COMPARISON OF THREE NEW SOUTHERN HIGHBUSH BLUEBERRY CULTIVARS

The southern highbush (SH) cultivars ‘Jubilee’, ‘Magnolia’ and ‘Pearl River’ released in 1994 by the USDA were compared in 1995 with ‘Premier’ and ‘Climax’, two widely planted rabbiteye (V. ashei) cultivars, on the bases of flowering and harvest dates, yield, physical and chemical quality parameters.
The southern highbush cultivars flowered later and ripened at least one week before ‘Climax’, one of the earliest rabbiteyes. ‘Jubilee’, ‘Pearl River’ and ‘Premier’ berries were larger than those of ‘Climax’ and ‘Magnolia’. ‘Pearl River’ berries had less waxy "bloom", appeared almost black when fully ripe and were lower in anthocyanins than the other cultivars. ‘Premier’ was lower in titratable acidity (TA) and higher in sugars than SH cultivars.
Based on quality factors used in this study the SH cultivars compared acceptably with the rabbiteye cultivars.
Freezing temperatures (-8.3°C) 11 and 12 Mar 96, killed an estimated 70% and 80% of ‘Premier’ and ‘Climax’ blooms respectively.
Because of their bloom stages, the three southern highbush cultivars suffered little damage and developed normally.

VI International Symposium on Vaccinium Culture

James B. Magee, B. J. Smith, C. L. Gupton, James M. Spiers

Vaccinium corymbosum, ripening period, composition

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1997.446.20