Articles
´DESOTO´ A NEW SEMI-DWARF RABBITEYE (V. ASHEII, READE) BLUEBERRY
Article number
715_12
Pages
97 – 100
Language
English
Abstract
DeSoto rabbiteye blueberry is a new cultivar developed and being increased for release by the Agricultural Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture breeding programs in Poplarville, MS. DeSoto, tested as MS 63 resulted from a cross between T110 and T107. Plants of DeSoto are vigorous but semi-dwarf, upright, and spreading.
Its unique semi-dwarf growth habit results in bushes that attain a height of approximately 2 meters upon maturity, eliminating the necessity of top-pruning that is required for all other rabbiteye blueberry cultivars.
Although plants are semi-dwarf, they are highly productive.
Fruit of DeSoto are medium to large, have excellent color, flavor and firmness with a small picking scar and ripen about 14 to 21 days after Climax, one of the earliest bearing rabbiteye blueberry cultivars. DeSoto is recommended for local fresh market, pick-your-own and dooryard / garden plantings. DeSoto was named in honor of the Spanish explorer Hernando DeSoto who entered Mississippi in 1541.
Its unique semi-dwarf growth habit results in bushes that attain a height of approximately 2 meters upon maturity, eliminating the necessity of top-pruning that is required for all other rabbiteye blueberry cultivars.
Although plants are semi-dwarf, they are highly productive.
Fruit of DeSoto are medium to large, have excellent color, flavor and firmness with a small picking scar and ripen about 14 to 21 days after Climax, one of the earliest bearing rabbiteye blueberry cultivars. DeSoto is recommended for local fresh market, pick-your-own and dooryard / garden plantings. DeSoto was named in honor of the Spanish explorer Hernando DeSoto who entered Mississippi in 1541.
Authors
S.J. Stringer, B.J. Smith, J.M. Spiers, A. Draper
Keywords
Rabbiteye blueberry, Vaccinium asheii, semi-dwarf
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