Vireo
U.S. Patent 21,375
Southern Highbush Blueberry Variety
Description
Vireo has a vigorous, spreading growth habit, and prolific early-spring leafing.
Cultivar name: Vireo
Recommended for Florida: no, requires more chilling than is available in Florida for maximum production.
FL region best adapted to: none
Production system: deciduous
Hydrogen cyanamide: recommended
Machine Harvestability: no data yet
Per plant yields (Density 1,452-1,742 plants/acre):
o North-central FL (2018-2019): 5.1 – 16.4 lbs/plant, average 10.8 lbs/plant
Known disease susceptibility: none observed to date
Known insect damage susceptibility: none observed to date
Fruit quality data:
o Fruit firmness: 242 – 266 g/mm, average 252 g/mm, much higher than Emerald
o Berry Weight: 2.2 – 2.8 grams, average 2.5 grams, similar to Emerald
o Berry Diameter: 17.6 – 18.8 mm, average 18.4 mm, similar to Emerald
o Brix: 8.6 – 10.8, average 10.0, lower than Emerald
o Brix/Acid Ratio: 12.2 – 18.4, average 14.3, much lower than Emerald
o Fruit scar: normal (small and dry), similar to Emerald
o Wax/bloom: high
o Fruit defects: none observed
o Flavor Score: 15.6 – reference Emerald (19.9)
o Aroma: none
Cultivars with overlapping timing of flowering: Keecrisp, Kestrel, Patrecia, San Joaquin
Other information: Flowers early, produces large fruit with an excellent scar and good firmness, but can be acidic. Tends to over-crop, especially when young. Winter pruning may be needed to reduce crop load on young plants.
License availability: For a list of current nursery licensees in the USA, click here.
Performance 2018-2019 Season
Fruit Quality and Yield
​
The following plots show the most important fruit quality traits and yield, across the season.
​
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:
​
lb of fruit per bush = (g of fruit) x (0.002204)
 |
|---|
 |
 |
License Availability
For licensing availability contact Florida Foundation Seed Producers (FFSP):
​
http://www.ffsp.net/​​