Articles
GROWTH AND SPREAD OF BLUEBERRY CULTIVARS IN A 14 YEAR-OLD COLLECTION
Article number
574_24
Pages
165 – 169
Language
English
Abstract
Blueberry cultivars with reduced plant height and non-spreading, upright growth habit would be useful for reducing pruning requirements and improving ease of hand and machine harvest.
Twenty-one rabbiteye cultivars and six southern highbush cultivars and selections were planted on March 6, 1985 in southern Mississippi, and were not pruned for fourteen years.
Data was collected for plant height, bush spread within the row, and bush spread perpendicular to the row in July 1999. Cultivars were also visually rated for upright vs. prostrate growth habit.
Most cultivars attained heights greater than 225 cm, which is a less than ideal stature for hand and machine harvesting.
MS75, MS81, Sharpblue, Climax, Flordablue, and Premier, maintained row and perpendicular bush widths which were better for machine harvesting and reducing pruning requirements. Avonblue, Beckyblue, Delite, Flordablue, Sharpblue, and Tifblue had the most upright growth habit.
Implications for management and breeding are discussed.
Twenty-one rabbiteye cultivars and six southern highbush cultivars and selections were planted on March 6, 1985 in southern Mississippi, and were not pruned for fourteen years.
Data was collected for plant height, bush spread within the row, and bush spread perpendicular to the row in July 1999. Cultivars were also visually rated for upright vs. prostrate growth habit.
Most cultivars attained heights greater than 225 cm, which is a less than ideal stature for hand and machine harvesting.
MS75, MS81, Sharpblue, Climax, Flordablue, and Premier, maintained row and perpendicular bush widths which were better for machine harvesting and reducing pruning requirements. Avonblue, Beckyblue, Delite, Flordablue, Sharpblue, and Tifblue had the most upright growth habit.
Implications for management and breeding are discussed.
Publication
Authors
S.L. Noffsinger, S.J. Stringer, J.M. Spiers
Keywords
Vaccinium ashei Reade, Vaccinium spp., growth habit
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