) flowering time
(excluding
peduncle)
17 14 PQ Flower: shape Shape of corolla at
of corolla full bloom
18 PQ Flower: color of Color of corolla at
corolla full bloom
19 15 QN Flower: size of corolla Size of corolla
(*) tube tube at full bloom
20 16 QN Flower: Intensity of
(*) anthocyanin anthocyanin
coloration of corolla coloration on
tube surface of
corolla tube
21 17 QL Flower: ridges Presence or
on corolla tube absence of ridges
on corolla tube
22 18 QN Fruit cluster: density Density of fruit per
fruit cluster
23 19 QN Unripe fruit: intensity Intensity of green
(*) of green color color of fruit before
ripening
24 20 QN Fruit: size Size of fruit at
(*) ripening
25 21 PQ Fruit: shape in Shape in
(*) (+) longitudinal longitudinal
section section of fruit at
ripening
26 QN Fruit: size of scar Size of stem scar of
(+) mature fruit
27 PQ Fruit: shape of Shape ot calyx
(+) calyx cavity cavity of
mature fruit
28 22 QN Fruit: attitude of sepals Attitude of sepals
relative to
mature fruit
29 23 QN Fruit: type of sepals Direction of curving
of sepals
30 24 QN Fruit: diameter of Diameter of
calyx basin calyx basin
of mature fruit
31 25 QN Fruit: depth of Depth of calyx
calyx basin basin of mature
fruit
32 26 QN Fruit: intensity of Intensity of
(*) bloom bloom on surface of
mature fruit
33 27 PQ Fruit: color of skin Color of skin of
(*) G (after removal mature fruit after
of bloom) removal of bloom
34 28 QN Fruit: firmness Firmness of
(+) mature fruit
35 PQ Fruit: color of flesh Color of flesh of
mature fruit
36 29 QN Fruit: sweetness Sweetness of
(*) (+) mature fruit
37 30 QN Fruit: acidity Acidity of mature
(*) (+) fruit
38 31 QL Plant: fruiting type Shoots to which
(*) G fruits adnate
39 QN Fruit: tendency of Tendency of
cracking cracking during
harvest season
40 32 QN Time of vegetative Time of beginning
(*) (+) bud burst to burst
first vegetative
bud of each
individual plant
41 33 QN Time of beginning of Time of 10%
(*) (+) flowering on one- flowering occurring
G year-old shoot to one year old
shoot
42 34 QN Varieties which fruit Time of 10%
(*) (+) on one-year-old shoot flowering
G and current season's occurring to current
shoot: Time of begin- year's shoot
ning of flowering
on current year's shoot
43 35 QN Time of beginning Time of 10% fruit
(+) of fruit ripening on ripening on one
G one-year-old shoot year old shoot
44 QN Period of harvest Length of
harvest period
of fruit
45 36 QN Varieties which fruit Tme of 10% fruit
(*) (+) on one-year-old shoot ripening on current
G and current year's shoot
season's shoot:
Time of beginning
of ripening on
current year's shoot
Charact. Standard Variety
No Method Class State (Ex tor.)
1 Observation 3 weak Bluetta,
(a) Meader
VG 5 medium Collins,
Weymouth
7 strong Berkeley,
Homebell,
Woodard
2 Observation 3 small Avonblue,
(a) Bluetta,
VG Flordablue
5 medium Bluecrop,
Earliblue
7 large Dixi, Homebell,
Tifblue
3 Observation 1 upright Becyblue,
(a) Bluechip,
VG June, Spartan
2 semi-upright Bluecrop,
Lateblue
3 spreading Northland,
Weymouth
4 Observation 1 green
(a) 2 greenish red
VG 3 greyish red Briteblue,
Homebell
4 reddish yellow Berkeley, Dixi
5 reddish brown Blueray, Darrow,
Weymouth
6 dark red
5 Measurement 3 short
mm 5 medium
(a) 7 long
VG
6 Observation 3 short Avonblue,
(a) Weymouth
VG 5 medium
7 long Jersey
7 Measurement 3 short
mm 5 medium
(b) 7 long
MS/
VG
8 Measurement 3 narrow
mm 5 medium
(b) 7 broad
MS/
VG
9 Measurement 3 small
(b) 5 medium
MS/ 7 large
VG
10 Observation 1 lanceolate
(b) 2 ovate Northland
VG 3 elliptic Berkeley,
Collins,
Coville
4 oblong
11 Observation 3 acute Weymouth,
(b) Woodard
VG 5 medium Earliblue, Tifblue
7 obtuse Berkeley, Climax,
Southland
12 Observation 1 yellow
(b) 2 green Bluechip,
VG Bluecrop, Blueray
13 Observation 3 light
(b) 5 medium
VG 7 dark
14 Observation 1 entire
(b) 2 serrate
VG
15 Observation 3 weak
(a) 5 medium
VG 7 strong
16 Measurement 3 short
mm 5 medium
(c) 7 long
MS/
VG
17 Observation 1 urceolate Bluecrop,
(c) Jersey
VG 2 campanulate Northblue,
Northsky
3 cylindrical
18 Observation 1 white Aliceblue,
(c) Bluetta,
VG Briteblue
2 creamy white Avonblue,
Berkeley,
Bluecrop
3 greenish white Blueray,
Collins, Coville
4 light pink Bluebell,
Delite, Dixi,
Tifblue
19 Observation 3 small
(c) 5 medium
VG 7 large
20 Observation 1 absent or very weak
(c) 3 weak
VG 5 medium
7 strong
21 Observaton 1 absent Herbert
(c) 9 present Aliceblue
VG Berkeley, Dixi
22 Observation 3 sparse Homebell,
(d) Jersey,
VG Woodard
5 medium Bluechip,
Bluecrop,
Bluetta
7 dense Darrow,
Herbert, Patriot
23 Observation 3 light
VG 5 medium
7 dark
24 Observation 3 small Homebell,
(d) June,
VG Northblue
5 medium Collins,
Earliblue
7 large Berkeley,
Bluecrop, Spartan
25 Observation 1 elliptic
(d) 2 round Berkeley,
VG Jersey,
Sharpblue
3 oblate Earliblue,
Harison,
Woodard
26 Observation 3 small
(d) 5 medium
VG 7 large
27 Observation 1 star
(d) 2 circular
VG
28 Observation 1 erect
(d) 2 erect to semi-erect
VG 3 semi-erect
4 level
29 Observation 1 incurving
(d) 2 straight
VG 3 reflexed
30 Observation 3 small Avonblue,
(d) Bluechip,
VG Sharpblue
5 medium Blueray,
Woodard
7 large Coville, Darrow,
Homebell
31 Observation 3 shallow Bluecrop,
(d) Rancocas,
VG Tifblue
5 medium Earliblue, Jersey
7 deep Blueray,
Collins, Dixi
32 Observation 1 very weak
(d) 3 weak Dixi, Herbert,
VG Sharpblue
5 medium Collins, Coville
7 strong Avonblue,
Bluecrop,
Tifblue
33 Observation 1 light blue Berkeley,
(d) Bluechip,
VG Tifblue
2 medium blue Blueray,
Jerse, June
3 dark blue Dixi, Homebell
4 blue red
34 Observation 3 soft Herbert,
(d) Homebell,
VG/ Spartan
VS 5 medium Collins, Dixi
7 firm Coville,
Southland
9 very firm
35 Observation 1 white Berkeley,
(d) Bluecrop,
VG Blueray
2 cream Earliblue
3 light green Bluechip,
Lateblue,
Sharpblue
4 light purple Aliceblue,
Delite,
Homebell
36 Observation 3 low Avonblue,
(d) Bluechip
VG 5 medium Berkeley,
Bluetta, Spartan
7 high Aliceblue,
Bluecrop,
Blueray
37 Observation 3 low Earliblue,
(d) Homebell
VG 5 medium Blueray, Herbert
7 high Collins,
Elliott, Lateblue
38 Observation 1 on one-year-old
(c) shoots only
VG 2 on one-year-old
and current
season's shoots
39 Observation 3 less Earliblue,
(d) Herbert,
VG Spartan
5 medium Avonblue,
Berkeley,
Bluechip
7 much Briteblue, Climax,
Darrow
40 Measurement 3 early Avonblue,
MG Beckyblue,
Sharpblue
5 medium Darrow,
Weymouth
7 late Elliott, Lateblue
41 Measurement 1 very early
MG 3 early
5 medium Bluecrop,
Collins, Woodard
7 late Dixi, Herbert,
Lateblue
9 very late
42 Measurement 3 early
MG 5 medium
7 late
43 Measurement 1 very early
MG 3 early Avonblue,
Earliblue,
Weymouth
5 medium Herbert,
Jersey
7 late Briteblue,
Elliott,
Tifblue
9 very late
44 Measurement 3 short Darrow,
MG Northblue
5 medium Berkeley,
Bluecrop
7 long Briteblue,
Tifblue, Woodard
45 Measurement 3 early
MG
5 medium
7 late
The present variety Control Varieties
Charact. No RYOKU NH-11 Blueray Chandler
1 7 6 7
2 7 5 7
3 1 1 2
4 5 5 4
5 6 5 7
(214 mm) (173 mm) (288 mm)
6 4 3 5
(15.3 mm) (14.0 mm) (167 mm)
7 5 5 5
(69.4 mm) (68.0 mm) (67.0 mm)
8 5 5 5
(35.2 mm) (31.0 mm) (36.3 mm)
9 5 5 5
(157) (2.20) (185)
10 3 3 3
11 5 5 5
12 2 2 2
13 5 5 5
14 1 1 1
15 5 7 5
16 6 5 6
(35.6 mm) (28.7 mm) (35.1 mm)
17 2 1-2 2-3
18 2 3 1
19 7 5 7
20 1 3 1
21 9 9 9
22 5 7 7
23 3 7 3
24 7 5 7
(4.51 g) (2.89 g) (5.72 g)
25 3 3 3
26 5 7 7
(2.54 mm) (3.80 mm) (3.98 mm)
27 2 2 2
28 3 3 3
29 3 1 3
30 7 5 7
(7.18 mm) (4.40 mm) (6.46 mm)
31 7 7 7
(2.40 mm) (2.60 mm) (2.32 mm)
32 5 5 5
33 2 2 2
34 5 6 5
35 2-3 3 3
36 5 7 6
(Bx 10.8) (Bx 12.6) (Bx 13.0)
37 7 5 6
(pH 2.80) (pH 3.12) (pH 2.96)
38 1 1 1
39 3 3 3
40 5 5 5
Apr. 8 (2016) Apr. 6 (2016) Apr. 8 (2016)
41 6 5 6
Apr. 26 (2016) Apr. 23 (2016) Apr. 27 (2016)
42 — — —
43 6 5 7
Middle July to Middle July to Late July to
late July late July early August
44 5 5 5
45 — — —
