Narrative
Originally, this blueberry cultivar was released under the name ‘Baby Blues’. Unfortunately, a very similar name was previously used by a nursery for a different blueberry genotype. The alternate name ‘Mini Blues’ was then applied and received a patent (USPP 28,233) under this designation.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, the Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station, Michigan State University, and The Washington Agricultural Research Center announce the release of MINI BLUES, a high yielding, very small fruited, machine-harvestable highbush blueberry with outstanding fruit quality. MINI BLUES is predominantly Vaccinium corymbosum L. (highbush) with V. darrowii Camp as a great-grandparent through the maternal and paternal parents. MINI BLUES, tested as ORUS 10-1, was selected in Corvallis, Oregon in 1999 from a cross made in 1993 of US 647 (US 75 x G 362) x US 645 (US 75 x G 362). The cross that produced MINI BLUES was made by J.F. Hancock with Michigan State University.
MINI BLUES was evaluated most extensively in trials at Oregon State University's North Willamette Research and Extension Center (Aurora, Ore.; OSU-NWREC) and in smaller trials at the USDA-ARS (Corvallis, OR), at Washington State University's Mount Vernon Research Center (Mount Vernon, WA) and at MBG Marketing's test plots (Grand Junction, MI). MINI BLUES plants are vigorous and in Oregon were rated as vigorous as `Bluecrop' and `Liberty' and more vigorous than `Draper' and `Aurora'. The plants have many thin canes giving them a much less stocky plant habit than `Draper', `Liberty', `Aurora', or `Bluecrop'. The plants experienced no significant winter injury in any of the locations from 2001-2013.
MINI BLUES fruit ripen 3-4 days later than `Bluecrop' but are over a week earlier than `Calypso', `Liberty', and `Aurora'. The yield from 2008-2012 for MINI BLUES was similar to that for `Draper' and `Aurora' but less than `Bluecrop' and `Liberty'. In the final year of trial, mature bushes of MINI BLUES had high yields (5.93 kg?plant-1) similar to `Liberty' and `Aurora? and greater than `Draper' and `Bluecrop'.
MINI BLUES fruit are very small (0.9 g) and significantly smaller than `Aurora', `Bluecrop', `Liberty' and `Draper' that have 2.4-2.7 g berries. The fruit are round and attractive with a bright blue color. The color was lighter blue than those for `Aurora', `Bluecrop', `Liberty' and `Draper'. The picking scar for MINI BLUES is acceptable and comparable to that for `Bluecrop'. While `Draper' had firmer fruit, MINI BLUES fruit were comparable to `Liberty' and firmer than `Aurora' and `Bluecrop'. MINI BLUES fruit flavor was exquisite and was rated as superior to that of `Aurora', `Bluecrop', `Draper', and `Liberty'. The fruit of MINI BLUES were sweet (16.4% Brix) and their pH (3.47) and titratable acidity (7.56 g/L/1 as citric acid) were similar to the other cultivar in trial except Aurora whose pH was lower and titratable acidity higher than the others. Ripe fruit separated easily from the plants when harvested by hand and in trials with a machine harvest simulator, the fruit harvested easily, with excellent quality.
MINI BLUES is introduced as a high quality, high yielding, and machine harvestable blueberry with very small, sweet, and flavorful fruit. MINI BLUES fruit are likely most suited to the processed fruit market due to the high quality, uniformly sized and shaped, small fruit that can be harvested by machine. MINI BLUES should be adapted to areas where other highbush blueberries can be successfully grown.