ISHS Acta Horticulturae 574: VII International Symposium on Vaccinium Culture
GROWTH AND SPREAD OF BLUEBERRY CULTIVARS IN A 14 YEAR-OLD COLLECTION |
| Authors: | S.L. Noffsinger, S.J. Stringer, J.M. Spiers |
| Keywords: | Vaccinium ashei Reade, Vaccinium spp., growth habit |
| Abstract:
Blueberry cultivars with reduced plant height and non-spreading, upright growth habit would be useful for reducing pruning requirements and improving ease of hand and machine harvest. Twenty-one rabbiteye cultivars and six southern highbush cultivars and selections were planted on March 6, 1985 in southern Mississippi, and were not pruned for fourteen years. Data was collected for plant height, bush spread within the row, and bush spread perpendicular to the row in July 1999. Cultivars were also visually rated for upright vs. prostrate growth habit. Most cultivars attained heights greater than 225 cm, which is a less than ideal stature for hand and machine harvesting. MS75, MS81, ‘Sharpblue’, ‘Climax’, ‘Flordablue’, and ‘Premier’, maintained row and perpendicular bush widths which were better for machine harvesting and reducing pruning requirements. ‘Avonblue’, ‘Beckyblue’, ‘Delite’, ‘Flordablue’, ‘Sharpblue’, and ‘Tifblue’ had the most upright growth habit. Implications for management and breeding are discussed. | |
Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (free software to read PDF files) | |
