INCIDENCE OF SPLITTING IN ‘PREMIER’ AND ‘TIFBLUE’ RABBITEYE BLUEBERRIES

Berry splitting results in poor fruit quality and often varies among rabbiteye blueberry cultivars (Vaccinium ashei Reade) receiving a significant rainfall, even in plants which were irrigated.
This splitting appears to vary between cultivars.
To simulate an excessive rainfall, ‘Tifblue’ (known to be susceptible cracking after a rain), and ‘Premier’ (considered less susceptible) plants were subjected to varying soil moisture levels.
In addition, harvested and unharvested fruit were soaked in water with varying salt concentrations.
This study correlates the occurrence of splitting to fruit quality measurements such as soluble solid content, total solids, titratable acidity, pH, and force needed to split an intact berry.

VII International Symposium on Vaccinium Culture

D.A. Marshall, J.M. Spiers, K.J. Curry

Vaccinium, V. ashei Reade, rabbiteye blueberry, fruit quality, cracking

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2002.574.44