ZF06-179

Blueberry

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Top Hat'

Summary: The inflorescence length of 'ZF06-179' is longer than that of 'Top Hat'. The fruit of 'ZF06-179' is medium to large whereas the fruit for 'Top Hat' is small. The fruit of 'ZF06-179' is firm with medium sweetness and medium to high acidity whereas the fruit of 'Top Hat' is of medium firmness with high to very high sweetness and low acidity. Flowering on one-year-old shoots of 'ZF06-179' begins mid-season whereas flowering begins early season for 'Top Hat'. Fruit ripening begins early for 'ZF06-179' whereas it begins mid to late season for 'Top Hat'.

Description:

PLANT: strong vigour, semi-upright to spreading growth habit, flowers and fruits on one-year-old shoots only, flowering begins mid-season, fruit ripening begins early season
ONE-YEAR-OLD SHOOT: green, short internode length

LEAF: medium to large length to width ratio, lanceolate shape, light to medium green on upper side, serrate margin

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

FRUIT: medium density fruit cluster, light to medium intensity of green on unripe fruit, medium to large, oblate shape in longitudinal section, shallow calyx basin, medium bloom intensity, dark blue skin, firm, medium sweetness, medium to high acidity
SEPAL: incurved, straight and reflexed type, erect attitude

Origin & Breeding History: 'ZF06-179' arose from a cross between 'Top Hat' (female parent) and 'Polaris' (male parent) made in 2003 in Lowell, Oregon. From the resulting progeny, 'ZF06-179' was selected in 2006 for its growth habit, length of fruit clusters, and flavour.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'ZF06-179' was 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 table for 'ZF06-179' with reference variety 'Top Hat'

Inflorescence length (cm)

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Blueberry: 'ZF06-179' (above) with reference variety 'Top Hat' (below)