Vaccinium corymbosum - US plant patent 15103
Draper is a blueberry variety of Vaccinium corymbosum from the Michigan State University breeding programme. It is mainly composed of Vaccinium corymbosum genes, but has a small contribution (<5%) from V. tenellum, V. ashei and V. darrowi. It is a productive variety, ripening early in mid-season, with a very high quality for the fresh market and probably a long shelf life. It is intended for areas where Northern Highbush cultivars are successfully grown. Draper's 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 harvest scars, excellent blue colour, delicious flavour and excellent firmness. The fruit size is unusually regular and comes in a loose clusters.
Fall Creek - blueberries Draper remains a prominent variety in cool and mid-cold regions throughout the western United States. blueberries Draper ripens early to mid-season, is highly productive as a young plant and has exceptionally high quality fruit. blueberry Draper has exceptionally firm berries and concentrated ripening periods. The berries have excellent colour retention after harvest and a superior shelf life. It is extremely quick to harvest by hand and also has the potential to be harvested by machine. After several years in the market, Draper continues to be a top choice for both the fresh and IQF frozen markets. (Fall Creek)
According to Fall Creek the main characteristics of Draper are:
- Size: L
- Main use: fresh and industrial
- Fruit characteristics: light blue, firm, crisp, sweet taste
- Plant bearing: stocky, spherical
- Seasonality: average
DRAPER HAS AN EXCELLENT YIELD OF LARGE, FIRM BERRIES. IT REQUIRES VERY WELL DRAINED AND LIGHT SOILS TO WORK WELL. DRAPER PERFORMS WELL IN HIGH CHILL AND MEDIUM CHILL REGIONS.
Antonio A. Alamo
Breeding and R & D Manager - Fall Creek
Plantgest - Intermediate ripening variety with high productivity. The plant has high vigour with a medium-high cold requirement and compact posture. The fruit is large in size, very pruinose and of an intense blue-blue colour. Very firm flesh and sweet taste.
Veimaro Nurseries - The blueberry American Draper is a variety with a very high yield, combined with excellent resistance to handling; for these reasons it is particularly suitable for storage. It has large, dark, medium-ripening fruits, towards the end of June, with an excellent sugar content that makes them very sweet. Suitable for both fresh consumption and processing. The plant is medium-sized and erect.
Agrion - In the assessment 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 Duke are summarised as follows:
STRENGTHS
- Plant of medium vigour with high demand in cold weather.
- Harvesting time about 10 days after Duke, concentrated
- High productivity, flattened fruit of high size.
- High presence of bloom.
- Consistency of the epidermis and resistance to high manipulation.
- Good taste, medium sweet and very aromatic. Crunchy fruit.
- High shelf life
- Suitable for fresh market and IQF
CRITICALITY
- Dry pulp
Earth andLife - According to Earth and Life, blueberry Draper is characterised by:
AWARDS
- Very high productivity
- Shrubbery cut down.
- Concentrated maturation in a short period
- Fruits, large, with compact flesh, excellent taste, sweet
- Excellent shelf life.
DEFECTS
It requires thinning of the fruits in the first years to stimulate the vegetative development; also afterwards the productive load must be properly balanced with pruning and fertilization.
