Cargo

Blueberry

Variety Description

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

Summary: The length of the internode of 'Cargo' is medium to long whereas the internode is long to very long for 'Draper'. The leaf length on 'Cargo' is shorter than that of both reference varieties. 'Cargo' has an entire leaf margin whereas 'Liberty' has a serrate leaf margin. The inflorescence on 'Cargo' is longer than the inflorescence on 'Liberty' and shorter than the inflorescence on 'Draper'. The fruit cluster is sparse for 'Cargo' whereas it is medium to dense for 'Liberty' and of medium density for 'Draper'. The fruit sepal on 'Cargo' is reflexed with an erect attitude whereas the sepal on 'Liberty is incurving with a semi-erect attitude. The fruit of 'Cargo' has low sweetness with medium to high acidity whereas the fruit of 'Draper' has high sweetness and low acidity. Flowering on one-year-old shoots of 'Cargo' begins early to mid-season whereas flowering begins mid to late season for 'Draper'. Fruit ripening begins early to mid-season for 'Cargo' whereas it begins mid to late season for 'Liberty'.

Description:

PLANT: medium to strong vigour, semi-upright growth habit, flowers and fruits on one-year-old shoots only, flowering begins early to mid-season, fruit ripening begins early to mid-season
ONE-YEAR-OLD SHOOT: green and 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: sparse fruit cluster, medium intensity of green on unripe fruit, medium to large, round and oblate shape in longitudinal section, reflexed sepal with erect attitude, deep calyx basin, medium bloom intensity, dark blue skin, firm to very firm, low sweetness, medium to high acidity

Origin & Breeding History: 'Cargo' arose from a cross between 'Blue Gold' (female parent) and 'Ozarkblue' (male parent) made in 2002 in Lowell, Oregon. From the resulting progeny, 'Cargo' was selected in 2005 for its yield, firmness, vigour, pruning ease, and late maturing.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trials for 'Cargo' 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 'Cargo' with reference varieties 'Liberty' and 'Draper'

Leaf length (cm)

Inflorescence length (cm)

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Blueberry: 'Cargo' (top) with reference varieties 'Liberty' (centre) and 'Draper' (bottom)