The new blueberry plant variety ‘Ventura’ is provided. ‘Ventura’ is a commercial variety intended for the hand harvest fresh market. The variety is very vigorous, ripens early and produces a medium to large berry with excellent flavor. ‘Ventura’ has an estimated chilling requirement of approximately 300 to 500 hours.
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1. A new and distinct variety of blueberry plant named ‘Ventura’, substantially as illustrated and described herein.
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Latin name of the family, genus, and species:
Family—Ericaceae.
Genus—Vaccinium.
Species—corymbosum hybrid.
Variety denomination: The new blueberry plant claimed is of the variety denominated ‘Ventura’.
None.
None.
The present invention relates to the discovery of a new and distinct cultivar of southern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L. hybrid) plant, referred to as ‘Ventura’, also referred to as ‘FF-89’, as herein described and illustrated.
The new blueberry plant variety ‘Ventura’ was selected in Lowell, Oreg. in 2006. ‘Ventura’ is a commercial variety intended for the hand harvest fresh market. The variety is very vigorous, ripens early and produces a medium to large berry with excellent flavor. ‘Ventura’ has an estimated chilling requirement of approximately 300 to 500 hours.
Pedigree and History: The new blueberry plant originated from a cross made in 2000 of ‘FL96-24’ (pollen parent, unpatented) by ‘FL00-60’ (female parent, unpatented). The new blueberry plant variety ‘Ventura’ has been planted in replicated trials since 2007.
When compared to commercial variety ‘Springhigh’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,404), the new variety ‘Ventura’ ripens slightly sooner, is higher yielding, and has firmer fruit with lighter color.
When compared to commercial variety ‘Star’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,675), new variety ‘Ventura’ ripens approximately two weeks earlier, has higher yields, and lighter fruit color.
The new blueberry plant variety ‘Ventura’ has maintained its distinguishing characteristics throughout successive asexual propagations. The variety has been repeatedly asexually reproduced through softwood cuttings in Lowell, Oreg., and the clones are phenotypically identical to the original plant.
The new blueberry plant variety ‘Ventura’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.
The following traits have been repeatedly observed in Lowell, Oreg. and are determined to be the unique characteristics of the new blueberry plant variety ‘Ventura’:
The accompanying photographic illustration shows typical specimens in full color of the foliage and fruit of the new variety ‘Ventura’. The colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type.
The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘Ventura’. The data which defines these characteristics was collected from asexual reproductions of the original selection. Dimensions, sizes, colors, and other characteristics are approximations and averages set forth as accurately as possible. The plant history was taken on plants approximately three years of age, and the descriptions relate to plants grown in the field in Lowell, Oreg. Descriptions of fruit characteristics were made on fruit grown in Delano, Calif. Color designations are from “The Pantone Book of Color” (by Leatrice Eiseman and Lawrence Herbery, Harry N. Abrams, Inc., Publishers, New York 1990). Where the Pantone color designations differ from the colors in the photographs, the Pantone colors are accurate.
TABLE 1
Characteristic(s) in
Describe the
Describe the
Name of
which the candidate
expression of the
expression of
paternal
variety differs from
characteristic for
the characteristic
parent
the paternal parent
the maternal parent
for ‘Ventura’
F196-24
Looseness of fruit in
Medium
Loose
the cluster
loose
F196-24
Anthocyanin coloration
Medium
weak
of the corolla tube
F196-24
Fruit firmness
Very firm
medium
TABLE 2
Characteristic(s) in
Describe the
Describe the
Name of
which the candidate
expression of the
expression of
maternal
variety differs from
characteristic for
the characteristic
parent
the maternal parent
the maternal parent
for ‘Ventura’
FL00-60
Length of corolla tube
Medium
Long
FL00-60
Fruit firmness
Very firm
medium
FL00-60
Fruit size
Medium
large
Brazelton, David M., Wagner, Adam L.
| Patent | Priority | Assignee | Title |
| ER9083, |
| Patent | Priority | Assignee | Title |
| PP10675, | Sep 05 1995 | FLORIDA FOUNDATION SEED PRODUCERS, INC | Low-chill highbush blueberry "Star" |
| PP16404, | Jun 21 2004 | Florida Foundation Seed Producers, Inc. | Blueberry plant called ‘Springhigh’ |
| Executed on | Assignor | Assignee | Conveyance | Frame | Reel | Doc |
| Feb 22 2012 | BRAZELTON, DAVID M | FALL CREEK FARM AND NURSERY, INC | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 028570 | /0561 | |
| Mar 02 2012 | WAGNER, ADAM L | FALL CREEK FARM AND NURSERY, INC | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 028570 | /0561 | |
| Mar 12 2012 | Fall Creek Farm and Nursery, Inc. | (assignment on the face of the patent) | / |
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