Indigocrisp and Other SHB Selections from the UF-IFAS Breeding Program

Dr. Jim OlmsteadFebruary 20, 2014

UF Variety Release• Must adhere to current UF-IFAS standards

- Tested in enough replication, locations, years, etc.

- Chain of custody – developmental timeline, MTA agreements

- Foundation stock- Plan for intellectual property protection

and commercialization

UF Variety Release• Release justification presented to

Departmental and IFAS cultivar release committees.

• After release, Florida Foundation Seed Producers, Inc. handles commercialization for the University of Florida.

Royalties

• UF – IFAS policy on release, protection and introduction of plant material:

70% of the royalty payment comes directly back to the breeding program

Royalty payments fund the breeding program: salary, students, and infrastructure

IndigocrispTM

‘FL98-325’ – (USPPAF)

FL 98-325 (IndigocrispTM)FL 98-325 is an early maturing crisp-textured genotype best adapted to areas with chilling requirements similar to or higher than Gainesville, FL. The key positive attributes for FL 98-325 are:

• Very firm, crisp texture similar to Bluecrisp and Sweetcrisp• Earlier maturing than either Bluecrisp or Sweetcrisp• Higher yields than existing crisp textured genotypes• Potential for machine harvest for fresh market production• Reduced postharvest bruising or pathogen damage• Good flavor and size• Good vegetative budbreak with high crop loads

FL 98-325 (IndigocrispTM)Potential problems with FL 98-325:

• Higher chill requirement means limited potential in expanding production areas in Florida (I-4 south).

• Propagation by softwood stem cuttings has often resulted in low rooting percentages.

• Susceptible to Botryosphaeria stem blight.• Darker fruit color

11/27/2012

1/30/2013 4/2/2012

11/27/2012

Field Ratings (2011-2013)

50% Bloom Harvest

Genotype Date (DOY) Timing Surv. Yield Leaf. Size Color Scar Firm. FlavorFL 98-325 44 Early-mid 7 7 7 8 6 8 9 8Emerald 37 Mid-late 8 8 8 9 7 7 8 6Scintilla 31 Early-mid 7 6 7 8 9 8 7 9

Star 49 Mid 7 6 6 7 7 7 7 7

Sweetcrisp 41 Late 9 5 6 5 7 9 9 8Farthing 45 Mid-late 9 9 5 6 7 9 9 6

Meadowlark 34 Early 7 7 7 7 8 6 8 7

Primadonna 41 Early-mid 8 4 6 6 6 7 6 8

Lab Ratings (2013)

Avg. Berry % Titrat. % Soluble SS/TA Firmness

Genotype Wt. (g) Acidity Solids Ratio (g/mm)

FL 98-325 2.55 ± 0.30 0.333 ± 0.04 12.1 ± 0.64 36.7 ± 6.0 250.66 ± 4.8

Emerald 2.54 ± 0.11 0.810 ± 0.16 12.0 ± 0.70 15.3 ± 4.0 190.09 ± 3.5

Scintilla 2.55 ± 0.30 0.599 ± 0.20 10.9 ± 2.55 20.0 ± 10.9 221.06 ± 7.1

Star 2.86 ± 0.43 0.646 ± 0.05 12.4 ± 0.42 19.2 ± 0.7 206.51 ± 7.6

Sweetcrisp 2.07 ± 0.25 0.556 ± 0.03 14.1 ± 0.14 25.4 ± 1.6 266.19 ± 6.1

Farthing 2.24 ± 0.18 0.606 ± 0.07 11.8 ± 0.21 19.5 ± 2.5 223.23 ± 7.9

Meadowlark 2.94 ± 0.02 0.402 ± 0.01 10.8 ± 0.92 26.8 ± 2.5 236.23 ± 12.9

Consumer Evaluation of Crisp Texture

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FL 07-449

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Consumer Evaluation of Crisp Texture

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Additional InformationMehra et al. 2013. Postharvest disease development on southern highbush blueberry fruit in relation to berry flesh type and harvest method. Plant Dis. 97:213-221

• Machine harvested fruit with crisp texture (including FL 98-325) had the same or lower postharvest disease incidence as hand harvested conventional texture fruit

Takeda et al. 2013. Techniques for increasing machine harvest efficiency in southern highbush and rabbiteye blueberry. HortTechnology 23:430-436.

• FL 98-325 had the highest packout percentages after machine harvest (94% - similar to hand harvest)

Foundation StockMTA 12-094 (AgriStarts, Inc.) allows for the initiation and propagation of FL 98-325 prior to license offerings.

• Initiation completed winter 2012-13, multiplication stage currently

Initial budwood distribution will be limited. Breeder stock is maintained at the PSREU at Citra.

Contact Florida Foundation Seed Producers for license information

• 352-273-3656• www.ffsp.net

Summary• FL 98-325 is an early-maturing, crisp genotype which will add

another machine harvest for fresh market suitable variety to the short list currently available to Southeastern blueberry growers.

• Unreliable propagation has been the biggest difficulty in the past. We hope to minimize this problem by making tissue culture plantlets available at the time licenses are offered.

• FL 98-325 consistently ranks higher in yield than other crisp-textured genotypes, and the sugar/acid ratio beats many current varieties.

Dec. 2013 Jan. 2014

Feb. 2014 Feb. 2014 after H.C.

Harvest Timing

Total pounds/week for 5 bushes (3-yr old planting)

Week of Year FLSel01 Jewel5 3.00 06 0 07 1.19 08 0.88 09 0 0

10 3.63 011 2.75 012 5.38 013 3.76 014 4.32 5.6915 4.82 8.4516 2.69 16.717 3.44 4.5018 4.19 8.6919 1.38 0.88

Total (Pound/5 bush) 41.43 44.91Pound/acre (1800 plants) 15,000 16,000

Dr. Jim OlmsteadUF-IFAS Horticultural Sciences Dept.

2211 Fifield HallGainesville, FL 32611

(352) 273-4837http://www.hos.ufl.edu/faculty/jwolmstead