Articles
Effects of different soilless substrate formulations on the growth and physiology of blueberries
Article number
1440_60
Pages
437 – 444
Language
English
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of different soilless substrates on the growth of blueberry seedlings and to identify the most effective growth media for soilless blueberry cultivation.
Trials were carried out with the two-year-old blueberry cultivar ‘Emerald’, and six mixed substrates (CC: 100% coconut coir, CP: coconut coir and perlite (1:1, v/v), CV: coconut coir and vermiculite (1:1, v/v), PB: peat and bark (1:1, v/v), PR: peat and rice husk (1:1, v/v), and BR: bark and rice husk (1:1, v/v)) were investigated.
The results showed that the plants growing in the PB substrate had the highest plant height, crown width, stem diameter, and number of branches.
Except for the BR substrate, the SPAD values of plants grown on other substrates did not differ considerably.
The CV substrate has the highest chlorophyll a (Chl a) and carotenoids (Car) contents, followed by the PB substrate.
Chlorophyll b (Chl b) and total chlorophyll levels were the highest in CV and PB substrates.
In the BR substrate, the Chl a/Chl b ratio was the lowest, and there was no significant difference among other treatments.
The BR substrate had the largest levels of H2O2 and soluble protein, as well as the highest generation rate of O2·-, whereas the CV and PB substrates had substantially lower levels.
The BR substrate had the lowest SOD activity, AsA, and GSH concentrations.
The results showed that the PB substrate was the best for growing blueberries, followed by the CV substrate, with the BR substrate showing the worst performance.
This study can provide a reference and a basis for the rational use of blueberry soilless culture substrate.
Trials were carried out with the two-year-old blueberry cultivar ‘Emerald’, and six mixed substrates (CC: 100% coconut coir, CP: coconut coir and perlite (1:1, v/v), CV: coconut coir and vermiculite (1:1, v/v), PB: peat and bark (1:1, v/v), PR: peat and rice husk (1:1, v/v), and BR: bark and rice husk (1:1, v/v)) were investigated.
The results showed that the plants growing in the PB substrate had the highest plant height, crown width, stem diameter, and number of branches.
Except for the BR substrate, the SPAD values of plants grown on other substrates did not differ considerably.
The CV substrate has the highest chlorophyll a (Chl a) and carotenoids (Car) contents, followed by the PB substrate.
Chlorophyll b (Chl b) and total chlorophyll levels were the highest in CV and PB substrates.
In the BR substrate, the Chl a/Chl b ratio was the lowest, and there was no significant difference among other treatments.
The BR substrate had the largest levels of H2O2 and soluble protein, as well as the highest generation rate of O2·-, whereas the CV and PB substrates had substantially lower levels.
The BR substrate had the lowest SOD activity, AsA, and GSH concentrations.
The results showed that the PB substrate was the best for growing blueberries, followed by the CV substrate, with the BR substrate showing the worst performance.
This study can provide a reference and a basis for the rational use of blueberry soilless culture substrate.
Publication
Authors
H.Y. Yang, W.L. Wu, Y.Q. Wu, C.H. Zhang, L.F. Lyu, W.L. Li
Keywords
blueberry (Vaccinium spp.), substrate culture, plant growth, photosynthetic capacity, antioxidant system
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