Narrative
Tested as G-481, CHANTICLEER is a sibling of 'Sunrise'. Crossed in 1974 by A.D. Draper at Beltsville, Maryland. Selected in 1978 at the Atlantic Blueberry Company, Hammonton, NJ, and subsequently evaluated by A.D. Draper, G.J. Galletta, G. Jelenkovic, N. Vorsa, and M.K. Ehlenfeldt. CHANTICLEER (the rooster) was so named because of its characteristic of very early ripening. CHANTICLEER ripens its fruit 2-5 days earlier than 'Weymouth', the earliest leading cultivar, and is superior to 'Weymouth' in fruit size and color. Its fruit are medium sized, medium to light blue, with good scars, and good firmness. CHANTICLEER fruit is sweet, sub-acid, and mild -flavored. Production is equivalent to 'Weymouth'. Table 1 compares fruit characteristics of CHANTICLEER to 'Weymouth', 'Duke', and 'Bluecrop'. CHANTICLEER is an upright, moderate height bush, that flowers slightly later than 'Weymouth' offering improved avoidance from damage by late spring frosts. Observations have suggested it is resistant to mummy berry blight (Monilinia vaccinii-corymbosi.) Screening in North Carolina has shown it to be relatively resistant to stem blight (Botryosphaefia dothidea), but blighting has been observed in New Jersey on some younger plantings. CHANTICLEER has been a consistently good performer in New Jersey, but has been more variable in other regions, producing low to moderate yields in Michigan, Arkansas, Oregon, and North Carolina. CHANTICLEER is recommended as an early season cultivar primarily for commercial growers in northeastern temperate regions, including New Jersey and adjoining states. 'Chanticleer' is an early - maturing tetrapoid highbush blueberry that was developed by the cooperative breeding program of ARS and the New jersey Agricultural Experiment Station.
A.D. Draper, G.J. Galletta, G. Jelenkovic, N. Vorsa, and and M.K. Ehlenfeldt cultivar release named for the rooster in the medieval story "Reynard the fox" - for early ripening character
NAMED FOR= the rooster, because of early ripening quality