Rabbiteye blueberry plant named ‘T-1101’

#Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: ‘T-1101’ is a rabbiteye blueberry plant that is a Vaccinium ashei.

#Variety denomination: The new rabbiteye blueberry plant claimed is of the variety denominated ‘T-1101’.

#The present invention relates to the discovery of a new and distinct cultivar of rabbiteye blueberry plant botanically known as a Vaccinium ashei and herein referred to as ‘T-1101’, as herein described and illustrated.

#The accompanying photographic illustrations show typical specimens in full color of the foliage, flowering, and fruit of the new variety ‘T-1101’. The colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type.

#FIG. 1 is a photograph of a five year old plant of the new variety ‘T-1101’ during flowering in Alapaha, Ga.

#FIG. 2 is a photograph of a three year old plant of the new variety ‘T-1101’ during fruit ripening in Alapaha, Ga.

#Throughout this specification, color names beginning with a small letter signify that the name of that color, as used in common speech, is aptly descriptive. Color names beginning with a capital letter designate values based upon The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 5th edition (hereinafter R.H.S.) published by The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England.

#The following is a detailed description of the botanical and pomological characteristics of the new variety ‘T-1101’. Where dimensions, sizes, colors, and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations and averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The descriptions reported herein are largely from observations of specimen plants grown in Alapaha and Griffin, Ga., with supplemental irrigation. The observed plants were about 4 to about 5 years old.

#Size: 1.6 to 2.2 m tall by about 4 years of age. The plant crown, or base, is narrow, typically 15 to 30 cm in diameter. Upper portion of plant canopy exceeds 1.2 to 1.5 m in diameter by 4 years. Growth habit: Strongly upright, with 3 to 5 main canes arising from a narrow crown, and multiple branching of shoots from those canes at 15 cm or more above the soil surface. Growth: Highly vigorous. Productivity: High crop and yield, averaging 15 to 20 lbs of fruit per plant each year for plants 4 years and older grown under well fertilized and irrigated field conditions. Hardiness: Similar to other rabbiteye cultivars such as ‘Vernon’ and ‘T-959’. Chilling requirement: 400-450 hours of temperatures at or below 7° C. (about 45° F.) to induce normal leafing and flowering during the spring under conventional production systems. The chill requirement is less than the maternal parent ‘Vernon’ (500-550 hours of chilling required). Leafing: Plants tend to break sufficient leaf buds simultaneously with, or shortly after, anthesis. Canes: Diameter.—20 to 35 mm for base of main canes that are about 4 years old and older. 10 to 15 mm in about 2 year old wood. 5 to 10 mm in current season wood. Color.—Greyed-Green RHS 197C for base of canes that are about 4 years old and older. Yellow-Green RHS 144B transitioning to Greyed-Brown RHS 199B in about 2 year old wood. Yellow-Green RHS 144B in current season wood. Disease resistance: No exceptional disease resistance or susceptibility observed; typical for rabbiteye ‘Vernon’ and ‘T-959’. The variety shows a tendency for some fruit cracking during maturity following certain rain conditions.