Articles
Use of tall-growing Florida native Vaccinium stamineum in breeding highbush blueberry cultivars
Article number
1440_15
Pages
107 – 112
Language
English
Abstract
Desirable characteristics of the V. stamineum biotype used in these crosses include large, juicy, high-Brix berries, good adaptation to the north-Florida monsoonal climate, plant architecture resembling cultivated highbush, adaptation to coarse, sandy soils with little organic matter, open, bee-friendly flower structure, and self-compatibility, at least in colchicine-induced tetraploids.
Thousands of hybrid seedlings obtained by pollinating emasculated flowers of tetraploid highbush blueberry cultivars (Sect. Cyanococcus) with pollen from tetraploid Vaccinium stamineum (Sect. Polycodium) were evaluated when they fruited in field nurseries.
Seedlings that were not hybrids were identified and eliminated based on plant, flower, and berry characteristics.
Most F1 hybrids were weak, but vigor varied greatly depending, in part, on the parental clones used.
Most F1 and F2 plants were partially fertile.
Many characteristics of the hybrids were intermediate between highbush and V. stamineum. F1 hybrids and BC1 (F1 × Highbush) seedlings flowered and ripened 2 to 8 weeks later than highbush.
Although most hybrid seedlings have been worthless, a few vigorous seedlings with surprising and potentially useful features were found.
A few exceptional F1 and F2 hybrids had medium to high levels of purple, red, or black flesh pigments or unusual flavors.
Many of the hybrids had thick skins that gave the berries long postharvest life, a pop texture when eaten, and bright red juice when chopped in a food blender.
A few F1 and BC1 seedlings produced cultivar-quality berries.
Attempts to produce hybrids by placing highbush cultivar pollen on stigmas of unemasculated flowers of tetraploid V. stamineum produced hundreds of vigorous seedlings from self-pollination, but no detectable hybrids.
Seven vigorous intersectional hybrids and hundreds of seedlings from self-pollination were produced by pollinating flowers of tetraploid V. stamineum with pollen from tetraploid V. arboreum.
Thousands of hybrid seedlings obtained by pollinating emasculated flowers of tetraploid highbush blueberry cultivars (Sect. Cyanococcus) with pollen from tetraploid Vaccinium stamineum (Sect. Polycodium) were evaluated when they fruited in field nurseries.
Seedlings that were not hybrids were identified and eliminated based on plant, flower, and berry characteristics.
Most F1 hybrids were weak, but vigor varied greatly depending, in part, on the parental clones used.
Most F1 and F2 plants were partially fertile.
Many characteristics of the hybrids were intermediate between highbush and V. stamineum. F1 hybrids and BC1 (F1 × Highbush) seedlings flowered and ripened 2 to 8 weeks later than highbush.
Although most hybrid seedlings have been worthless, a few vigorous seedlings with surprising and potentially useful features were found.
A few exceptional F1 and F2 hybrids had medium to high levels of purple, red, or black flesh pigments or unusual flavors.
Many of the hybrids had thick skins that gave the berries long postharvest life, a pop texture when eaten, and bright red juice when chopped in a food blender.
A few F1 and BC1 seedlings produced cultivar-quality berries.
Attempts to produce hybrids by placing highbush cultivar pollen on stigmas of unemasculated flowers of tetraploid V. stamineum produced hundreds of vigorous seedlings from self-pollination, but no detectable hybrids.
Seven vigorous intersectional hybrids and hundreds of seedlings from self-pollination were produced by pollinating flowers of tetraploid V. stamineum with pollen from tetraploid V. arboreum.
Publication
Authors
P. Lyrene
Keywords
blueberry breeding, deerberries, intersectional hybrids, deerberry × sparkleberry amphidiploids, red flesh pigments, self-compatible tetraploids
Online Articles (74)