Optimus

U.S. Patent (USPPAF)
Southern Highbush Blueberry Variety

Optimus is an early season cultivar developed for machine harvesting. Key attributes are:

• Can be harvest by machine during April for fresh market

• Early bloom. Later than Magnus, but earlier than Wayne

• Good natural early leafing

• Great early yield potential, fits well with FL window

• Some chilly thrip damaged has been observed

• Not for hand harvesting, mid-size berry not preferred by pickers

• May require freeze protection in late January

• Use only very low doses of Hydrogen cyanamide (Dormex) or no application

Fruit quality optimal picking conditions (average of several years):

• Mid-size Fruit Weight/Size (1.9 grams/16.5 mm) similar to ‘Snowchaser’

• High Fruit Brix levels (11.3) similar to ‘Emerald’

• Very high Fruit Firmness (220 g/mm) similar to ‘Scintilla’

Fruit Quality and Yield

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The following plots show the most important fruit quality traits and yield, across the season.

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The vertical lines in the yield plots indicate when 10%, 50% and 90% of the harvest was achieved during the season.

Dotted lines indicate the desired values for new cultivars:

• Berry weight greater than 2g

• Fruit Diameter greater than 14mm

• Firmness higher than 150g/mm

• Brix higher than 10%

• TTA less than 1%

• Brix/TTA higher than 14 units

Warning: Yield plot coming from harvesting of two bushes. Values may seem overestimated as all the fruit from the bush is harvested, and because this is harvest yield and no packed yield. Use this data to compare among cultivars and no to predict potential yield on your farm.

Measurements are in grams (g). To convert from grams to pounds (lb) use the following formula:

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lb of fruit per bush = (g of fruit) x (0.002204)

For licensing availability contact Florida Foundation Seed Producers (FFSP):

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 http://www.ffsp.net/​​