University of Florida breeding program releases 2 new cultivars
The University of Florida blueberry breeding program has released two new southern tall blueberry cultivars that should be available to growers in 2025. These cultivars were selected for the evergreen production system and have performed very well in farm trials in both south central and central Florida. Both are early season producers with very high yields, very firm fruit, excellent flavor and good evergreen foliage. These new releases are “FL17-141” and “FL19-006”.
“FL 17-141” is a vigorous, very high-yielding early season cultivar for the evergreen production system with no known disease or pest problems. Very high yields have been documented in South Florida under the evergreen system for several years. The fruit is jumbo, very firm, with high waxy flowering and long post-harvest life.
Florida region best suited: Central and south-central Florida
Production system: Works well in the evergreen system in central and south-central Florida
Hydrogen cyanamide: Not required
Yields per plant:
o South – Central FL: 17.6 kg/plant (3 years)
Known susceptibility to disease: None observed to date
Known susceptibility to insect damage: None observed to date
Fruit quality data:
o Fruit firmness: 314 g/mm (1 day postharvest), 351 g/mm (21 days postharvest), 327 g/mm (49 days postharvest), superior to Colossus and Optimus
o Berry weight: 2,1 – 3,3 grams, average 2,7 grams, similar to Colossus
o Berry diameter: 18,8 mm, similar to Colossus
o Brix: 10,0 – 12,3, similar to Colossus
o Brix/Acid Ratio: 15 – 22, similar to Emerald
o Fruit scar: medium and dry, similar to the Emerald
o Wax/bloom: high
o Fruit defects: none
o Taste: high flavor score on the flavor panels (6,9), somewhat lower than the highest score (7,5) and higher than the lowest score (5,9).
“FL 19-006” is a vigorous, high-yielding early season cultivar for the evergreen production system, with no known disease or pest problems. The fruit is jumbo in size, very sweet and firm, with a high waxy flowering and a long post-harvest life.
Florida region best suited: Central and south-central Florida
Production System: Performs very well in the evergreen system in central and south central Florida.
Hydrogen cyanamide: Not required
Yields per plant:
o South – Central FL (2023): 16.0 lbs/plant (3 years)
Known susceptibility to disease: None observed to date
Known susceptibility to insect damage: None observed to date
Fruit quality data:
o Fruit firmness: 312 g/mm (1 day postharvest), 384 g/mm (21 days postharvest), 296 g/mm (42 days postharvest), superior to Colossus and Optimus
o Berry weight: 2,9 grams on average, similar to Colossus
o Berry diameter: 15,8 – 20,1 mm, 18,0 mm average, similar to Arcadia
o Brix: 12,4 – 14,5, similar to Sweetcrisp
o Brix/Acid Ratio: 14-34, similar to Arcadia
o Fruit scar: small and dry, similar to Arcadia.
o Wax/bloom: high
o Fruit defects: none
o Taste: high taste score on the taste panels (3,4), slightly lower than the highest score (3,6) and significantly higher than the lowest score (1,9).
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