Blue Ribbon

Blueberry

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Duke' and 'Draper'

Summary: The leaf of 'Blue Ribbon' is smaller than the leaves of both reference varieties. The inflorescence of 'Blue Ribbon' is shorter than the inflorescence of 'Draper'. The sepal on 'Blue Ribbon' is straight with a semi-erect attitude whereas the sepal on both reference varieties is reflexed with an erect attitude. The depth of the calyx basin is shallow for 'Blue Ribbon' whereas the calyx basin is absent or very shallow for 'Duke' and medium depth for 'Draper'. The fruit of 'Blue Ribbon' is low to medium in sweetness whereas the fruit of 'Duke' is medium to high in sweetness and the fruit of 'Draper' is high in sweetness. Flowering on one-year-old shoots of 'Blue Ribbon' begins mid-season whereas flowering begins early for 'Duke'. Fruit ripening on one-year-old shoots of 'Blue Ribbon' begins mid to late season whereas flowering begins very early to early for 'Duke'.

Description:

PLANT: strong vigour, upright growth habit, flowers and fruits on one-year-old shoots only, flowering begins mid-season, fruit ripening begins mid to late season
ONE-YEAR-OLD SHOOT: greenish red, medium to long internode length

LEAF: medium length to width ratio, elliptic shape, dark green on upper side, entire margin

COROLLA: urceolate shape
CORROLA TUBE: medium to large with ridges, absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration

FRUIT: medium density of fruit cluster, medium intensity of green on unripe fruit, large, oblate shape in longitudinal section, straight sepals with semi-erect attitude, shallow calyx basin, medium bloom intensity, dark blue skin, vey firm, low to medium sweetness, high acidity

Origin & Breeding History: 'Blue Ribbon' arose from a controlled cross between 'G344' (female parent) and 'Toro' (male parent) made in 2002 in Lowell, Oregon. From the resulting progeny, 'Blue Ribbon' was selected in 2005 for its ripening period, ease of pruning, crown size, and freezing quality.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trials for 'Blue Ribbon' were conducted by Expert Agriculture Team Ltd., in Chilliwack, British Columbia during the 2015 growing season. The plots were planted in the spring of 2014 in a randomized complete block design. Each variety consisted of 3 replicates with 3 plants per replicate for a total of 9 plants of each variety. Plants were spaced approximately 60 centimetres apart within rows and 3 metres between rows. Measurements were taken from 9 plants or parts of plants of each variety. Mean differences were significant at the 5% confidence probability level based on a paired Student's t-test.

Comparison tables for 'Blue Ribbon' with reference varieties 'Duke' and 'Draper'

Leaf length (cm)

Leaf width (cm)

Inflorescence length (cm)

Click on image for larger view

Blueberry: 'Blue Ribbon' (top) with reference varieties 'Duke' (centre) and 'Draper' (bottom)