Abstract: The new blueberry variety, designated Farsight, is a southern highbush blueberry that was selected from sown seedlings of Bluerain. In spring 2011, 282 seedlings were grown at Dalian Senmao Modern Agriculture Co., Ltd., and in spring 2012, the seedlings were transferred to Zhuanghe Experimental Station for field trials. The performance and characteristics of the seedlings were determined for mature fruit when they first fruited at the end of 2015. Based on plant morphology, flowering and fruiting characteristics, fruit yield, and fruit quality, superior offspring were selected and numbered SMN-035. After tasted and identified, SMN-035 showed excellent performance, with vigorous plant growth, medium fruit size, light blue color, thick fruit wax, moderate acidity, small and dry picking scar, and high productivity. It is an excellent cultivar for fresh food. A comprehensive evaluation of traits including plant morphology, fruit characteristics, and production was conducted over three years of continuous fieldwork from July 2017 to July 2019, demonstrating consistent and stable performance. In July 2020, the State Forestry and Grassland Administration granted this selection the Plant Cultivar Protection Certificate and designated it Farsight. This variety has an open type tree body, 5-year-old plants, tree height up to 1.2 m, the base part of the branching ability is very strong; its leaf blade is elliptical, the average area of 8.65cm2. The leaf margins are serrated, the colour is dark green, the back of the leaf is not tomentose, the leaf buds sprout earlier, the inflorescences are shorter, the corolla is altar-shaped with ridges, the anthocyanin colour intensity is medium. The fruits of the new fruit shoots were in clusters, the fruits were closely attached to the spike, the fruits were oblate in shape, the average size of each fruit was 1.66 cm´1.79 cm, the maximum recorded weight was 2.99 g, with an average weight of 2.59 g, the soluble solids content of Brix% reached 10.68, the fruits have good storage characteristics. The variety has a medium size fruit, light blue in colour (101-B), thick wax, good flavour and a small and dry plucking scar. The plant is vigorous and very productive, making it an excellent variety for fresh consumption. Under natural conditions in Dalian, Liaoning, the plant reaches maturity at the end of June, thus categorising it as an early-season variety. It is well-suited to cultivation in the region situated to the south of the Yangtze River or at high altitudes. It requires a loose, fertile, deep, well-drained and moist but not easily waterlogged soil with a loamy-sandy or loamy texture. The pH value should be within the range of 4.4 to 5.5, and the organic matter content should exceed 3.0%. To ensure adequate growth, the planting area should receive at least 600 hours of chilling. Rows should be laid out in a north-south direction and, in hilly areas, along the contour lines. For fertilisation and water management, the whole park should be covered with straw, rice straw, wood chips, pine needles, etc. The thickness of the mulch should not be less than 10 cm, which can achieve the effect of water retention, increase soil organic matter and improve soil properties. Using black mulch to cover the underside of the canopy can inhibit weed growth. Seedlings should be 2 or 3 years old, over 40 cm tall, with a diameter of at least 0.4 cm at the base of the main stem, and should be potted or bare-root seedlings. It is very adaptable to soils and grows well in predominantly southern soils. It is recommended that the soil be treated with fully decomposed organic fertiliser prior to the planting of seedlings.
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