ISHS Acta Horticulturae 715: VIII International Symposium on Vaccinium Culture
BLUEBERRIES (VACCINIUM SPP.) IN HUELVA (ANDALUSIA, SPAIN): A PRELIMINARY STUDY ON PRODUCTION DATA |
| Authors: | C. Barrau, B. de los Santos, D. Calvo, J.J. Medina, J.M. Molina, F. Romero |
| Keywords: | Low-chill blueberries, cultivar adaptation, production |
| Abstract:
Blueberries were introduced in Huelva at the beginning of 1990, as a way to diversify fruit production. The area planted has increased, to 250 ha. Cultivar selection criteria were based mainly on chilling-hours requirements, so southern highbush (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) and rabbiteye (Vaccinium ashei Reade) cultivars were chosen. In 1998, plots of ‘O’Neal’, ‘Sharpblue’, ‘Misty’ ‘Windy’, ‘Bonita’ and ‘Climax’ cultivars were established at the Experimental Research Station El Cebollar in Moguer, Huelva. Two year-old plants were field grown in a randomized block design with three replicates per cultivar. Production data were recorded from 2000 to 2002 in order to compare cultivars and their adaptation to local conditions. Data were analyzed by ANOVA with means separated using Newman-Keuls multiple range test. Blueberry flowering begins at the end of January or early February. The harvest period goes from the second half of April to early July for southern highbush and the rabbiteye begin in the second half of May through early August. ‘Bonita’ had the highest mean fruit weight at 2.3 g; ‘Misty’ was the cultivar with smallest mean fruit weight at 1.5 g. Considering the accumulative marketable yield, ‘O’Neal’ was the least productive cultivar, whereas ‘Misty’ was the most productive one. Mean production per bush reached 2.5 kg for the southern highbush cultivars, and 1.5 kg/bush for the rabbiteye. The first ripening fruit had a higher market value, because of the earlier production dates. The annual average production estimated from experimental plots in this three-year period was 4500 kg/ha, with a commercial harvest period of eight to nine weeks. As the planting aged a decrease in the contribution of southern highbush cultivars to total production was associated to both a decrease in mean fruit weight and production per bush was observed. | |
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