Vaccinium corymbo - Licensed variety - Plant patent Michigan State University (MSU 50) U.S. Plant -Patent 15185
Plant patent - Aurora is a new variety of blueberry from Vaccinium corymbo. It is a productive, very late maturing variety with a high fresh market quality, intended for areas where northern highbush varieties are successfully grown. Aurora plants are vigorous and upright. The canes are numerous, moderately branched and the fruits are well exposed. Its berries are moderately large, have small dry picking scars, excellent powder blue colour, delicious flavour and excellent firmness. Aurora has a harvest season that starts about 5 days after the variety known as Elliott(extract from US Plant Patent 15185)
Fall Creek - The blueberries Aurora is one of the last Highbush varieties to ripen. The fruits are on average about 25% larger than Elliotts with a slightly darker colour. The blueberries Aurora are often more resistant to cracking and wilting than the Elliott and as a result can be left in the plant longer and develop a better flavour. Recommended for growers looking for a hardy berry for hand picking to extend the fresh market season.
The main features of Aurora are:
- Gauge: L
- Main use: fresh
- Fruit characteristics: medium blue, firm, acid taste
- Plant bearing: rounded, vigorous, diffuse
- Seasonality: very late
CURRENTLY, AURORA IS THE LAST HIGHHBUSH IN ORDER OF RIPENESS IN NORTHERN EUROPE. THE QUALITY OF THE FRUIT IS NOT ALWAYS AS GOOD AS THAT OF MID- OR EARLY-SEASON VARIETIES, AS IT CAN BE VERY ACIDIC. HOWEVER, FOR THOSE GROWERS WHO WANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF LATE MARKET PRICES, IT IS A GOOD OPTION.
Andrea Pergher (Technical Support - Fall Creek)
Agrion - In the evaluation of the main varieties of blueberry carried out in 2019 by Agrion (the foundation for research, innovation and technological development in Piedmontese agriculture that has been observing the main varieties of blueberry for years) the characteristics of Aurora are summarised as follows:
STRENGTHS
- Plant of medium vigour with high demand in cold.
- Late ripening with medium collection rate.
- Oblate fruit, dark blue with high bloom.
- Medium size.
- Good epidermis texture.
CRITICALITY
- Tastes mediocre, tends to be acidulous.
- Early aging of branches
Blueberry Italia - Aurora is an American variety obtained by crossing Brigitta Blue and Elliott. The bush is upright and slightly expanded, reaching a height of 1.5 m and a width of 1.3 m. It is a self-fertile variety that benefits from cross-pollination, improving the quality and size of the fruit. Aurora is a self-fertile variety that benefits from cross-pollination, which improves the quality and size of the fruit. The blueberries are characterised by their faded blue colour and small, dry stigmas on the petiole. The firm berries, with an excellent taste, convince by their long storage time and are perfect as dessert fruit, lending themselves to the preparation of jams, yoghurt and jelly as well as freezing. Aurora is a late maturing variety with very good resistance to mycosis (anthracnose) and moniliosis (rot). This cultivar is also subject to licensing and its production is only allowed to selected nurseries.
Berryplant - Aurora's productivity is good with medium harvesting scalability. The fruit, of medium size, has an oblate shape, dark blue colour and high bloom. The taste is mediocre, characterized by an important acidulous component. The vigour is medium but with early ageing of the branches.
Earth and Life - The Aurora variety has the following characteristics:
AWARDS
- Moderately vigorous
- It needs proper pruning to stimulate the vegetation.
- Maturation is concentrated in a limited period of time.
DEFECTS
- Fruits of modest quality.
