The University of Florida blueberry breeding program has released two new southern highbush blueberry cultivars that should be available to growers in 2025. These cultivars were selected for the evergreen production system and have performed very well in on-farm trials in both South-Central and Central Florida. They are both early season producers with very high yields, very firm fruit, excellent flavor, and good evergreen foliage. These new releases are “FL17-141” and “FL19-006.”
“FL 17-141” is a vigorous, very high-yielding, early season cultivar for the evergreen production system with no known disease or pest issues. Very high yields have been documented for several years in South Florida under the evergreen system. The fruit is jumbo, very firm, with high wax bloom and a long postharvest life.
Region in Florida best adapted: Central and South-Central Florida
Production system: Performs well in the evergreen system in Central and South-Central Florida
Hydrogen cyanamide: Not required
Per plant yields:
o South – Central FL: 17.6 lbs/plant (3 years old)
Known disease susceptibility: None observed to date
Known insect damage susceptibility: None observed to date
Fruit quality data:
o Fruit firmness: 314 g/mm (1 day post-harvest), 351 g/mm (21 days post-harvest), 327 g/mm (49 days post-harvest), higher than Colossus and Optimus
o Berry Weight: 2.1 – 3.3 grams, average 2.7 grams, similar to Colossus
o Berry Diameter: 18.8 mm, similar to Colossus
o Brix: 10.0 – 12.3, similar to Colossus
o Brix/Acid Ratio: 15 – 22, similar to Emerald
o Fruit scar: medium and dry, similar to Emerald
o Wax/bloom: high
o Fruit defects: none
o Flavor: high flavor score from taste panels (6.9), somewhat lower than the highest score (7.5) and higher than the lowest score (5.9).
“FL 19-006” is a vigorous, high-yielding, early season cultivar for the evergreen production system, with no known disease or pest issues. The fruit is jumbo sized, very sweet and firm, with a high wax bloom and a long postharvest life.
Region in Florida best adapted: Central and South-Central Florida
Production system: Performs very well in the evergreen system in Central and South-Central Florida
Hydrogen cyanamide: Not required
Per plant yields:
o South – Central FL (2023): 16.0 lbs/plant (3 years old)
Known disease susceptibility: None observed to date
Known insect damage susceptibility: None observed to date
Fruit quality data:
o Fruit firmness: 312 g/mm (1 day post-harvest), 384 g/mm (21 days post-harvest), 296 g/mm (42 post-harvest days), higher than Colossus and Optimus
o Berry Weight: 2.9 grams average, similar to Colossus
o Berry Diameter: 15.8 – 20.1 mm, 18.0 mm average, similar to Arcadia
o Brix: 12.4 – 14.5, similar to Sweetcrisp
o Brix/Acid Ratio: 14-34, similar to Arcadia
o Fruit scar: small and dry, similar to Arcadia
o Wax/bloom: high
o Fruit defects: none
o Flavor: high flavor score from taste panels (3.4), slightly lower than the highest score (3.6) and significantly higher than the lowest score (1.9).
CREDITS:
Dr. Patricio Munoz, Associate Professor, UF/IFAS
& Doug Phillips, Blueberry Extension Coordinator, UF/IFAS
