Articles
Adaptability of blueberries to lower chill growing regions in Australia
Article number
1117_8
Pages
45 – 48
Language
English
Abstract
Blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum, V. corymbosum hybrids and V. virgatum) are commercially produced in Australia.
In the last 30 years, cultivation has intensified in the sub-tropical area of Corindi, New South Wales (30.0167°S; 153.2000°E), in a banana growing area.
Within the Vaccinium species available internationally, 30 years ago, there were some cultivars that required mid to high winter chill to break buds and very few that could break buds with low chill.
One of the low chill Vaccinium genotypes (‘Sharpblue’) in the area of Corindi adapted to grow as evergreen plant and produced autumn, winter and spring crop when compared to deciduous cultivation.
Evergreen blueberry plants do not undergo dormancy and retain fully active and functional leaves throughout the year.
One of the benefits of evergreen cultivation is production of an out of season crop (winter/early spring) which is valuable for Costa Berry Category. ‘Sharpblue’ continued to be the most profitable cultivar in Australia for nearly 20 years, until leaf rust arrived in the area in early 2001. ‘Sharpblue’ is now severely affected by leaf rust, resulting in defoliation of the plant and also reduces its ability to produce fruit over long periods of the year.
When growing ‘Sharpblue’ commercially was no longer an option, we had to look for alternative cultivars and genetics and we started our own cultivar improvement program at Corindi, Australia.
Many years of further work will be required to consolidate this adaptation and to resolve some new issues in relation to crop management and harvest programming of evergreen blueberry.
In the last 30 years, cultivation has intensified in the sub-tropical area of Corindi, New South Wales (30.0167°S; 153.2000°E), in a banana growing area.
Within the Vaccinium species available internationally, 30 years ago, there were some cultivars that required mid to high winter chill to break buds and very few that could break buds with low chill.
One of the low chill Vaccinium genotypes (‘Sharpblue’) in the area of Corindi adapted to grow as evergreen plant and produced autumn, winter and spring crop when compared to deciduous cultivation.
Evergreen blueberry plants do not undergo dormancy and retain fully active and functional leaves throughout the year.
One of the benefits of evergreen cultivation is production of an out of season crop (winter/early spring) which is valuable for Costa Berry Category. ‘Sharpblue’ continued to be the most profitable cultivar in Australia for nearly 20 years, until leaf rust arrived in the area in early 2001. ‘Sharpblue’ is now severely affected by leaf rust, resulting in defoliation of the plant and also reduces its ability to produce fruit over long periods of the year.
When growing ‘Sharpblue’ commercially was no longer an option, we had to look for alternative cultivars and genetics and we started our own cultivar improvement program at Corindi, Australia.
Many years of further work will be required to consolidate this adaptation and to resolve some new issues in relation to crop management and harvest programming of evergreen blueberry.
Authors
J. Scalzo, G. Wright, S. Boettiger
Keywords
Vaccinium corymbosum, V. corymbosum hybrids, V. virgatum, evergreen, low chill
Online Articles (61)