ZF06-089

Blueberry

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'ZF06-043' (Peach Sorbet)

Summary: The plants of 'ZF06-089' are wider than the plants of 'ZF06-043'. The diameter of the calyx basin for 'ZF06-089' is larger than that of 'ZF06-043'. The fruit of 'ZF06-089' is firm with high sweetness whereas the fruit of 'ZF06-043' is of medium firmness with low sweetness.

Description:

PLANT: medium vigour, semi-upright growth habit, fruiting on one-year-old and current season's shoots, first vegetative bud burst begins very early
ONE-YEAR-OLD SHOOT: green

LEAF: early leaf closest to but darker than dark brown green (RHS 146A), medium length to width ratio, elliptic shape, medium intensity green colour on upper side, entire margin

FLOWERING: begins mid to late season on current season and one-year-old shoots
FLOWER BUD: medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration
COROLLA: urceolate shape, small, medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration
COROLLA TUBE: ridges present

FRUIT CLUSTER: medium density
UNRIPE FRUIT: light medium green (with bloom), fruit ripening begins early to mid-season on one-year-old shoots
FRUIT: medium sized, oblate in longitudinal section, shallow calyx basin, firm, high sweetness, low acidity
FRUIT SKIN: very strong bloom intensity, dark blue skin (after removal of bloom)
SEPALS: erect to semi-erect and straight to reflexing

Origin & Breeding History: 'ZF06-089' (Silver Dollar) originated from a controlled cross between female parent 'Toro' and male parent 'FLX-2' conducted in Lowell, Oregon, USA in April 2003. The new variety 'ZF06-089' was selected in Lowell Oregon, USA in July 2008 based on plant vigour, plant habit, and flower and leaf colour. Asexual reproduction by stem cutting was initiated in Lowell, Oregon, USA in 2012.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'ZF06-089' was conducted in an outdoor container trial during the summer of 2023 at Bioflora Inc., in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included a total of 8 plants each of the candidate variety and reference variety. All plants were grown in 3 gallon (11 litre) pots from summer 2021 to summer 2023. The plants were overwintered in a plus zero heated polyhouse and moved outdoors in the spring to a drip irrigated field arranged in rows with approximately 1 metre spacing between plants. Observations and measurements were taken from all plants of each variety throughout the growing season. Mean differences were significant at the 5% confidence probability level based on a paired Student's t-test. All colour determinations were made using the 2015 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'ZF06-089' with reference variety 'ZF06-043'

Plant width (cm)

Calys basin width diameter (mm)

Click on image for larger view

Blueberry: 'ZF06-089' (left) with reference variety 'ZF06-043' (right)