Narrative
The U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service and the Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station announce the release of an outstanding ornamental blueberry that repeat flowers and fruits. ECHO, tested as ORUS 289-1, was selected in Corvallis, Ore. in 2010 from a population grown from a cross of ‘Perpetua’ (U.S. Plant Pat. 24,209) x ORUS 55-1 (selection of CVAC 21.00 [PI 296397]) open pollinated seed). Both parents are repeat flowering. The plant’s characteristics for fruit size, leaf shape, and leaf size are intermediate to those of Vaccinium corymbosum L. (highbush blueberry) and V. angustifolium Aiton (lowbush blueberry). Since both species are found in the region where the seed accessions from which the parents were selected from, it is presumed to be a hybrid between these two species. However, since other species are present in the USDA-ARS, National Clonal Germplasm Repository collection where the open pollinated seed from which the parents were selected was collected, other species could be present in the ancestry. ECHO is being released due to its outstanding ornamental characteristics combined with repeat flowering.ECHO has been evaluated most extensively at Oregon State University's North Willamette Research and Extension Center (Aurora, Ore.; OSU-NWREC) and in USDA-ARS plots in Corvallis, Ore. as well as a test site in Lowell, Ore.). Plants of ECHO are small, moderately-vigorous shrubs with attractive, extremely dark green, glossy leaves. The plants have been free of foliar diseases such as leaf rust (Pucciniastrum vaccinii [G. Wint.] Jørst).Early in the spring (late March-early April), the floral buds break, flower and set fruit. The flowers are white and have a typical shape for blueberry. In controlled crosses, fruit set was reduced with self-pollination (55%) vs using bulk pollen (95%); there were fewer seeds per fruit (1.9 vs 0.6). Fruit size was largest on open pollinated flowers (0.75 g /fruit) vs hand pollinated with bulked pollen (0.34 g) and hand pollinated with selfed-pollen (0.28 g/fruit). The fruit mature with the earliest ripening blueberry cultivars such as ‘Bluetta’ and ‘Earliblue’ in late May to mid-June in most years. The vegetative buds break soon after flowering and grow for a few weeks before the first black tip stage. Flower buds form and instead of remaining dormant, break in a basipetal direction resulting in a second flowering period that begins in late June to early July. The second crop ripens basipetally from approximately mid-August until the onset of shortening days and cold temperatures in late fall stop maturation.The fruit are most similar in size to those of V. angustifolium. They are attractive with an oblong “football” shape, an attractive calyx, and a dark blue color. ECHO’s fruit are soft, have a sweet but mild flavor and a wet picking scar making them poorly suited for the commercial fruit market but fine for a home garden market. The fruit are borne in loose clusters and the combination of ripe and green fruit with continuous flowering and dark lustrous green foliage is particularly attractive in late summer. ECHO produces more fruit on the second crop than the first, because it flowers and fruits so strongly on the second crop, there are few buds remaining to produce the spring crop. ECHO is introduced as an attractive ornamental blueberry with repeat flowering and fruiting. ECHO should be adapted to typical soil environments where blueberries and other Ericaceous plants can be grown. The ultimate cold hardiness and heat tolerance of ECHO is not known, though based on the significant amount of Maine germplasm in its ancestry, it is expected to have good winter hardiness.ECHO nuclear stock has tested negative for Blueberry shock, Blueberry shoestring, Blueberry scorch, Blueberry leaf mottle, Blueberry mosaic, Blueberry green mosaic, Blueberry fruit drop associated, Blueberry red ringspot, Peach rosette mosaic, Tomato ringspot, and Tobacco ringspot viruses and for Phytoplasmas and Xylella.ECHO is patent pending. When this germplasm contributes to the development of a new cultivar, hybrid, or germplasm, it is requested that appropriate recognition be given to the source. Further information on licensing or a list of nurseries propagating ECHO is available on written request to Chad Finn; USDA-ARS, Northwest Center for Small Fruit Research; Horticultural Crops Research Laboratory; 3420 NW Orchard Ave.; Corvallis, Oregon 97330. The USDA-ARS does not sell plants. In addition, genetic material of this release has been deposited in the National Plant Germplasm System where it will be available for research purposes, including development of new cultivars.