Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) PINNACLE

Northern Highbush Blueberry - Variety 'Pinnacle'

'Pinnacle' represents a new and significant cultivar of the Northern Highbush blueberry, bred to achieve a unique combination of highly sought-after commercial traits. It excels primarily in early ripening, high yields of large fruits, premium quality, and excellent firmness. These traits, along with very good post-harvest shelf life, predestine it for success on the modern fresh fruit market at a time when prices are highest.

Northern Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) 'Pinnacle'

The variety originates from the USA (North Carolina). It was bred from a targeted hand-pollinated cross of the NC 1408 clone and the 'Bluechip' variety in collaboration between North Carolina State University and the USDA. It was patented in the US in 2015 under number US 2015/0334890 P1. It differs from its parents by its semi-upright habit and early ripening, while maintaining unique genetic stability.

Main advantages of the variety:

• Early ripening: The harvest falls at the beginning of the season when market purchase prices are highest.
• Very large fruits: An exceptionally high proportion of the crop falls into premium size categories.
• Excellent firmness: The fruits are very firm, ensuring superior post-harvest shelf life and suitability for transport.
• Top taste and appearance: Great flavor and a market-preferred, lighter blue color.
• Harvest quality: Small and dry picking scar (diameter of only 1.7 mm).
• Self-fertility: The flowers produce abundant pollen, and the variety is easily propagated.

Detailed variety description: Plant

• Growth and habit: Growth is moderately vigorous, and the habit is semi-upright. A mature bush reaches a height of approximately 1.3 m and a diameter of 1.0 m. It produces numerous main canes.
• Chill requirement and flowering: Requires 600 to 700 chill hours (temperatures below 7 °C) to break dormancy. It starts blooming slightly later but accelerates very quickly, reaching full bloom alongside early varieties.

Fruits and flavor profile

• Appearance and size: Size is one of the variety's most prominent strengths. The fruits are 20 mm in diameter (average weight 1.73 g) with an oblate shape. Up to 20% of the fruits have a diameter greater than 18 mm.
• Color: They have a lighter purple-blue color with a waxy bloom, which is visually very attractive and sought after in the market.
• Firmness and scar: 'Pinnacle' is an extremely firm variety (188.9 g/mm), which is critical for mechanical harvesting. It leaves a small, dry picking scar 1.7 mm in diameter.
• Taste and storability: The taste is consistently rated as "very good". It has excellent shelf life; even after 7 days of storage (at both 4 °C and 21 °C), it retains a high percentage of undamaged fruit.

Growing characteristics and agrotechnics

• Ripening and yield:
  • Harvest window: It is an early variety. This timing perfectly positions it in the market during a high-price period.
  • Yield: Average yields are high, guaranteeing its commercial viability and competitiveness.
• Resistance and requirements:
  • Health: Under North Carolina conditions, no significant problems were noted with major fungal diseases such as stem canker (Botryosphaeria corticis) or stem blight (Botryosphaeria dothidea).

Disadvantages of the variety:

• License protection (PBR): It is a patented variety (US 2015/0334890 P1), and its commercial propagation is subject to licensing.
• Cold hardiness limits: The low chill requirement (600–700 hours) predestines it more for mild winters; it has not yet been sufficiently tested in colder regions.
• Local experience: Available data comes from trials in the USA; long-term experience growing it in our Central European climate is currently lacking.