Botanical designation:Vaccinium corymbosum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘TH-1987’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of southern highbush blueberry plant, botanically know asVaccinium corymbosum, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘TH-1987’.

The newVaccinium corymbosum‘TH-1987’ was first identified by the inventor in 2013 in Griffin, Ga. The new variety ‘TH-1987’ exhibits early season ripening and flowering. ‘TH-1987’ also produces large berries with good flavor, firmness, and scar compared to representative cultivars. It also has a low chill requirement of about 150 hours, or less, below about 45° F. when produced under typical low to mid chill production areas in temperate regions.

‘TH-1987’ originated from seeds collected from open-pollinated fruit ofVaccinium corymbosum‘Snowchaser’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,503). The open-pollenated fruit were harvested from selection trial plots in 2010 by D. Scott NeSmith. The new ‘TH-1987’ has been tested in asexually propagated (by vegetative cuttings) plantings a research farm in Alapaha, Ga. since 2014 where it was established for testing and comparing to industry standards. In 2017, the variety was entered into preliminary trials with a cooperator in Mexico. Observations of the resulting ‘TH-1987’ progeny have shown that the unique features of this newVaccinium corymbosum‘TH-1987’ are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The newVacciniumcultivar ‘TH-1987 has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature, water and fertility levels, soil types, and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

‘TH-1987’ is being released for commercial usage. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique and distinguishing characteristics of the newVaccinium corymbosumcultivar named ‘TH-896’. In combination, these traits set ‘TH-896’ apart from all other existing varieties of southern highbush blueberry known to the inventors:1. early season and begins ripening after the early variety Georgia Dawn® (‘TH-819’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,696) in south Georgia, but before ‘Rebel’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,138);2. has berries that are larger than Georgia Dawn® at Alapaha (Table 1) and larger than its maternal parent ‘Snowchaser’;3. produces berries that have a more aromatic flavor and better sweet/acid flavor balance as compared to ‘Rebel’ (Table 1).4. low chilling requirement of about 150 hours, or less, below about 45° F. (based on comparison of flowering dates with those of known standard cultivars).

No notable diseases or other pest problems have been observed for the new variety that are not also common for other varieties. The male parent is unknown, and as compared to maternal parent ‘Snowchaser’, the new ‘TH-1987’ has a lower chill requirement, of about 150 hours, or less, below about 45° F., when produced under typical low to mid chill production areas in temperate regions. Due to the very low chill requirement, ‘TH-1987’ flowers very early and requires frost protection for successful production in temperate regions.

Preliminary trials of ‘TH-1987’ in “no-chill” regions of lower latitude in Mexico have indicated it performs well as an evergreen or ever bearing variety. Finding varieties that produce well in such regions is a challenge, and observations have revealed that ‘TH-1987’ appears to have the potential to adapt to such conditions. Comparisons to commercial varieties Georgia Dawn® and ‘Rebel’ are provided in Table 1, below.

TABLE 1Plant and fruit ratings for ‘TH-1987’ and standards at Alapaha,Ga. Data represents a 3-Year avg (2016, 2020 and 2021). Rating scalesare based on a 1 to 10 score, with 1 being the least desirable and 10being the most desirable. Plants evaluated in 2016 were established in2014, and those evaluated in 2020 and 2021 were established in 2018.GeorgiaDawn ®‘Rebel’‘TH-1987’Berry size6.97.57.3Berry scar7.07.27.0Berry color7.07.27.0Berry firmness6.87.27.0Berry flavor7.26.07.0Cropping5.07.05.0Plant vigor8.07.87.8Date of 50%Feb. 9Feb. 15Feb. 1floweringDate of 50%Apr. 20Apr. 25Apr. 24ripeningFruit development696982period (days)

