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North Carolina Agricultural Research Service North Carolina State University Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station The United States Departmental of Agriculture Notice to Nurserymen and Blueberry Growers of the Naming and Release of the 'Summit' Southern Highbush Blueberry. The North Carolina Agricultural Research Service, the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, and the United States Department of Agriculture announce the release of the southern highbush blueberry cultivar 'Summit' for trial by growers and nurserymen. 'Summit' , labeled G-616, originated from the cross G-144 x F14-76 made in 1976 at Beltsville, MD., by A.D. Draper. It was tested in replicated trials at Waynesville and Castle Hayne, NC, and observation trails at Jackson Springs, NC, Hammonton, NJ, and Clarksville, AR. 'Summit' is recommended as a high quality hand harvest type cultivar for fresh market outlets or homeowner use. It is a mid-late season southern highbush blueberry that blooms about the same time as 'Croatan' in North Carolina and slightly earlier than 'Bluecrop' in Arkansas. Ripening season is approximately two weeks after 'Croatan'. It is consistent in production, with fruit size larger than 'Croatan' and 'Bluecrop'. Fruit color and flavor are excellent, fruit picking scar and firmness are superior to 'Croatan'. Fruit cracking and stemming were not a significant factor at the Castle Hayne, N.C. location. 'Summit' performed better than 'Bluecrop' and 'Climax' in post-harvest studies in Oklahoma.. The flowers of 'Summit' are self-fruitful based on greenhouse selfing trials in Raleigh, N.C. Plant habit is semi-upright with moderate vigor. It is not resistant to stem blight (Botryosphaeria dothidea) or anthracnose fruit rot (Colletotrichum sp.) though these have not been shown to be a severe problem over the last 10 years. A limited number of rooted cuttings of 'Summit' will be available through the North Carolina Foundation Seed Producers, Inc., for spring, 1998. For information on availability, contact the Manager, North Carolina Foundation Seed Producers, Inc., 8220 Riley Hill Road, NC, 27597. Director, N.C. Agricultural Research Service, Raleigh, North Carolina Date 11-25-97 Director, Arkansas Experiment Station, Fayetteville, Arkansas Date 1-13-98 Administrator, Ag. Res. Service, USDA Date Feb. 10,1998
Arlen D. Draper cultivar release cross made in 1976 by A. Draper Tested as G-616, introduced in 1997