Blueberry Plant Named ‘ridley 0803’

Latin name of the genus and species: Genus— Vaccinium. Species—hybrid.

Variety denomination: The new blueberry plant claimed is of the variety denominated ‘Ridley 0803’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct perennial variety of Vaccinium hybrid (Southern Highbush Blueberry), which has been given the variety denomination of ‘Ridley 0803’. Its market class is that of a fruiting plant. ‘Ridley 0803’ is intended for use as fresh fruit for shipping, customer pick and processing markets and as a home garden plant.

The new Vaccinium hybrid cultivar is a selection resulting from seedlings produced in a breeding program of Vaccinium at Lindendale, NSW, Australia in 2013 from the controlled pollination of seed parent ‘M09-18-09’ (unpatented) with pollen parent ‘Ridley 1403’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,432). The seed parent was produced from a seedling selection of seed parent ‘C00-09’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,778) and pollen parent ‘C99-42’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,695). The pollen parent was produced from a seedling selection of seed parent ‘S02-25-05’ (not patented) and pollen parent ‘S03-08-02’ (not patented).

The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single plant within a population of 100 resulting Vaccinium hybrid plants from this controlled pollination in 2016 in a commercial field plantation environment at Tabulam, New South Wales, Australia.

The new blueberry cultivar was designated ‘M16-08-03’ and has been planted in replicated trials since 2017 at the commercial farms at Tabulam, New South Wales, Australia.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by cutting propagation since 2016 at Lindendale, New South Wales, Australia has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of the new cultivar when grown under normal horticultural practices in Tabulam, New South Wales, Australia and that have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘M16-08-03’ (‘Ridley 0803’) as a new and distinct cultivar of Vaccinium hybrid plant:

•

• 1. very large fruit size; • 2. strong crunch; • 3. firm texture; • 4. excellent bloom; • 5. sweet flavor; • 6. vigorous growth; • 7. round bush shape; and • 8. mid-season timing of flowering and fruiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic illustration shows typical specimens in full color of the foliage and fruit of the new variety ‘Ridley 0803’. The colors are as 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.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic illustrations show the typical appearance of the new variety ‘Ridley 0803’. The colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describes the colors of the new plant.

FIG. 1 is a photograph of the new variety ‘Ridley 0803’, demonstrating the plant's round growth habit.

FIG. 2 is a photograph of the fruit of the new variety ‘Ridley 0803’.

FIG. 3 is a photograph of the fruit of the new variety ‘Ridley 0803’.

FIG. 4 is a photograph of the flower cluster of the new variety ‘Ridley 0803’.

FIG. 5 is a photograph of the flower cluster of the new variety ‘Ridley 0803’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘Ridley 0803’. The data which 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 1-2 years of age, and the descriptions relate to plants grown in the field in Tabulam from 2017-2021, New South Wales, Australia. Descriptions of fruit characteristics were made on fruit grown in Tabulam, New South Wales, Australia. Color designations are from Tabulam, New South Wales, Australia. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart , of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, sixth edition.

• Classification:

•

• a. Family .—Ericaceae. • b. Genus.—Vaccinium. • c. Species .—Hybrid. • d. Common name .—Southern Highbush Blueberry. • Parentage:

•

• Female parent .—‘M09-18-09’ (unpatented). • Male parent .—‘Ridley1403’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,432). • Market class: A fruiting plant intended for use as fresh fruit for shipping, hand pick, customer pick, machine harvest and processing markets and as a home garden plant.

PLANT

• General:

•

• Parentage .—Female Parent — ‘M09-18-09’ (unpatented). Male Parent — ‘Ridley1403’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,432). • Plant height .—Average 1.6 m. • Plant width .—Average 1.4 m. • Growth habit .—Round. • Growth .—Strong. • Productivity.— 3.7 kg/plant in 2 nd harvest. • Cold hardiness .—Has not been tested/expected to be low. • Cold tolerance .—Has not been tested/expected to be low. • Chilling requirement .—Has not been tested/expected to be low. • Tolerance to disease .—Has not been tested. • Leafing .—Vegetative bud burst is high. • Twigginess .—Moderate to high.

STEM

• General:

•

• Suckering tendency .—Average, 5 canes/plant. • Mature cane color.— 199D. • Mature cane length.— 50-90 cm. • Mature cane width.— 16 mm. • Bark texture .—Rough. • Surface texture of new wood .—Smooth-medium. • Internode length on strong, new shoots.— 11-18 mm; 13.5 mm average. • Fruiting wood .—Up to 28 cm in length; 15 cm average.

FOLIAGE

• General:

•

• Time of beginning of leaf bud burst .—Early (from approximately week 35 onwards at Tabulam, NSW, Australia). • Leaf color ( top side ).—144A/138A. • Leaf color ( under side ).—138B/139D. • Leaf arrangement .—Alternate. • Leaf shape .—Elliptic. • Leaf margins .—Entire. • Undulation of margin .—Weak. • Leaf venation .—Reticulate. • Leaf apices .—Acute. • Leaf bases .—Acute. • Leaf length .—Average 73 mm. • Leaf width .—Average 36 mm. • Leaf length/width ratio.— 2.0278:1. • Leaf nectaries .—Absent. • Pubescence of upper side .—Absent. • Pubescence of lower side .—Absent. • Cross sectional profile .—Flat/slightly curving. • Longitudinal profile .—Flat/Straight. • Attitude .—Semi-upright. • Petioles:

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• Length .—Average 4.5 mm. • Width .—Average 2.3 mm. • Color.— 145A/B.

FLOWERS

• General:

•

• Time of beginning of flowering .—Mid (week18-20 at Tabulam, NSW Australia). • Time of 50% anthesis .—Week 25-27 at Tabulam, NSW Australia. • Flower shape .—Urceolate. • Flower bud density .—Medium. • Flower fragrance .—Absent to weak. • Corolla:

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• Color .—NN155B. • Length.— 9-12 mm, average 10.7 mm. • Width.— 8 mm average. • Aperture width .—Average 3 mm. • Anthocyanin coloration of corolla .—Absent to weak. • Corolla ridges .—Present. • Protrusion of stigma .—Nil. • Inflorescence:

•

• Length .—Average 29.3 mm. • Diameter .—Average 21.5 mm. • Length of peduncle .—Average 16.9 mm. • Surface texture of peduncle .—Smooth. • Color of peduncle.— 142C. • Length of pedicel.— 6 mm average. • Surface texture of pedicel .—Smooth. • Color of pedicel.— 142C. • Number of flowers per cluster .—Average 8. • Flower cluster density .—Medium. • Calyx (with sepals):

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• Diameter .—Average 7.2 mm. • Color ( sepals ).—142C. • Stamen:

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• Length.— 7 mm. • Number per flower.— 8-10. • Filament color.— 150D. • Pistil:

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• Length.— 11 mm. • Style length.— 9-10 mm. • Ovary color ( exterior ).—147A. • Anther:

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• Length.— 4.6 mm. • Number.— 8-10. • Color .—N163A/N167A. • Pollen:

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• Abundance .—High. • Color.— 158C. • Self - compatibility .—Low — moderate 40%.

FRUIT

• General:

•

• Time of fruit ripening .—Mid season (from week 30 in Tabulam, NSW, Australia). • Time of 50% maturity .—Week 40 at Tabulam, NSW, Australia. • Fruit development period.— 77-91 days. • Cluster density .—Medium. • Unripe fruit color.— 145A. • Ripe berry color.— 202A/203D. • Berry surface wax abundance .—Strong. • Berry flesh color.— 157B/191B. • Berry weight.— 4.1 gram average. • Berry height from calyx to scar.— 13.4 mm average. • Berry diameter.— 22 mm average. • Berry shape .—Oblate. • Fruit stem scar .—Small (dry). • Sweetness when ripe.— 14° Bx. • Firmness when ripe .—Firm (64% Durofel). • Acidity when ripe .—Low to moderate. • Storage quality .—Performs adequately in storage trials for up to 4 weeks. • Suitability for mechanical harvesting .—Very suitable. • Self - fruitfulness .—Low to moderate, requires cross pollination.(40%). • Uses .—Fresh fruit for shipping, customer pick and processing markets and as a home garden plant.

SEED

• General:

•

• Seed abundance in fruit .—Not assessed. • Seed color .—Not assessed. • Seed dry weight .—Not assessed. • Seed length .—Not assessed.

COMPARISON BETWEEN PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

When ‘Ridley 0803’ is compared to the seed parent ‘M-09-18-09’ (unpatented) it can be observed that ‘M-09-18-09’ has comparatively poor flavor, firmness and plant vigor. ‘M-09-18-09’ has not been maintained so is not available for further comparison.

Table 1, below, provides comparisons between ‘Ridley 0803’, its pollen parent, ‘Ridley 1403’, and the commercial cultivars that it has the most similarity to, ‘Ridley 0808’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 31,074) and ‘Ridley 1607’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 31,035).

TABLE 1

‘Ridley 1403’

U.S. Plant Pat.

Organ Context ‘Ridley 0803’ No. 25,432)

Plant Vigor Strong Strong

Plant Growth habit Round Upright to semi-

upright

One-year- Color Green Green

old shoot

One-year- Length of Medium Medium

old shoot internode

Leaf Length Long to very Long to very

long long

Leaf Width Broad Broad

Leaf Shape Elliptic Elliptic

Leaf Color of upper side Green Green

Leaf Intensity of green Medium Medium

color on upper side

(varieties with

green leaf color

only)

Leaf Margin Entire Entire

Flower bud Anthocyanin Weak Weak

coloration

Flower Shape of corolla Urceolate Urceolate

Flower Size of corolla tube Medium Medium to large

Flower Anthocyanin Absent or very Absent or very

coloration of weak weak

corolla tube

Flower Ridges on corolla Present Present

tube

Fruit cluster Density Medium Medium to

dense

Unripe fruit Intensity of green Light Light

color

Fruit Size Very large Very large

Fruit Shape in Oblate Round

longitudinal section

Fruit Attitude of sepals Erect Erect

Fruit Diameter of calyx Large Large

basin

Fruit Depth of calyx Deep Deep

basin

Fruit Intensity of bloom Strong Medium

Fruit Color of skin Dark blue Dark blue

Fruit Firmness Firm to very firm Very firm

Fruit Sweetness High High

Fruit Acidity Low to medium Low

Time of Vegetative bud Early to medium Early to

burst medium

Time of Beginning of Medium Early to

flowering medium

Time of Beginning of fruit Medium Early to

ripening medium

‘Ridley 0808’ ‘Ridley 1607’

(U.S. Plant Pat. U.S. Plant Pat.

Organ Context No. 31,074) No. 31,035)

Plant Vigor Strong Strong to very

strong

Plant Growth habit Upright Upright to semi-

upright

One-year- Color Green Green

old shoot

One-year- Length of internode Medium-long Medium

old shoot

Leaf Length Medium to long Long

Leaf Width Broad Broad

Leaf Shape Elliptic Elliptic

Leaf Color of upper side Green Green

Leaf Intensity of green Medium Medium

color on upper side

(varieties with

green leaf color

only)

Leaf Margin Entire Entire

Flower bud Anthocyanin Medium Weak

coloration

Flower Shape of corolla Urceolate Urceolate

Flower Size of corolla tube Medium Medium

Flower Anthocyanin Absent or very Absent or very

coloration of weak weak

corolla tube

Flower Ridges on corolla Present Present

tube

Fruit cluster Density Medium Medium

Unripe fruit Intensity of green Light Light

color

Fruit Size Medium to Medium to large

large

Fruit Shape in Oblate Oblate

longitudinal section

Fruit Attitude of sepals Erect Erect

Fruit Diameter of calyx Large to very large Large to very

basin large

Fruit Depth of calyx Deep Deep

basin

Fruit Intensity of bloom Strong Strong

Fruit Color of skin Dark blue Dark blue

Fruit Firmness Very firm Very firm

Fruit Sweetness Very high High to very high

Fruit Acidity Medium to high Medium

Time of Vegetative bud Medium to late Early

burst

Time of Beginning of Very late Late to very late

flowering

Time of Beginning of fruit Very late Late to very late

ripening