ISHS Acta Horticulturae 346: V International Symposium on Vaccinium Culture
SOUTHERN HIGHBUSH BLUEBERRIES: PHYSIOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL FACTORS IMPORTANT FOR OPTIMAL CROPPING OF THESE COMPLEX HYBRIDS |
| Author: | G. A. Lang |
| Keywords: | Inbreeding, climatic adaptation, edaphic factors, fruit development |
| Abstract:
The term "southern highbush blueberry" has been used for a new class of tetraploid interspecific Vaccinium corymbosum hybrids that have low chilling requirements and other adaptive qualities inherited from progenitor species of various ploidy levels, such as V. darrowi and V. tenellum (diploids); V. angustifolium (tetraploid); and V. ashei and V. constablaei (hexaploids). These hybrids are being planted in geographical locations with mild-to-subtropical winters, such as the southeastern United States and Australia's eastern coast, to produce early-ripening fruit for premium market niches. Recent and on-going research has shown that cropping success with current southern highbush cultivars is significantly increased by irrigation, root zone modifications, and mulching. Optimization of crop value can be strongly dependent on fruiting cultivar, pollinizer cultivar(s), and pollinator level, as determinants of seed number. Seed number, in turn, influences not only fruit size, but perhaps more strongly, fruit ripening date. These unique interspecific hybrids provide a complementary opportunity for breeders and whole plant physiologists to interact on future studies of key genetically-linked processes important for optimal blueberry production. | |
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