DrisBlueTwentyOne

Blueberry

Note: The applicant has requested an exemption from compulsory licensing to allow time to multiply and distribute propagating material of the variety. If the exemption is granted, it may be allowed for two years from the date rights are granted for the variety.

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'DrisBlueOne' (Rockinoee) and 'DrisBlueSeventeen' (Carlotta)

Summary: The plants of 'DrisBlueTwentyOne' have a semi-upright growth habit whereas the plants of the reference varieties have an upright growth habit. The leaf of 'DrisBlueTwentyOne' is lanceolate shaped whereas the leaf of the reference varieties are elliptic shaped. Excluding the peduncle, the inflorescence of 'DrisBlueTwentyOne' is longer than the inflorescence of 'DrisBlueOne'. The fruit of 'DrisBlueTwentyOne' is large whereas the fruit of 'DrisBlueOne' is small to medium sized and the fruit of 'DrisBlueSeventeen' is medium to large.

Description:

PLANT: strong vigour, semi-upright growth habit, fruiting on one-year-old shoots only, first vegetative bud burst begins mid-season
ONE-YEAR-OLD SHOOT: reddish brown and reddish yellow, medium internode length along upper half

LEAF: medium to high length to width ratio, lanceolate shape, medium green colour on upper side, medium glaucosity on upper side, entire margin

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

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

Origin & Breeding History: 'DrisBlueTwentyOne' originated from a cross between the proprietary varieties '136D 2', as the female parent, and '181C 1', as the male parent, made in 2004 in Santa Cruz County, California, USA. 'DrisBlueTwentyOne' was selected from the resulting progeny in 2006 based on productivity, fruit characteristics and mid-range chill requirement. Subsequent asexual propagation by softwood cuttings and tissue culture took place in Monterey County, California, USA. Further testing in Santa Cruz County, California was conducted from 2008 to 2019.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'DrisBlueTwentyOne' was conducted by Expert Agriculture Team Ltd., in Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada during the 2022 growing season. One year old plants were transplanted in October 2020 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. Mean differences were significant at the 5% confidence probability level based on a paired Student's t-test.

Comparison table for 'DrisBlueTwentyOne' with reference varieties 'DrisBlueOne' and 'DrisBlueSeventeen'

Inflorescence length (excluding peduncle) (cm)

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Blueberry: 'DrisBlueTwentyOne' (centre) with reference varieties 'DrisBlueOne' (left) and 'DrisBlueSeventeen' (right)

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Blueberry: 'DrisBlueTwentyOne' (centre) with reference varieties 'DrisBlueOne' (left) and 'DrisBlueSeventeen' (right)

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Blueberry: 'DrisBlueTwentyOne' (centre) with reference varieties 'DrisBlueOne' (left) and 'DrisBlueSeventeen' (right)