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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Horticultural Crops Production and Genetic Improvement Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #358679
Research Project: Genetic Improvement of Blackberry, Red and Black Raspberry, Blueberry, and Strawberry

Location: Horticultural Crops Production and Genetic Improvement Research Unit

Title: ‘Echo’ ornamental reflowering blueberry

Author
item Finn, Chad
item STRIK, BERNADINE - Oregon State University
item Mackey, Theodore - Ted
item JONES, PATRICK - Oregon State University
item Bassil, Nahla
item Martin, Robert

Submitted to: HortScience
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/7/2018
Publication Date: 2/1/2019
Citation: Finn, C.E., Strik, B., Mackey, T.A., Jones, P., Bassil, N.V., Martin, R.R. 2019. ‘Echo’ ornamental reflowering blueberry. HortScience. 54(2):368–370. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI13646-18.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI13646-18

Interpretive Summary: ‘Echo’ is a new repeat flowering ornamental blueberry from the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) breeding program in Corvallis, OR, released in cooperation with Oregon State University’s Agricultural Experiment Station that is targeted for the home gardener and ornamental landscape trade. In addition to repeat flowering (remontant, off-season, perpetual flowering), 'Echo' has an excellent compact habit with lustrous dark green foliage. The name ‘Echo’ reflects the repeat flowering of this genotype. A U.S. Plant Patent has been applied for (USPPAF 15/530,947).

Technical Abstract: ‘Echo’ (PI 682654, CVAC 2262) is a new ornamental blueberry (Vaccinium hybrid) from the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) breeding program in Corvallis, OR, released in cooperation with Oregon State University’s Agricultural Experiment Station that is targeted for the home gardener and ornamental landscape trade. ‘Echo’ is the second strongly repeat fruiting (remontant, off-season, perpetual flowering) blueberry developed from northern adapted germplasm; its parent ‘Perpetua’ (U.S. Plant Patent 24,209) was the first (Finn et al., 2015). When grown in Oregon, this type flowers in April with other blueberry cultivars, ripens a crop of small fruit in late June and early July, and then begins flowering on new growth in mid to late July and August. This second crop is heavier than the first and begins to ripen in late August and continues to ripen until the weather is too cold. The plants are compact with lustrous dark green foliage. The name ‘Echo’ reflects the repeat flowering of this genotype. A U.S. Plant Patent has been applied for (USPPAF 15/530,947).