Breeding report of a new blueberry cultivar Blue whale

China is the country with the largest area of blueberry cultivation. Breeding of excellent varieties is very important for the development of blueberry industry. Blue whale represents a novel northern highbush blueberry variety that was selected from the natural hybridization offsprings of Blue Gold. The seeds were sown in the blueberry nursery in the spring of 2011 and 260 seedlings were produced in the spring of 2012. The researchers continuously observed and recorded the fruit economic traits, plant growth, fruiting habits and phenological periods of the hybrid offsprings. The bushes started bearing fruits in 2015. An excellent strain numbered SMN-437 was selected. The field trial and evaluation were carried out afterward. The new variety certificate was issued by the State Forestry and Grassland Administration in 2020. This cultivar belongs to the Northern Highbush Blueberry. The bush gesture was open and the vigor was medium. The leaves were long elliptic in form and dark green in color, the edge of the leaves was serrated, the tips were flat without curling, and the back of the leaves was smooth. The size of the fruits medium, the average fruit weight was 2.01 g and the largest fruit was 2.51 g, the fruit shape was oblate, the fruit color was light blue, the fruit powder was thick and uniform, the ear was in high density, the flesh color was light green and delicate, the skin was thick and juicy, the flavor was excellent. It was suitable for fresh market and could be cultivated in the area of the north of the YangtzeRiver or high altitude. The low temperature requirement was 600 h to 1200 h