ISHS Acta Horticulturae 446: VI International Symposium on Vaccinium Culture
VARIATION OF FRUIT SET AND FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS OF WILD LOWBUSH BLUEBERRIES (VACCINIUM ANGUSTIFOLIUM AIT.) IN A MANAGED FIELD |
| Authors: | John M. Smagula, W. Litten, Y. Chen, S. Dunham |
| Keywords: | Clonal variation, nutrient concentrations, yield components |
| Abstract:
Ten uninvaded clones of a managed wild blueberry field in Maine ranged in their yield for one crop year from 1,804 to 8,678 kg/ha. To trace components of this large variation, 20 stems bearing four fruit buds each were marked in each of these clones and followed over the two-year cycle from pruning to harvest. Individual stems were tracked to minimize the number of factors that govern yield of whole clones. The only significant correlation found between yield per stem and foliar mineral concentrations was a negative correlation Ca. A significant negative correlation existed between the number of blossoms at each of the four fruit buds with Mn foliar concentration at tip dieback of the new stems the preceding summer. Interclonal differences were statistically significant in blossoms per fruit bud and fruit set, which ranged from 52% to 79% in August. Large interclonal differences in berry firmness, titratable acidity, soluble solids, and sugar/acid ratio in fruit harvested the same day may represent genetic differences or differences in fruit maturity. | |
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