ISHS Acta Horticulturae 810: IX International Vaccinium Symposium
DAMAGE TO DEVELOPING BLUEBERRY BUDS IN A SPRING FREEZE |
| Author: | M. Longstroth |
| Keywords: | Vaccinium corymbosum, freeze injury |
| Abstract:
Sub freezing temperatures below -6.7°C (20°F) during early spring bud development in highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) allowed an assessment of early cold injury thresholds in blueberry. Damage was observed to flower and vegetative buds. Flower clusters that had burst showed significant damage while swollen, but closed, flower buds showed little damage. Vegetative buds that had begun growth were killed or severely damaged, resulting in heavy fruit set with reduced leaf numbers and a reduced crop in early and midseason cultivars. This pattern of damage suggests that leaf buds are more vulnerable than flower buds during bud swell and can be damaged by temperatures around -7.8°C (18°F) that cause little harm to flower buds before bud burst. | |
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