Katahdin

Blueberry

Variety Description

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

Summary: The one-year-old shoot of 'Katahdin' is greyish-red, whereas the one-year-old shoots of 'Duke' and 'Legacy' are green, and 'Draper' is reddish-yellow. The leaf of 'Katahdin' has a low to medium length to width ratio whereas the leaves of 'Duke' and 'Legacy' have a medium to high length to width ratio. The upperside of the leaf of 'Katahdin' has strong glaucosity whereas the upperside of the leaves of 'Duke' and 'Draper' have absent or weak glaucosity.

Description:

PLANT: strong vigour, upright growth habit, fruiting on one-year-old shoots only, first vegetative bud burst begins early to mid-season
ONE-YEAR-OLD SHOOT: greyish red, long internode length along upper half

LEAF: low to medium length to width ratio, ovate shape, medium green colour on upper side, strong glaucosity on upper side, entire margin

FLOWERING: begins early on one-year-old shoots
RECEPTACLE: green
FLOWER BUD: strong intensity of anthocyanin colouration
COROLLA: globose shape
COROLLA TUBE: medium to large, white, absent or weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration on outer side, strong conspicuousness of ridges

INFRUCTESCENCE: medium to dense
UNRIPE FRUIT: dark green (with bloom), fruit ripening begins early on one-year-old shoots
FRUIT: large, oblate in longitudinal section, very deep calyx basin, very firm, high sweetness, medium to high acidity
FRUIT SKIN: medium bloom intensity, dark blue skin (after removal of bloom)
SEPALS: reflexe

Origin & Breeding History: 'Katahdin' originated from a controlled cross between the varieties 'MSU 46', as the female parent, and 'Draper', as the male parent, made in 2004 in Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center, Michigan, USA. 'Katahdin' was selected from the resulting progeny in 2009 for its productivity and fruit quality. Additional propagation was conducted by softwood cuttings and further testing occurred in 2011.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'Katahdin' was conducted by Expert Agriculture Team Ltd., in Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada during the 2023 growing season. One year old plants were transplanted in April 2022 into raised beds, covered with plastic and irrigated with drip lines. The plots were arranged in an RBC design with 4 replicates. Each replicate consisted of 3 plants for a total of 12 plants of each variety. Plants were spaced approximately 90 centimetres apart within rows with 3 metres between rows. Measurements were taken from 10 plants or parts of 10 plants of each variety.

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Blueberry: 'Katahdin' (centre left) with reference varieties 'Duke' (left), 'Legacy' (centre right) and 'Draper' (right)