Blueberry plant named ‘FCE18-015’

Latin name of the family, genus, and species:

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Variety denomination: The new blueberry plant claimed is of the variety denominated ‘FCE18-015’.

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The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar blueberry plant (L.), referred to as ‘FCE18-015’, herein described and illustrated. The new blueberry plant named ‘FCE18-015’ is a commercial variety.

Pedigree and History: The new blueberry plant originated from a cross of ‘FL06-556’ (female parent, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,771) and ‘Ventura’ (male parent, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,606). The cross that produced ‘FCE18-015’ was completed in Oregon in 2016. The seeds resulting from the above cross were sown and small plants were obtained which were physically and biologically different from each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of a single plant of the new variety. The new variety ‘FCE18-015’ was planted in 2017 in Spain; and selected in 2018 in Spain.

‘FCE18-015’ has been found to undergo asexual propagation techniques in Spain, such as in vitro propagation, through tissue culture. Asexual propagation techniques in Spain, have shown that the characteristics of the new variety are homogenous, stable, and strictly transmissible by such asexual propagation from one generation to another. Accordingly, the new variety undergoes asexual propagation in a true-to-type manner.

‘FCE18-015’ was selected because it has an exceptional plant habit and fruit quality. The plants are vigorous and healthy with an upright shape. The new variety produces fruit from both primocane and floricane buds. The fruit has a slight oblate to round shape and light blue color with a small dry scar ideal for long-term storage. The fruit is very firm, meaty and crunchy with a balanced sweetness to acidity ratio. This variety has superior long-term storage capabilities of up to 60 days while maintaining premium fruit quality.

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and it was found that the new blueberry plant variety ‘FCE18-015’ possesses the following combination of characteristics:

The new variety of the present invention can readily be distinguished from its ancestors. More specifically, ‘FCE18-015’ differs from both the female parent and the male parent because the fruit of the new variety maintains marketable fruit quality in cold storage for a longer period of time. Moreover, the new variety can be readily distinguished from other similar non-parental varieties. For example, ‘FCM12-087’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,287) provides a medium vigor plant and exhibits a late production of crop, whereas the new variety provides a medium to high vigor plant and exhibits a mid-production of crop.

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘FCE18-015’. 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 3 to 4 years of age, and the descriptions relate to plants grown in the field in Spain, Seville, Villamanrique de la Condesa. Descriptions of fruit characteristics were made on fruit grown in Spain, Seville, Villamanrique de la Condesa. Color designations are from “The Pantone Book of Color” (by Leatrice Eiseman and Lawrence Herbery, Harry N. Abrams, Inc., Publishers, New York 1990) unless noted otherwise and the color designations used herein represent the closest color observed on the majority of the specified botanical feature. Where the Pantone color designations differ from the colors in the photographs, the Pantone colors are accurate.

The new blueberry plant named ‘FCE18-015’ 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.