ISHS Acta Horticulturae 715: VIII International Symposium on Vaccinium Culture
´DESOTO´ A NEW SEMI-DWARF RABBITEYE (V. ASHEII, READE) BLUEBERRY |
| Authors: | S.J. Stringer, B.J. Smith, J.M. Spiers, A. Draper |
| Keywords: | Rabbiteye blueberry, Vaccinium asheii, semi-dwarf |
| Abstract:
‘DeSoto’ rabbiteye blueberry is a new cultivar developed and being increased for release by the Agricultural Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture breeding programs in Poplarville, MS. ‘DeSoto’, tested as MS 63 resulted from a cross between T110 and T107. Plants of ‘DeSoto’ are vigorous but semi-dwarf, upright, and spreading. Its unique semi-dwarf growth habit results in bushes that attain a height of approximately 2 meters upon maturity, eliminating the necessity of top-pruning that is required for all other rabbiteye blueberry cultivars. Although plants are semi-dwarf, they are highly productive. Fruit of ‘DeSoto’ are medium to large, have excellent color, flavor and firmness with a small picking scar and ripen about 14 to 21 days after ‘Climax’, one of the earliest bearing rabbiteye blueberry cultivars. ‘DeSoto’ is recommended for local fresh market, pick-your-own and dooryard / garden plantings. ‘DeSoto’ was named in honor of the Spanish explorer Hernando DeSoto who entered Mississippi in 1541. | |
Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (free software to read PDF files) | |
